Information architecture (IA)
Information architecture is the structuring and organisation of your websites' content, functionality, navigation and search schemes. The information architecture that we develop for you will be based around both your business goals and user needs. Ultimately for your website, this will:
- Increase task completion and conversion rates
- Improve the user experience
- Encourage site visitors to return again and again
The results of Webcredible's work have been outstanding - our new site now converts 50% more visitors into customers and customer service issues have fallen by over 70%.
James Hickman, Plumbworld (see more testimonials)
Following on from the information architecture process, we can design and build web page templates for all wireframe designs through our accessible CSS web design service.
Deliverables from information architecture
The final deliverables in any information architecture process are usually a content inventory, site map and wireframe designs. Wireframes typically contain extensive annotations to explain both how the functionality works and why page items are placed where they are.
Methodology for information architecture process
User research & content requirements
The information architecture process typically begins with us meeting with and interviewing key stakeholders. This will help us gain a thorough understanding of your business and user needs, as well as any technical constraints you may have. We would also conduct highly focused user research (usually in the form of user interviews & contextual enquiry) to give us and you a complete understanding of your users' needs, goals and behaviours.
Based on your business strategy and customer needs, we'll create a content inventory that lists key content and functionality to appear on your site.
Information structuring & categorisation
Cambs Council relaunches community site
Cambs Council has relaunched its community site to be fully based around user needs, offering the functionality required by local people.
Read the Webcredible Cambridgeshire County Council case study.
To create the best possible information architecture for your site, we'll conduct card sorting to understand how users organise the site information 'in their heads'. We'll analyse the results and produce a site map designed around how your users think (and not how you as an organisation are structured).
During the card sorting, we'll check that users can understand the planned navigation labels and descriptions. We'll record these labels and descriptions in a controlled vocabulary that we and you can use to decide the labelling of new content and functionality as your site grows.
If you need it, we'll also create a metadata scheme that describes your site features and content in a scheme that will support flexible site structures and navigation.
Page & navigation design
Based on both your customer needs and your business goals we'll design a navigation scheme that enables users to move around the site's information architecture quickly and effectively. We'll produce wireframes that show global and local navigation, as well as supplementary navigation (to link related items together using your metadata scheme).
Wireframes are blueprints (or schematics) of page designs that contain all the major elements of a real page, without any graphic design. We'll design the wireframes in such a way that they're comprehensible, well structured and support both user and business goals. Wireframes work in much the same way that architectural blue prints define a building's structure.
Finally, we'll convert the wireframes into a working prototype and carry out usability testing on the prototype. We'll recruit a small number of individuals from your target audience and have them complete typical tasks they would carry out on the finished website. The wireframes are then adjusted accordingly.
What next?
Please contact us by phone on 0870 242 6095 or by e-mail at info at webcredible.co.uk. We'll discuss your information architecture needs and requirements with no pushy sales pitch and no obligation to you.
