STEVEN HEITMAN » Sr Information Architect » IA Design & Usability

Sr Information Architect, Graphic Designer & IA Director:

Sr Information Architect Specialist
Sr User Experience Architect Specialist
Sr Interaction Design Specialist
Sr Navigational Systems Specialist
Sr Usability Expert Specialist
Sr Instructional Design Specialist

IA BAIA & BFA

Information Architecture adds structure to digital design products...
User-Centered Design adds usability value for end users...
Graphic Design adds aesthetic value to e-learning Websites...
Instructional Design adds learning value to Websites...

books...information architecture, graphic design at a university

Sr Information Architect Specialist &
Corporate Training Specialist

Specializations in Information Architecture & Graphic Design

IA BAIA & BFA: Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts with a
Concentration in Visual Communication Design—Graphic Design—Information Architecture
Emphasis: Geschichte der Schule für Gestaltung Basel

Undergraduate Degrees

The concentration provides a formal structure for our existing visual media studies incorporating Information Architecture (IA), Graphic Design and Digital Media in the IA BAIA program and with honors. The concentration is interdisciplinary, incorporating the study of graphic design history, theory, aesthetics, process, technology, materials, and marketing. Because of an extended education and extra Diploma, my IA BAIA is equivalent to the BSIT—except that my IA BAIA is a highly specialized undergraduate degree in Information Architecture and Graphic Design.

The Information Architecture and Graphic Design concentration prepares students for changes within the IA Industry, better aligning our graduates with contemporary IA methods, IA processes, best practices in Information Architecture as well as Usability Testing, IA concepts, and IA nomenclature.

While actively engaged in the IA BAIA and BFA programs, I started doing research on Information Architecture, Navigational Systems, Usability Testing, The NS Model, and The IA Model.

I did additional research to fully develop The IA Model. My research was completed to document Sr Information Architect's skills and knowledge-base of pertinent IA procedures—similar to The ADDIE Model—including IA nomenclature and IA best practices.

IA is a highly specialized field that requires specific training and education relevant to every IA job order or IA position. Without degrees in IA, I think it might be difficult to grasp why IA is both important and required for Websites or digital design products, including understanding user-centered design principles.

Also, understanding why usability testing is necessary and how to do it—in terms of doing heuristic evaluations and how to design usability tests for effective data collection (this includes doing: heuristic evaluations, heuristic estimations, cognitive walkthroughs, pluralistic walkthroughs, feature inspections, consistency inspections, standards inspections, and formal usability inspections).

Getting back to Graphic Design, the outcome learning objectives of students in the concentration in Visual Communication Design will provide them with the ability to understand the design and computer considerations of both print and digital media. In addition, extra classes from the BFA Graphic Design degree program at California College of the Arts were successfully completed. This program provided (via selected classes) specific training in Graphic Design, typography, photography, art history, art direction, as well as private tutelage with Professors that studied at The Basel School of Design.

Prior to my undergraduate degrees, I studied Prepress Production, Printing, Graphic Design, and Project Management. I was awarded an AS and Award of Achievement in Graphic Design and Communications with honors.

Accomplishing my IA BAIA, I specialized in Information Architecture and therefore have an undergraduate degree in Information Architecture coupled with two graduate-level degrees in Information Architecture (IA MAIA and IA MAEd), The NS Model, The IA Model, Project Management, and Usability Testing.

Per my training at the CCA, my emphasis was in Graphic Design.

“Universal clarity of communication is the crux of graphic design,” notes Michael Vanderbyl, a long-time Graphic Design Program faculty member. In keeping with this spirit, the program is both conceptual and skill based, emphasizing interdisciplinary thinking, theory, and rigor.

Guided by a professionally active and accomplished faculty, students are encouraged to develop their personal voices as they seek a universal message in their work. Courses in typography and digital media complement the conceptual aspects of the program.

Graphic Design students have access to a broad range of facilities and can take courses in photography, film, video, bookbinding, screenprinting, and letterpress printing, among other disciplines.