Information architecture: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Structural design of shared information}}
{{Short description|Structural design of shared information}}
{{Information science}}
{{Information science}}
'''Information architecture''' ('''IA''') is the structural design of shared [[information]] environments; the [[art]] and [[science]] of organizing and labelling [[website]]s, [[intranet]]s, [[online communities]] and [[software]] to support usability and findability; and an emerging [[community of practice]] focused on bringing principles of [[design]], [[architecture]] and [[information science]] to the digital landscape.<ref name = "What">{{Cite web|title = What is IA? |publisher = Information Architecture Institute |url = https://www.iainstitute.org/sites/default/files/what_is_ia.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728174722/https://www.iainstitute.org/sites/default/files/what_is_ia.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  Typically, it involves a [[Scientific modelling|model]] or [[concept]] of [[information]] that is used and applied to activities which require explicit details of complex [[information system]]s. These activities include [[library]] systems and [[database]] development.
'''Information architecture''' is the structural design of shared [[information]] environments, in particular the organisation of [[website]]s and [[software]] to support [[usability]] and findability.
 
The term information architecture was coined by [[Richard Saul Wurman]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} Since its inception, information architecture has become an emerging [[community of practice]] focused on applying principles of [[design]], [[architecture]] and [[information science]] in digital spaces.<ref name="What">{{Cite web|title = What is IA? |publisher = Information Architecture Institute |url = https://www.iainstitute.org/sites/default/files/what_is_ia.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728174722/https://www.iainstitute.org/sites/default/files/what_is_ia.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>   
 
Typically, a [[Scientific modelling|model]] or [[concept]] of [[information]] is used and applied to activities which require explicit details of complex [[information system]]s. These activities include [[library]] systems and [[database]] development.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}


==Definition==
==Definition==
''Information architecture'' has somewhat different meanings in different branches of [[information system]]s or [[information technology]]:
The term ''information architecture'' has different meanings in different branches of [[information system]]s or [[information technology]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Dillon |first=A |year=2002 |title=Information Architecture in JASIST: Just where did we come from? |journal=Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=821–23 |doi=10.1002/asi.10090}}.</ref>
# The structural design of shared information environments.{{Sfn | Morville | Rosenfeld | 2007}}{{Rp|4}}
 
# The art and science of organizing and labeling web sites, intranets, online communities, and software to support [[findability]] and [[usability]].<ref name="What"/><ref>Morville&nbsp;&amp; Rosenfeld (2000). p.&nbsp;4. "The art and science of shaping information products and experienced to support usability and findability."</ref>
=== User experience ===
# An emerging [[community of practice]] focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.{{Sfn | Morville | Rosenfeld | 2007}}{{Rp|4}}<ref>Resmini, A. & Rosati, L. (2012). A Brief History of Information Architecture. ''Journal of Information Architecture''. Vol. 3, No. 2. [Available at http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/03-resmini/]. Originally published in Resmini, A. & Rosati L. (2011). ''Pervasive Information Architecture''. [[Morgan Kaufmann]]. (Edited by the authors).</ref>
In [[user experience design]], information architecture has been described as the  structural design of shared information environments,{{Sfn|Morville|Rosenfeld|2007}}{{Rp|4}} comprising the study and practice of organising and labelling web sites, intranets, online communities, and software to support [[user experience]], in particular, the [[findability]] and [[usability]] of information.<ref name="What" /><ref>Morville&nbsp;& Rosenfeld (2000). p.&nbsp;4. "The art and science of shaping information products and experienced to support usability and findability."</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2023 |title=Information Architecture |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Information_architecture |publisher=Mozilla Developer Network}}</ref> It has also been described as an emerging [[community of practice]] focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.{{Sfn|Morville|Rosenfeld|2007}}{{Rp|4}}<ref>Resmini, A. & Rosati, L. (2012). A Brief History of Information Architecture. ''Journal of Information Architecture''. Vol. 3, No. 2. [Available at http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/03-resmini/]. Originally published in Resmini, A. & Rosati L. (2011). ''Pervasive Information Architecture''. [[Morgan Kaufmann]]. (Edited by the authors).</ref>
# The combination of organization, labeling, search and navigation systems within websites and intranets.{{Sfn | Morville | Rosenfeld | 2007}}{{Rp|4}}
 
# Extracting required parameters/data of Engineering Designs in the process of creating a knowledge-base linking different systems and standards.
=== Information systems ===
# A blueprint and navigational aid to the content of information-rich systems.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Toms|first1=Elaine|author1-link=Elaine G. Toms|title=Information interaction: Providing a framework for information architecture|journal=Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology|date=17 May 2012|volume=53|issue=10.1002/asi.10094|pages=855–862|doi=10.1002/asi.10094}}</ref>
Technically speaking, information architecture comprises the combination of organization, labeling, search and navigation systems within websites and intranets,{{Sfn | Morville | Rosenfeld | 2007}}{{Rp|4}} serving as a navigational aid to the content of information-rich systems.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Toms |first1=Elaine |author1-link=Elaine G. Toms |date=17 May 2012 |title=Information interaction: Providing a framework for information architecture |journal=Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology |volume=53 |issue=10.1002/asi.10094 |pages=855–862 |doi=10.1002/asi.10094}}</ref>
# A subset of [[data architecture]] where usable data (a.k.a. information) is constructed in and designed or arranged in a fashion most useful or empirically holistic to the users of this data.
 
# The practice of organizing the information / content / functionality of a web site so that it presents the best user experience it can, with information and services being easily usable and findable (as applied to web design and development).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Information_architecture|title=Information Architecture|date=8 June 2023 |publisher=Mozilla Developer Network}}</ref>
=== Data architecture ===
# The conceptual framework surrounding information, providing context, awareness of location and sustainable structure.
Information architecture can be described as a subset of [[data architecture]] where usable data is constructed, designed, and arranged in a fashion most useful to the users of data.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
 
=== Systems design ===
In the field of [[systems design]], for example, information architecture is a component of [[enterprise architecture]] that deals with the information component when describing the structure of an enterprise.<ref name=":0" /> Some system design practitioners regard information architecture as strictly the application of [[information science]] to [[web design]], which considers such issues as [[classification]] and [[information retrieval]], and not factors like [[user experience]] and [[information design]].<ref name=":0" />
 
== Principles ==
Principles of information architecture include the following:<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brown |first=Dan |date=2010 |title=Eight principles of information architecture |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bult.2010.1720360609 |journal=Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology |language=en |volume=36 |issue=6 |pages=30–34 |doi=10.1002/bult.2010.1720360609 |issn=1550-8366|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Information Architecture |url=https://webfirst.uark.edu/ |access-date=2025-10-04 |website=WEBFirst |language=en}}</ref>


=== Debate ===
* The principle of objects
The difficulty in establishing a common definition for "information architecture" arises partly from the term's existence in multiple fields.  In the field of [[systems design]], for example, information architecture is a component of [[enterprise architecture]] that deals with the information component when describing the structure of an enterprise.
* The principle of choices
* The principle of disclosure
* The principle of exemplars
* The principle of front doors
* The principle of multiple classification
* The principle of focused navigation
* The principle of growth


While the definition of information architecture is relatively well-established in the field of systems design, it is much more debatable within the context of online information (i.e., websites). Andrew Dillon refers to the latter as the "big IA–little IA debate".<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Dillon | first = A | year = 2002 | title = Information Architecture in JASIST: Just where did we come from? | journal = Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology | volume = 53 | pages = 821–23 | issue = 10 | doi = 10.1002/asi.10090 }}.</ref> In the little IA view, information architecture is essentially the application of [[information science]] to [[web design]] which considers, for example, issues of classification and information retrieval. In the big IA view, information architecture involves more than just the organization of a website; it also factors in [[user experience]], thereby considering [[usability]] issues of [[information design]].
==History==
[[Richard Saul Wurman]] is credited with coining the term information architecture in relation to the design of information.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}


==Notable people in information architecture==
From 1998 to 2015, [[Peter Morville]] and [[Louis Rosenfeld]] were co-authors of ''Information Architecture for the World Wide Web.''{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}


*[[Richard Saul Wurman]], credited with coining the term information architecture in relation to the design of information
Other authors include [[Jesse James Garrett]] and [[Christina Wodtke]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
*[[Peter Morville]], president of Semantic Studios and co-author of ''Information Architecture for the World Wide Web'' (1998, 2002, 2006, 2015)
*[[Louis Rosenfeld]], founder of Rosenfeld Media and co-author of ''Information Architecture for the World Wide Web'' (1998, 2002, 2006, 2015)
*[[Jesse James Garrett]], co-founder of Adaptive Path and author of ''The Elements of User Experience'' (2002)
*[[Christina Wodtke]], author of ''Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web'' (2003)


== See also ==
== See also ==
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* {{annotated link|Enterprise information security architecture}}
* {{annotated link|Enterprise information security architecture}}
* {{annotated link|Faceted classification}}
* {{annotated link|Faceted classification}}
* {{annotated link|File format}}
* {{annotated link|Human factors and ergonomics}}
* {{annotated link|Human factors and ergonomics}}
* {{annotated link|Informatics}}
* {{annotated link|Informatics}}

Latest revision as of 23:30, 28 November 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Sidebar". Information architecture is the structural design of shared information environments, in particular the organisation of websites and software to support usability and findability.

The term information architecture was coined by Richard Saul Wurman.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Since its inception, information architecture has become an emerging community of practice focused on applying principles of design, architecture and information science in digital spaces.[1]

Typically, a model or concept of information is used and applied to activities which require explicit details of complex information systems. These activities include library systems and database development.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Definition

The term information architecture has different meanings in different branches of information systems or information technology.[2]

User experience

In user experience design, information architecture has been described as the structural design of shared information environments,Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Rp comprising the study and practice of organising and labelling web sites, intranets, online communities, and software to support user experience, in particular, the findability and usability of information.[1][3][4] It has also been described as an emerging community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Rp[5]

Information systems

Technically speaking, information architecture comprises the combination of organization, labeling, search and navigation systems within websites and intranets,Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Rp serving as a navigational aid to the content of information-rich systems.[6]

Data architecture

Information architecture can be described as a subset of data architecture where usable data is constructed, designed, and arranged in a fashion most useful to the users of data.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Systems design

In the field of systems design, for example, information architecture is a component of enterprise architecture that deals with the information component when describing the structure of an enterprise.[2] Some system design practitioners regard information architecture as strictly the application of information science to web design, which considers such issues as classification and information retrieval, and not factors like user experience and information design.[2]

Principles

Principles of information architecture include the following:[7][8]

  • The principle of objects
  • The principle of choices
  • The principle of disclosure
  • The principle of exemplars
  • The principle of front doors
  • The principle of multiple classification
  • The principle of focused navigation
  • The principle of growth

History

Richard Saul Wurman is credited with coining the term information architecture in relation to the design of information.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

From 1998 to 2015, Peter Morville and Louis Rosenfeld were co-authors of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Other authors include Jesse James Garrett and Christina Wodtke.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Morville & Rosenfeld (2000). p. 4. "The art and science of shaping information products and experienced to support usability and findability."
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Resmini, A. & Rosati, L. (2012). A Brief History of Information Architecture. Journal of Information Architecture. Vol. 3, No. 2. [Available at http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/03-resmini/]. Originally published in Resmini, A. & Rosati L. (2011). Pervasive Information Architecture. Morgan Kaufmann. (Edited by the authors).
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Bibliography

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Further reading

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