information architecture career trends 2011
DESCRIPTION
This presentation trends the IA career for 2011 and compiles career advice for budding professionals or novices.TRANSCRIPT
Information ArchitectureCareer Trends &
Perspectives
Chris Kiess, MLSAssociate Director of Information ArchitectureNational Alzheimer’s Association
The Summer of 2005 & the journey to here
The Slippery Problem of DefinitionsWhat is IA?
Taxonomies/Controlled VocabulariesFindabilityWeb Development & ProgrammingPrototypingUsability/HCI
Is it any, some or all of these?
Adding to the Confusion with Job TitlesInformation ArchitectUser Experience (UX) DesignerInteraction (IA) Designer Content StrategistContent ManagerTaxonomistUsability AnalystAnd the list will probably continue to grow
Primary Areas of IAFindabilityPrototypingContent ManagementWeb ProgrammingUsability & HCI
Findability InvolvesSEO
Search Engine RankingSite OptimizationMetatags
Pathways – Where they Arrive FromSearch Log AnalysisSite Analytics
This only gets them to your site!
Findability Within the SiteSearch EngineSound Structure and NavigationTaxonomies/Metadata/Controlled
Vocabularies Advanced Algorithms
Suggestions“If you like this, you might try…”
Social Networking
Taxonomy & Content ToolsExcelMultiTesFactiva SynapticaLexicoWeb ChoirTerm TreeData Harmony
*If you have interest in Taxonomies, take my summer S503 course online.
PrototypingWireframesMock-upsLow Fidelity Prototypes
Paper prototypesPPT, Visio, Balsamiq Mockups
High Fidelity PrototypesAxureHTML/CSS/JquerySerena
Site MapsWireframes
Prototypes/Mockups
Other Prototyping/Wireframe ToolsPhotoshop, FireworksOmnigraffleMindmapping ToolsGliffyCreatelyIpad Apps – UI Sketcher, Omnisketch, Adobe
Ideas, iMockup, Interface HD, Blueprint
Big trend in the field towards agile development moving away from concentration on these deliverables.
Content ManagementWhat is the content?Is it any good?Awareness of content lifecycle?Include the content in the software
development lifecycle!
Usability Analysis & HCIHow will you test the design?Agile development models are trendingSteve KrugNielsen’s Heuristics & Heuristic EvaluationGerhardt-Powals’ Cognitive Engineering
PrinciplesHigh Level User Testing – Techsmith’s Morae
The IA Job RoleWith such broad coverage, how in the world
would you ever prepare for this career?Is an MLS enough?What area do you concentrate on?Where to begin?
IA TrendsContent is still KingAgile DevelopmentKnow at least one scripting/programming
languageLess emphasis on deliverables and more
emphasis on moving the initial design forward
Human cognition as it relates to web development
How Do I Get a Job in IA?Join the IAI!!!IA MentoringLocal events: http://uxbookclub.org/Look at job titles, descriptions and
qualificationsIAI job boards Start thinking of and calling yourself an IASecond Degree
How Do I Get a Job in IA? Cont.
• Build a Portfolio through side projects, internships, personal work
• Put the Portfolio online!
• Make sure your portfolio follows the rules of IA
Do Your HomeworkRead the right booksKnow the fieldMake contactsKnow the languageKnow the pros and big thinkers as well as
their theoriesKnow best practices and trends
Recommended Reading:http://www.amazon.com/Usability-Web-Designing-Interactive-Technologies/dp/1558606580 http://www.jjg.net/elements/ "A Practical Guide to Information Architecture" - Donna Spencer “Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web” (2nd edition), Wodtke and Govella. "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug The IA Bible Mental Models and Prototyping A Project Guide to UX Design for User Experience Designs in the Field and in the Making : Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler
Recommended Reading:http://theixdlibrary.com/ http://undercoverux.com/ - Emergence by Stephen Johnson - Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell etc. - Beautiful Data by Toby Segaran and Jeff Hammerbacher - Morville's Ambient Findability, -Stephen Few's Information Dashboard Design, -Luke Wroblewski's Web Form Design, -Edward Tufte's Envisioning Information, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/our_favorite_books_recommendations_from_the_staff_of_boxes_and_arrows The Visual Display of Quantitative Information - Edward Tufte
Question & Answer