Outputs of Information Architecture
Site-level concerns are often overlooked, as developers are charged with balancing the visible page-level Human Factors, Interaction Design and Usability engineering. The implications are long lasting, especially as the site grows and become a complex and growing system.
Below is a breakdown of areas that are often left behind, and a list of outputs. Comparing the list to the outputs from your process can help you find the process gaps.
XD: Experience Design – XD is driven by the touch points between people and your site/brand; therefore, a major output of XD is to increase those touch points to create a stronger outcome.
XD Outputs
customer lifecycle plan
marketing campaign
multichannel strategy
IA: Information Architecture – AI is information in complex systems bound by a model. It’s building the way information is structured, and labeling it to support usability and findability.
IA Outputs
taxonomies
site maps
flow diagrams
screen-level design
navigation maps
thesaurus
dictionary
prototypes
swimlane chart
wireframe
UX: User Experience - UX is looking at the system from the user’s perspective, and how they interact with the information therein.
UX Outputs
Usability Site Audit
flow diagrams
navigation maps
user stories
personas
site map
content inventory
wireframes/storyboards
prototypes
written specs
graphic mockups