Steven Heitman > Information Architect

What is Information Architecture?

The Information Architecture Institute gives this definition for Information Architecture (IA) as:

The structural design of shared information environments.

The art of science of organizing and labeling Websites, Intranets, online communities and software—to support usability, user-centered design and findability.

An emerging community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and Information Architecture to the digital landscape.

The term Information Architecture describes a specialized skill set, which relates to the interpretation of information and expression or distinctions between signs and systems of signs.

It has some degree of origin in the library sciences and information design. Many Universities teach Information Architecture in the Library Science and Graphic Design Departments.

Importance of Information Architecture

The significance and great importance of Information Architecture is that it provides needed structure for digital design products and Websites, making information technology usable.

Without structure it might be difficult to wayfind and sense-make on Websites or using other interactive products.

By providing Websites, or other digital design products, with structure, information is put in order and structured—no longer chaotic.

This speaks to about how end users wayfind, sense-make, or navigate, using digital design products. The importance of designing with user-centered design principles in mind—prior to implementation.