“Information architecture is at the very center of the electronic information storm. Without effective means to structure and present the information we produce we are blown about by the vast quantities and the variable quality of that information. IA provides you a deep keel and a strong rudder to surf above the waves of information that buffet you.” – Bob Boiko
This quote is from the Information Architecture Institute’s IA testimonials.
“Design has been viewed as being aesthetic. Design equals How Something Looks. You see this attitude to design in every part of society—clothing design to interior design, less so in product design, and yes, in web design…. I think design covers so much more than the aesthetic. Design is fundamentally more. Design is usability. It is Information Architecture. It is Accessibility. This is all design.” – Mark Boulton
Read more from Mark in his 2005 article “Turning the corner: Designing for Web 2.0.“
“Findability precedes usability. In the alphabet and on the Web. You can’t use what you can’t find.” – Ambient Findability by Peter Morville
Read more from Peter on “how you find your way in an age of information overload” in his book Ambient Findability.
This quote was submitted by an inspireUX reader. Do you have a quote you want to see on inspireUX? Submit it, and it may be chosen!
“Good information architecture enables people to find and do what they came for. Great information architecture takes find out of the equation: the site behaves as the visitor expects. Poor or missing information architecture neuters content, design, and programming and devalues the site for its owners as well as the audience it was created to serve. It’s like a film with no director. The actors may be good, the sets may be lovely, but audiences will leave soon after the opening credits.” – Jeffrey Zeldman
Jeffrey’s quote is from The Information Architecture Institute’s “Testimonials” page that features quotes from people who acknowledge the value and importance of information architecture.
“Information architecture defines the structure of information. Interaction design enables people to manipulate and contribute to that information. Visual design communicates these possibilities to people and creates affinity to them. User experience is the summation of these considerations.” – Luke Wroblewski
Quote submitted by Michael Cummings. Do you have a quote you want to see on inspireUX? Submit it, and it may be chosen!
“Effective information architects make the complex clear; they make the information understandable to other human beings. If they succeed in doing that, they’re good information architects. If they fail, they’re not.” – Information Anxiety 2 by Richard Wurman
Purchase Richard’s book Information Anxiety 2 or read a select chapter from the book for his thoughts on how information architects can open themselves to being able to explain information to others.
Catriona Cornett