Guide to Information Architecture (IA) in Website Design.
The structure of your website is the first point of contact between you and your users. It defines how users interact with your website and determines whether or not they will continue or stop interacting with it. You must consider what your website is offering, What problem you are solving, and how it is of help to the users. When users have to hassle and scroll through the website before they understand what you are offering. Then there is a problem that needs solving. So what do you do to avoid or solve this?
By defining your Information Architecture (IA).
IA is a Diagram that shows how your website design appears, from hierarchy to layouts, and how you organize information into a discernable structure easily comprehensible and understandable to your users.
Information architecture is made up of three pieces;
1. Organization- bringing different pieces of information together in a product.
2. Hierarchy- Arranging information according to importance and category- larger categories are placed above the smaller categories for users to be able to differentiate and understand.
3. Sequence- Information is placed in a specific order or steps for users to follow.
Reasons why you need IA and why it is important for your website.
⦁ Organize and define the structure of your website.
There are common site structures that you can choose from, like the hierarchical model, matrix model, sequential model, etc. Read here.
This model each has its guidelines and process, which all narrow down to one thing- passing information in a desirable way that will ease the user experience and improve website navigation. It is necessary to understand your users and the purpose of the website first before choosing any of these models to work with.
⦁ Engineers understand how to organize data.
Through IA, engineers will know how, when, and where data goes without needing to sort it out themselves. It also makes it easier for them to organize the data and process by following the structures and models used in the IA. Unstructured data and jumbled processes will lead to a prolonged work period, mistakes are bound to occur through either mixing information or generally making the whole process difficult for them. A carefully structured IA brings ease and a defined process for all.
⦁ Provide a high-level view of a product.
A well-structured website gives a product an exceptional view from users, engineers, stakeholders, etc. It shows you know exactly what you are doing, the processes you followed, and shows how dedicated you are to solving problems in discernable ways. Users will have no problem going through the experience when the product is good.
⦁ Help stakeholders review your designs.
Stakeholders are expected to review your designs at every step and stage of the product Design before moving forward and making iterations. They will go through your work and give you great reviews when you have all the basics laid out and have a defined structure, compared to having it disorganized. It will be easier to understand how your design works, the purpose of your arrangement, and the processes involved in the design. No one will want to go through a jumbled work or have to piece up the pieces themselves to make it work or make sense of it.
⦁ Allow your ideas to grow and iterate with the design
It is easier for you as a designer to iterate on a Design with a well-structured IA than without one. It enables you to follow the layout you used to make iterations by knowing precisely where and what needed iterations. You can also explore more ideas related to your designs when you have a well-defined structure and layout.
The 8 Basic Principles of IA;
1. Object principle
2. Choice principle
3. Disclosure principle
4. Exemplar principle
5. Front door principle
6. Focused navigation
7. Multiple classification
8. Growth principle
Luisa Quinn wrote extensively on the eight principles of IA. Read here
Sitemap
Some designers often confuse IA with a sitemap. While IA is a diagram that shows the entire structure of your website, a sitemap is a diagram that shows how your website pages are prioritized, linked, and labeled. All website requires a sitemap, while for mobile Applications, it's not a necessity. IA is often enough. Just like IA, sitemaps have a defined layout. They can be single-columned, multi-columned, tiered layer cakes, Z-shaped columns, etc.
Read extensively on sitemaps here
It is important to carefully understand both and know where and how to apply both before working on any website to avoid confusing users and deviating from your objectives.
