Information Architecture and Webdesign

Last week we talked about Information Architecture and Webdesign. Michael said, "Information architecture Involves organizing, structuring and labeling. They are the ones who make the decisions on how the site should be put together, what pages should be grouped under what label, etc."

Why is important to define your audience/users?
It is important to define your audience when designing Web sites because doing so:
-Allows users to enjoy a pleasant experience
-Promotes repeat visits and perhaps business
-Enhances an organisation's credibility
-Allows users to dictate decisions when a 'user-centred approach' is adopted during the design phase
-Knowledge gained can be applied elsewhere.

What information about your users is important? Why?
-Needs and wants
-Technological capacities
-Physical Capacities
-Cultural context
-Motivations, habits and preferences.

The above list of information is important because it enables Web developers to produce a Web site that is useful, accessable, pleasing, easy to use, quick to download and respectful to its visitors.

What is meant by the purpose of the website?
A Web site can have many objectives that determine its purpose. These include meeting the needs of targeted users and businesses while not precluding accessiblity and cultural issues. Without guiding goals during Web development, communication and business via the WWW cannot fully be appreciated.

What challenges might arise in doing your job well?
Challenges faced include:
-A 'let's make it an IT-driven' approach
-A 'let's do a quick fix' approach
-A 'let's make it all about us' approach
-An 'everyone's a Web expert' approach.

Describe some strategies you could use to deal with these challenges.
Four strategies include:
-Focus on the business
-Education
-Use a sound methodology
-Manage the managers.

How do you think and act smart?
Think smart by:
-Aligning work practices with business goals
-Determining competitor's actions/goals and share this knowledge
-Developing a sound methodology
-Providing justification for every decision.

Act smart by:
-Establishing clarity of purpose
-Managing expectations
-Educating and inspiring
-Showing tangible progress
-Acknowlegding and supporting
-Managing at all levels
-Spending time with people who know your users
-Listening, maintaining impartiality and clearly explaining your ideas
-Providing other sources of information that support your actions.