Class 11 – Advanced Concepts in IA (part 2)

Looked at social media and communications.  Applied a “party” analogy to understand the constructs and behaviors that occur when people come together around a shared topic or interest.  Talked about how technology has changed the “party scene”.  How brands can and can’t participate in the “party” based on assumed roles of host, member, guest, sponsor, supplier, etc.   Shared some general advice and best practice about planning a “party” and talked about implications for IA/IXD.

Assignment: 

• Incorporating IA/IXD for social media and communications
• Strategy and plan -Approach and process

Deliverables for final presentation

• Personas – who are the archetypal members of the community
• Concept models  – how will we address their unique needs through social media and communications
• Wireframes-  for a particular object
• Interactive Prototype – for a particular object 

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/ia-class-11.pptx

Class 10 – Advanced Concepts in IA (part 1)

Looked at relationship models between users and information systems.  Looked at human relationships and asked, what are qualities of a good relationship?  Applied those qualities of human relationships to relationships between humans and information systems?  Asked, why do the relationship humans have with information systems often fail?   Proposed it’s because information systems don’t listen, understand, respond and adapt.  Looked at how information systems do and don’t  listen, understand, respond and adapt and the implications for IA/IXD.

 What are the implications for IA/IXD?

Assignment:

Format: 2 minute show and tell.

• Select an information object or system that is an example of good adaptive design

• Describe  your relationship with it?

 • What are the qualities that you appreciate about it/don’t (focus on IA) What qualities would you apply if you were going to replicate it? 

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/ia-class-10.ppt

Class 9 – Search Sytems – Part 2

Looked at engines and algorithms, designing databases for the useful retrieval of information, and search interface design. 

Assignment:

Design ”Magizoologoogle”  – a search engine that allows wizards to find relevant information about fantastic creatures.

1.Define what documents on the web the engine will crawl?

2.What information the engine will retrieve from each document?

3.How will that information be indexed?

- Requirements Analysis

- Conceptual Design (graph)

- Logical Design (Boolean, other?)

- Database Design (Database and Tables)

4. Write a proprietary algorithm that will returns the most relevant results based on the requirements analysis

5.Develop a wireframe for the search engine results page

6.Show a search engine results page populated with real data

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/ia-class-9.ppt

Class 8 – Harry Potter and The Search For Fantastic Creatures (An Intro to Search Systems)

Harry Potter served as a useful context for introducing the subject of search systems.   Turns out, even wizards need to quickly find information on the web.  Talked about search systems : what they are, when to use them, the application in IA/IXD … 

Assignment:

Read Polar Bear Chap. 8&9

View Presentation:

 http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/ia-class-8.ppt

Class 7 – Rapid Prototyping

Examined the role of rapid prototyping in the IA/IXD process, the rise of rapid prototype methods, what constitutes an effective prototype, how to select the right prototype tool for the job, and demonstrated some tools.

Assignment:

Move from concept to prototype

• Deliver a paper prototype

• Deliver a digital prototype

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/ia-class-7.ppt

Class 6 – Wireframes and Applied Research Methods

Examined Wireframes: What they are, Why we use them, Shared a lot of examples.  Also looked at some applied research methods that are fast, cheap and easy to implement.

The client from Green Banana addressed questions about the company, brand, products and services.

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/ia-class-6.pptx

Class 5 – Organization, Navigation and Labeling, IA Vocabulary

http://www.datenform.de/map14_1000.jpg

Covered a lot of ground today … looked at the related topics of organization, navigation and labeling.  Introduced IA diagram vocabulary. 

Reading:

http://www.jjg.net/ia/visvocab

Deliverable:

Create a diagram of 1 of 4 processes using visual vocabulary

1.To discover new music

2.To purchase new home electronics

3.To research a vacation to an exotic destination

4. OR a process of your choice

Study for Visual Vocab Quiz

View Presentation: http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/ia-class-5.pptx

Class 4 – Usability Tests

Simulated usability tests as a way to evaluate information objects and systems – what is working, what is not, and where are there opportunities for improvement.   Explored the art and science of asking questions.  Climbed into the mind of the user.  

Deliverable:

 Deliver Usability Report to client based on observations today

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/ia-class-4.pptx

Class 3 – Mental and Concept Models

Looked at models to show the relationship between different abstract concepts.   For example, human and complex information objects or systems.  We  fished for metaphors.  

Reading:

Required: Communicating Design, Chapter 3&4

Deliverable:

Interview and document how a classmate uses the web to satisfy any one of the following needs.

1.To discover new music

2.To purchase new home electronics

3.To research a vacation to an exotic destination

Assume you are accountable for a website that they frequently visit for this need, develop a usability test plan for that website.  We will randomly select 3 plans and will simulate real live usability tests in next weeks class.

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/ia-class-3.pptx

Class 2 – Personas

Explored the history, evolution, the science and art of creating personas.   And asked, how has the way we understand user needs evolved with changes in IT.

Reading:

Required: Communicating Design, Chapter 5,6&7

Deliverable:

Survey & Document How a Particular Website Is Architected and Designed for a Person

View Presentation:

http://infoarchway.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/ia-class-2.ppt