Information Architecture

Have you ever been to a website and asked yourself, "Where can I find [fill in the blank] on this site ?!?" "Why did they put that content there?

Chances are, you're frustrated and asking those questions as a result of poor information architecture.

Information architecture is a somewhat unseen part of the web design process. It has to do with the way bits of content are related to one another, and how to organize that content into a meaningful structure. It also has to do with what words we use to label content.

The Information Architecture Institute defines information architecture this way:

1. The structural design of shared information environments.
2. The art and science of organizing and labeling web sites, intranets, online communities and software to support findability and usability.
3. An emerging community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.

For every website I create, I implement information architecture principles to help visitors find their way effortlessly around the site.