Eight Principles of Information Architecture

8 Principles of Information Architecture Dan Brown EightShapes, LLC hashtag: #8principles

What do IAs design? http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/inajeep/23647427/sizes/l/

IAs design structures

1 Treat content as objects http://www.edenfoods.com/store/product_details.php?products_id=102950#nutrition

2 Paradox of Choice http://ny.racked.com/uploads/2007_03_wf_matzos.jpg

3 Progressive Disclosure

http://neads.org/graduation/photos/ 4 Exemplars

http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/49024304@N00/2435212284/sizes/l/ backdoor 5 Multiple front doors

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shortage of candidates. Save Earth If you've had a Coke, You've helped (Related: "Earliest Known Galaxies Spied in Deep Hubble Picture.") support global recycling services. LivePositively.com/JoinUs It's also unclear whether the roaming seed fields played a role in the subsequent formation of galaxies and galaxy clusters, since the fields' exact intensities have Image Earth yet to be measured. ClipArt - Pictures Image Earth www.Bing.com "In general, I tend to think that they do not play a significant role in the formation of the galaxies, because they are too weak" at the low levels the Fermi team observed, Neronov said. The new Fermi data on blazars are published in this week's issue of the journal Science. Latest News "Supertaskers" Can Frozen Fish Reel in New Blind Snakes Photos: Braving the Phone and Drive Wind Power Discovered Iceland Volcano More From National Geographic Water Pressure Life in Color: Purple Photo of the Day: Maya Rise and Fall Lost Tribes of the Wind Power Mountain Gorilla Best of May 2009 Green Sahara

http://marvelsuperstars.ﬁles.wordpress.com/2009/07/hulk.jpg 6 Growth

THE WHITEBOARD Search: PLAY BALL: President Obama tossed the first pitch at Nationals Park Monday afternoon, throwing high and wide to start the Washington team's opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Obama drew cheers and boos from the crowd as he strolled onto the field wearing a Chicago White Sox cap, in a nod to his hometown team. Continue Reading All of today's posts Your afternoon speed-read Specter sport 'Room' for discussion on yuan Reuters | YAO & BUCKLEY Monday Apr. 5, 2010 All Times Eastern Pressure mounts on USDA claims The Hill | KEVIN BOGARDUS 7:00 AM Jobless benefits expire for thousands CNN | BRIANNA KEILAR 8:00 AM Do voters care about unemployment? Atlantic | DEREK THOMPSON 9:00 AM Service sector gauge grows faster AP | TALI ARBEL 9:30 AM Obama receives the

In demand Celgarded 'Bloody triage' for WHCA dinner By KENDRA MARR | 04/02/10 2:13 PM Tight access at Obama's speech By GLENN THRUSH | 04/02/10 3:16 PM The WHCA is flooded with record-breaking demand for 300 tables, at $2,250 a pop, just The Charlotte company hosting Obama says one week after sending invites ... reporters can talk with employees only about how they "felt" after the speech ... Continue Reading Continue Reading Velvet carpet Overplayed Europe leaders dining with Obama

http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/pliabletrade/331020282/sizes/o/ 7 Multiple classi cation schemes

8 Navigation by function http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/mvjantzen/377111497/sizes/o/

Hanley-Wood CMS Information Architecture 10 Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) 4.0 Dynamic Navigation To respond to breaking news or to escalate crucial categories, the global navigation includes a space to highlight lower-level topics. Hanley-Wood CMS Information Architecture Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) 8 [MagazineTitle] Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Default View [CategoryName] [topic] [topic] [topic] 2.0 Magazine Navigation links toarea contains three [topic] The hot topics Search or four [topic] lower-level topics. [topic] Products & Reviews Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... These topics should be consistent The web site and the print version of the site, and should throughout the change: magazines are distinct entities but must reflect When there’s breaking news in a and support each other. new category At a predetermined interval CMS Information Architecture Hanley-Wood to Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) 9 reflect the topics with the latest Default View [MagazineTitle] stories Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Current [CategoryName] Search These links take users to a table of [topic] [topic] Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] [topic] [topic] Service Navigation [topic] [topic] Products & Reviews 3.0 [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... contents for the current issue of the print magazine, a list of every issue, and a page of subscriptions options. Hanley Wood’s sites offer more than just article- based content. Services provide useful tools and data to the building industry. Hanley-Wood CMS Information Architecture 7 Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) [MagazineTitle] Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Default View Why No Categories? [CategoryName] Search Every site has a set of 3-4 primary Leaving services uncategorized Products services, drawn by the editors from affords Hanley Wood several [topic] [topic] Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] Topical Navigation [topic] & Reviews 1.0[Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... the master list of services. By varying the exposed services by site, editors advantages: Scalability: When it comes time can meet the needs of individual The primary navigation element across all Hanley to addbe hamstrung Hanleyexisting won’t new services, Wood audiences. The “more...” link provides by an Wood sites is topical navigation, which allows set of categories. access to a comprehensive list of services. Junk-Drawer Syndrome: quick access to specific topics. Awards Inevitably, some services will be orphaned, forcing the need for a Books catch-all group. [MagazineTitle] Building Code Information Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Default View Top-Level Topics [CategoryName] Quick Access: Without an Cost vs. Value Search additional layer of navigation, appears Primary topical navigation To balance user needs with the Courses [topic] Products as a horizontal row in the global operational issues surrounding [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] & Reviews users can quickly access these Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] Events navigation area. The current topic [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... useful tools. content management, every Hanley is highlighted, if relevant. Every Wood site should draw top-level Forms story should appear in one of the topics from this list: House Plans top-level topics. If a story appears in Jobs more than one topic, and there is no Operations and Finance Products pre-determined context, the story’s Construction and Installation primary topic is highlighted. Materials Project Galleries Sales and Marketing Research Reports Technology Subcontractors Trends Top Companies Design and Planning [MagazineTitle] Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Expanded View Videos Economics and Business [CategoryName] Search As users roll over each topic, an Weather By using the same top-level topics [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] Products expanded menu appears to show Yellow Pages & Reviews across all sites, Hanley Wood also sub-topics. Given the flat hierarchy of Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] • • [subtopic001] [subtopic002] • [subtopic005] • [subtopic006] [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... Hanley Wood’s contolled vocabulary, facilitated content syndication and • [subtopic003] • [subtopic007] these subtopics should be chosen by sharing between them. • [subtopic004] • [subtopic008] an editor.

Hanley-Wood CMS Information Architecture 10 Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) 4.0 Dynamic Navigation To respond to breaking news or to escalate crucial categories, the global navigation includes a space to highlight lower-level topics. Hanley-Wood CMS Information Architecture Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) 8 [MagazineTitle] Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Default View [CategoryName] [topic] [topic] [topic] 2.0 Magazine Navigation links toarea contains three [topic] The hot topics Search or four [topic] lower-level topics. [topic] Products & Reviews Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... These topics should be consistent The web site and the print version of the throughout the site, and should change: magazines are distinct entities but must breaking news in a When there’s reflect and support each other. new category At a predetermined interval CMS Information Architecture Hanley-Wood to Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) reflect the topics with the latest [MagazineTitle] stories Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Default View [CategoryName] Search These links take users to a table of contents for the current issue of the [topic] [topic] Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] [topic] [topic] Service Navigation [topic] [topic] Products & Reviews 3.0 [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... print magazine, a list of every issue, and a page of subscriptions options. Hanley Wood’s sites offer more than just article- based content. Services provide useful tools and data to the building industry. Hanley-Wood CMS Information Architecture Version 1.2 published October 22, 2007 by Dan Brown (dan@eightshapes.com) [MagazineTitle] Current Issue • Archive • Subscriptions Default View [CategoryName] Search Every site has a set of 3-4 primary Products services, drawn by the editors from [topic] [topic] Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] [topic] [topic] [topic] Topical Navigation [topic] & Reviews 1.0[Service] • [Service] • [Service] • [Service] • more... the master list of services. By varyi the exposed services by site, editor can meet the needs of individual The primary navigation element across all H audiences. The “more...” link prov Wood sites is topical navigation, which al access to a comprehensive list of services. quick access to specific topics. Awards Books [MagazineTitle] Building Code InformationArchive Current Issue • [CategoryName] Cost vs. Value Search [topic] [topic] [topic] Courses [topic] [topic] [topic] Hot Topics: [topic], [topic], [topic] Events [Service] • [Service] • [Service] Forms

A eory of IA?

http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/michaelcarpentier/4378016700/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Agreement http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/michaelcarpentier/4378016700/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Agreement Interpretation http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/michaelcarpentier/4378016700/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Agreement Interpretation Internalization http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/michaelcarpentier/4378016700/sizes/l/in/photostream/

anks! email dan@eightshapes.com social networks brownorama