Information Architecture

An effective Information Architecture (IA) enables people to step logically through a system confident they are getting closer to the information they require.

- Iain Barker
  • Use plain language.
  • Avoid acronyms and insider terminology. Don’t be clever.
  • Avoid pages with unclear names (i.e. "Find Out More" or "Related Links")
  • Organize according to logical categories in which users would expect to find things, around the common names they call things.
  • Plan for expansion. Find a 'home' for content that may be coming in the near future.
  • Avoid way-finding pages as much as possible If it's necessary, plan to write content for way-finding pages; pages that solely exist to get you to subpage A or B.
  • Don't overload the navigation; it's meaningless if everything is top level

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