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When you walk into a dark strange room, what is one of the first things you do? Many skim their hand along the wall in search of a light switch. As the lights are turned on, the room is filled with light. Light allows you to navigate and visualize the colors, textures and design of the room. As you walk around the room, you scan for information as to what this room can provide. Many websites are in essence a room filled with light in which the user will discover its contents. Navigation, userability, design and message construction are part of the information architecture blueprint. This blog will discuss how information architecture contains similar principles to the physical architecture found in a room.

Imagine walking into a dark room where couch after couch is put in the doorway and entrance of a room. How painful and frustrating this experience would be. Many would turn around after the second bump and leave the room. A website’s navigation provides the user with the blueprint to browse through the site. It should be immediately recognizable, not necessarily the prime focus, but it must be visible. It is a tool for the user to navigate and must be prominent. If your site contains the navigation on the left hand side of the page, it should be in the same spot for other pages in the site. Word selection should be carefully chosen to lead viewers toward important information. A link that doesn’t work or goes to a page not found is frustrating and the viewer will leave the site.  

Navigation, search and collaboration are the invisible threads that make up the userability of a website; it is the underground wiring behind the light switch. It is the digital structures in which information is shared with spaces. Compatibility to the person’s computer or mobile device is an important aspect with userability. The ability to key word search either for the site URL or within the site has become commonplace. It helps prioritize information within the mind of the user to find quick results. The ability to collaborate images, hyperlinks, sound and video to other website allows for further userability within sites. 

Besides navigation and userability, design is a first impression a person has when entering the website and provides individual uniqueness and identity. Design can encompass color, visual texture, sound, video and font style. A site with bright yellow/green, which can be found at http://www.dontclick.it, is screaming that its message is important. Pale tones or earth tones, such as the ones found at http://www.spamagazine.com/, may denote calm and well-being. A serif or script font, Times New Roman for instance, may imply elegance or sophistication. A sans serif or straight font such as Helvetica, may imply a modern, fashionable, uncomplicated message. Many subscribers have cable modem or DSL but not everyone. Graphics should not take more than a second or two to download. If it takes longer, people likely will leave your site. The overall design is the architectural features of a website. 

Text, images, sound and video are the messages of a website; it is the picture that is inside the picture frame. Each item on the site represents the overall theme or purpose. Messages should be chosen to create an impact for understanding, the “WoW” factor, sharing, etc. For instance, www.macys.com provides various merchandise for shopping, http://www.dontclick.it promotes reasons not to have a button that clicks and http://loc8ed.com/501/ promotes the latest blog posts for ICM 501. Messages are bundles of data in which viewers may have a variety of expectations. The news site www.cnn.com provides messages about important stories around the world, while www.techblog.org provides messages on technology and a place for someone to comment. Messages provide the overall tone and emotion felt when walking into a room or a website.  

There are numerous websites on the web. A schematic that allows for clear navigation, userability, design and message construction will allow for interaction and connection to places within or to other websites. It is the proverbial light that illuminates the pages and invites people to explore. 

References

Catani, M., Chadwick-Dias, A., Connor, E., LeDoux, L., True, M., Tullis, T., A Study of Website navigation methods. Fidelity Investments. Retrieved October 28, 2006, from http://www.eastonmass.net/tullis/WebsiteNavigation/WebsiteNavigationPaper.htm.

How to find articles. Retrieved October 22, 2006 from http://www.library.yale.edu/instruction/journals/pages/stepfourcard.html.

Kiley, J., The immutable laws of effective navigation, Part 2 Let it stand out. Logo designworks. Retrieved October 28, 2006, from http://www.logodesignworks.com/articles/ar23_navigationlaw2.htm.

Krug, S. (2000). Don’t make me think. Indianapolis: New Riders, pp. 1-39.

 Wodke, C. (2001). Defining information architecture deliverables. Boxes and Arrows.