In this month’s .NET (issue 164 / July 2007) , Dave Chaffey advises a web designer who’s client who has changed their business name and needs redirects to a new domain name. Dave says that if the new site has a new URL structure / information architecture, the web author should set up mapping at page level.
Okay, let’s do a little experiment. How about transposing the words ‘information architecture’ with the second definition provided by the Information Architecture institute. How does it look now?
“[if] the new site has a different [art and science of organizing and labeling web sites, intranets, online communities and software to support usability and findability] you should set up mapping at the page level”
The confusion of this sentence arises from the nature of information architecture. It is a multi-displinary strategic approach, whereas url structure is a specific activity which is a part of information architecture. It is vital that the complexity of information architecture is recognised, otherwise we will have web designers and web authors thinking that information architecture is something they do, and us information architects will have to reinvent the discipline to distinguish what we do.
Perhaps we need to set up an IA Watch organisation to look out for and challenge misuse of the term before we have to start talking about ‘Real Information Architecture’.
Given that many people who commission websites haven’t got much beyond “I am not quite sure of what I need”, I think drawing attention to the need for IA would be phase one; then getting as many people interested in it as possible, and then starting to develop standards for who can call themselves an information architect.
it is good pls,i need a copy it.