Information Architecture Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is information architecture (IA)?
The structuring and organisation of information in a digital space to improve user experience.
What three components does IA connect?
User, Content, and Context.
What is the main goal of IA?
To ensure people can find the information they need quickly, easily, and usefully.
Why is user focus important in IA?
People search for different kinds of information in different ways, so IA must accommodate user behavior.
What are implicit architectures?
Architectures inferred by users unintentionally, often due to layout or juxtaposition.
What are explicit architectures?
Clearly structured systems like navigation bars, though not always perfectly clear.
What are organisation schemes in IA?
Ways to categorise information into mutually exclusive, ordered sections like alphabetical or chronological.
What is cognitive load in IA?
The mental effort required to process information; IA should minimise this by showing only relevant content.
How can designers reduce cognitive load?
By limiting content, using filters, sorting, and allowing users to save or compare information.
What is a content audit?
An inventory of all website content to identify structure, relevance, and grouping.
What are the three key models of IA?
Navigation, Structure, and Taxonomy.
What is navigation in IA?
UI elements that help users know where they are and where they can go.
Why can too many items in a navigation menu be problematic?
It can overwhelm users and reduce usability.
What is findability?
The ease with which users can locate something they assume exists.
What is discoverability?
The ability for users to notice things they weren’t actively seeking.
How can discoverability be tested?
By observing unprompted usage in usability tests or through analytics.
What should be prioritised: search or navigation?
It depends on the site; search is cognitively taxing but direct, navigation shows structure.
What is IA structure?
A backstage map showing how all site elements relate, like a blueprint.
What is visual hierarchy?
Organising elements to build patterns and make scanning easier.
What are the types of visual structure?
Single page, flat hierarchy, deep hierarchy, polyhierarchy.
What is taxonomy in IA?
A structured list of metadata terms used to classify and describe content.
How does taxonomy differ from IA structure?
Taxonomy describes content relationships; IA structure maps site organisation.
What is context in IA?
How, where, and why users find and access information, including tech, culture, SEO.
How does SEO relate to IA?
Good SEO helps users find information via search engines, increasing visibility and reliability.
