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Signage Design: Signage Design Designing signage systems include doing research on navigational systems and wayfinding, this makes a physical space accessible to end users. This applies to the digital landscape, since Websites have to be used by end users to obtain information online or complete transactions. Information Architects make information on Websites accessible to end users, including structuring the Information Architecture for databases to work congruently together. It also means understanding navigational systems and many other things with regard to Information Architecture. That also means understanding the right labels to use for links. Then end users can grasp and understand how to use Websites without too much trouble. Contemporary Strategies In this seminar, examination of contemporary strategies and professional practices in the field of Information Architecture, graphic design, and communications. A signage design class I took as part of my IA MAIA degree program. In our seminar, we studied about making physical environments accessible to every person. Project Completed A project was completed and demonstrated clear guidance to end users, wayfinding signs, wayfinding information, including signage design. I think learning about signage design and how that can be applied to navigational systems for Websites is helpful. User-Centered Design While Websites are cyberspaces, not physical spaces, end users have to be able to navigate successfully from Web page to Web page—or from Website to Website. In terms of interaction design, end users also have to be able to successfully complete their transactions online. If they cannot be successful in completing their transactions online, then a business may not gain revenues from selling products online. While using Websites, end users will not hang around for a long time, if they cannot access information on any given Website. This speaks to the importance of user-centered design for Websites. Keeping End Users in Mind That is why collecting data from end users prior to designing Websites is an important step, in terms of user-centered design. End users oftentimes know what they desire to have in a Website. End users can always act as subject matter experts, when they give valid reasons as to why they need it designed in a certain way. That means tapping into their desires via research or doing card sorting. Information Architects are designing with end users in mind, when research is done. That means thinking about and employing user-centered design principles with regard to Websites. User-centered design is really important in terms of usability. Of course, other considerations, like meeting the requirements of business plans are taken into account. What the client desires to have for their Website is very important, balancing between user-centered design, end users, and business plans. Jobs I Did My jobs during this project were: Project manager Production artist Graphic designer Signage designer Navigational systems designer Field work, research, and exploration Final signage design project Team Environment All our projects were done in teams of 4-5 students. Of course, that means everyone has to get along and work successfully together to complete their projects. Our real-world project for Zeum was supervised by Dr. Buss. top   |   back to portfolio Copyright ©—2007-2012. All rights reserved. Last updated: January 1, 2009 Steven Heitman, IA MAIA, IA MAEd Sr Information Architect Specialist Corporate Training Specialist IA Design & Usability