Dan Brown
April 10 1:45PM
Is there any theoretical framework information architects can use to inform
their design decisions? Perhaps our field is too young to have a mature theory,
but that doesn't mean that there isn't a set of immutable principles that give
us a sense of quality in IA. There are eight principles that I find, time and
again, help me zero-in on good solutions.
These principles are not restricted to the visual presentation of information.
As information architects focus more on underlying structures–the rules and
frameworks that govern the experience–our theory must influence these aspects
of our work.
In this session, I will talk about each principle I use, why it is important,
and why it is immutable. For each principle, I'll show examples from around the
web, and from my own work. The eight principles are:
Paradox of choice: It is more difficult for users to choose from many options.
Progressive disclosure: Reveal bits of information at a time to create a strong
scent.
Context through content: Exemplars can clarify categories.
Multiple front doors: Any page on the site may be a "home" page.
Scale and growth: Expect content to grow and create navigation systems that
accommodate growth.
Multiple classification systems: Give users more than one way of finding
information.
Navigation by function: Establish a purpose for a navigation mechanism.
Abstraction, templating, modularization: Sites are composed of templates and
components.
I'll conclude with a rationale for a comprehensive theory of IA, exploring why
design principles are crucial, and why every designer must have them, even if
they're not these same eight principles.