CSE3325: Information Architecture


In the previous lecture:

Clear presentation of information enables a viewer to easily locate data required to complete a task.

In this lecture:


References:


What is Information Architecture?

Information architecture refers to the process of organizing information.

This is vital to enable:


Examples

Suppose all the books, CD's, magazines etc. in a library were arranged in alphabetical order by title.


Suppose all the sculptures, paintings and drawings in an art gallery were arranged in alphabetical order according to the artist's name.


What questions must an information architect ask?


Pitfalls and Difficulties of Classification


Organization systems consist of:

Organization schemes - shared characteristics of content items governing the way they will be grouped.

Organization structures - types of relationships established between (groups of) content items.


Organization Schemes

    Alphabetical

Tate gallery-browse

    Chronological

Tate gallery-Picasso

    Geographical

Vic. National Parks,
Citysearch, M&M's

 

    Topical

Apple Computers

    Task-oriented

Telstra

    Audience-specific

Yarra Valley Water

    Metaphor-driven

National Geographic

 


Organization Structures

Sequential (Linear)

terminating sequence

 

looping sequence with a "digression"

 

Hierarchical (Tree)

 

Deep style hierarchy

Broad style hierarchy

 

Grid-based Wheel

Web

Database

The database model requires data to be sectioned into strictly defined records. It is therefore most suitable for homogeneous data.

This can then be accessed via user queries.


Choosing an Appropriate Structure

Where might the 'web' and 'database' arrangements sit on this graph?

What arrangement might you use for explaining how to bake bread? Why?

What arrangement might you use for describing how to fix a broken-down car? Why?

What is an example of an instance when the grid might be useful?



This lecture's key point(s):


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©Copyright Alan Dorin 2005