Information Design

Goal: It is all too easy to let the technologies determine the organization and presentation of information. The goal of this unit is to provide a glimpse at some of the issue in information design, organization and presentation.

Design of information is an enormous field. In this unit, we will look at some of the approaches that are being used to organize web-based information. This organizational process is often called Information Architecture. The readings are arranged chronologically (with the exception of Don Norman's piece). Read them in order and reflect on the growing awareness of the complexity of organizing a vast dynamic information resource.

Information Architecture (IA) is the term that is typically applied to the process of structuring digital information, particularly web information. SInce this is a relatively new field, there are multiple definitions for what exactly Information Architecture is.

The term Information Architecture was coined in 1976 by Richard Saul Wurman, chair of the national conference of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Wurman selected The Architecture of Information as the conference theme. Wurman developed the following definition:

1. The individual who organizes the patterns inherent in data, making the complex clear.
2. A person who creates the structure or map of information which allows others to find their personal paths to knowledge.
3. The emerging 21st century professional occupation addressing the needs of the age focused upon clarity, human understanding, and the science of the organization of information.

Peter Morville and Lou Rosenfeld applied the term to the web in their 1996 series of articles for Web Review. Morville and Rosenfeld define Information Architecture as:

1. The combination of organization, labeling, and navigation schemes within an information system.
2. The structural design of an information space to facilitate task completion and intuitive access to content.
3. The art and science of structuring and classifying web sites and intranets to help people find and manage information.
4. An emerging discipline and community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape."

Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 2nd Edition, 2002

There are two key issues which emerge repeatedly in the reading below:

• The difference in searching for a known item or fact versus searching for an unknown one
• The strengths and limitations of the indexing and cataloging traditions of libraries.

Due on Friday:

• Quiz 4: Information Design

Required Readings: