What is an Information Architect?
Much more than just design web page, thinking and deciding on what the website ought to look like, including intergration and maintaining the overall management which are part of the webmaster duties, the new decriptive term like “information architect” might be more appropriate to replace the term “webmaster” since so much has the job as webmaster changed. -said Bebo White at the North American Web Developers’ Conference. Being as a webmaster, this subject is eating much of my interest and has been pushing me to dicover what is it really like.
After spending sometime looking around for the decription of what the Infromation Architect really mean, many people have come up with their own idea, as some they’re experience with it in the position, like the following …
Stephen Downes who is an information architect of the MuniMall Project said: From my own experience, I would say that the practitioners are professionals, versed in every aspect of web design, adept communicators, and gifted visualizers – they are people who eat, sleep and dream web design and structure. But you can’t put that on the job description.
I Sing the Body Electronic author Fred Moody observes: information architects are the sort of people who understand that the instructions on the shampoo bottle are just wrong: “Lather. Rinse. Repeat.” *
The Information Architects Mailing List defines an information architect as “an individual who organises the patterns inherent in information, structuring the systems that will define the next century.” I kind of like that one.
WebWord says, “Information architecture involves the design of organization and navigation systems to help people find and manage information more successfully.”
HotWired defines information architecture as “the blueprint of the site upon which all other aspects are built – form, function, metaphor, navigation and interface, interaction, and visual design.” This definition also agrees with what I do.
The Wired article, “Information architecture is the science of figuring out what you want your site to do and then constructing a blueprint before you dive in and put the thing together.” Yup.
in·for·ma·tion (in’f?r-ma’sh?n)
n. (Abbr. inf.)
Knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction. Knowledge of a specific event or situation; intelligence. See Synonyms at knowledge.
A collection of facts or data: statistical information.
The act of informing or the condition of being informed; communication of knowledge: Safety instructions are provided for the information of our passengers.
Computer Science. A nonaccidental signal or character used as an input to a computer or communications system.
A numerical measure of the uncertainty of an experimental outcome.
Law. A formal accusation of a crime made by a public officer rather than by grand jury indictment.
ar·chi·tect (är’ki-tekt’)
n.
(Abbr. arch., archt.) One who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures.
One that plans or devises: a country considered to be the chief architect of war in the Middle East.
At its most basic, information architecture is the construction of a structure or the organization of information. In a library, for example, information architecture is a combination of the catalog system and the physical design of the building that holds the books. On the Web, information architecture is a combination of organizing a site’s content into categories and creating an interface to support those categories. It stems from traditional architecture, which is made up of architectural programming and architectural planning. – from 10 questions about information architecture
Organising functionality and content into a structure that people are able to navigate intuitively doesn’t happen by chance. Organisations must recognise the importance of information architecture or else they run the risk of creating great content and functionality that no one can ever find. – Iain Barker
And more people talking about it:
- The Definition of Information Architecture - Peter Morville.
- Information architecture models – Ben Hunt
- Information architecture defined – Christina Wodtke.
- Information architecture concepts – Thomas Myer.
- Information architecture – arranging your content – Ben Hunt.
- Defining the damn thing. What is Information Architecture?
However, it might not yet complete! So somebody who know much about it could please fill up with your ideas or bring me to somewhere you know. Thank you!
