Information Architecture (IA) Fundamentals from Udemy

Without good, relevant content, there’s no compelling reason for anyone to visit or use the site or app; without clear, understandable structure, no one can find anything. How pages or screens are divided and categorized is a direct result of Information Architecture (IA). What shows up in your navigation menus and interactive controls is a result of IA. The information on a single screen and how people move through it — and what’s connected to it — is the result of IA.

Your physical body can’t perform any task without the bones under your muscles and skin, which are designed to support those actions. In the same way, a site, app or system can’t deliver anything to anyone unless its bone structure — it’s Information Architecture — is specifically designed to support those tasks.

Information Architecture Fundamentals walks you through everything you need to know — from determining what content should be presented to what it’s called to how it’s organized and what format it’s delivered in. Taken from Joe Natoli's popular UX & Web Design Master Course taken by more than 7,000 students, these laser-focused lessons will show you how to:

Develop an IA that clearly illustrates the depth of content, its organization and priority.
Label and organize content in a way that makes sense to users.
Rules and methods for organizing the content and flow of a website, app or system.
Identify and diagram the content workflows critical to your product’s success.
Work with clients or stakeholders to find out how content should be edited, approved and published.
Extend an IA to the logical structures and naming conventions of the code files that make the product reality.
Make sure your content — and its organization — is relevant, appropriate and useful.
The five core types of IA models, and when to use each type.
Five ways to organize and categorize content types that always apply, no matter what you’re creating.
The best way to test and validate your IA with clients, stakeholders and users.
How to use IA work to develop primary, secondary, global and local navigation.
How to determine key navigation paths and test their appropriateness
My tips for rock-solid IA, based on nearly three decades working with some of the biggest brands in the world.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop an ia that clearly illustrates the depth of content, its organization and priority.
Label and organize content in a way that makes sense to users.
Rules and methods for organizing the content and flow of a website, app or system.
Identify and diagram the content workflows critical to your product’s success.
Work with clients or stakeholders to find out how content should be edited, approved and published.
Extend an ia to logical structures and naming conventions of the code files that make the product reality.
Make sure your content — and its organization — is relevant, appropriate and useful.
Organize the content and flow of any kind of website, app or system.

The five core types of ia models, and when to use each type.
Five ways to organize and categorize content types that always apply, no matter what you’re creating.
The best way to test and validate your ia with clients, stakeholders and users.
How to use ia work to develop primary, secondary, global and local navigation.
How to determine key navigation paths and test their appropriateness.
My tips for rock-solid ia, based on nearly three decades working with the biggest brands in the world.
Show more
Show less

Develop an ia that clearly illustrates the depth of content, its organization and priority.
Label and organize content in a way that makes sense to users.
Rules and methods for organizing the content and flow of a website, app or system.
Identify and diagram the content workflows critical to your product’s success.
Work with clients or stakeholders to find out how content should be edited, approved and published.
Extend an ia to logical structures and naming conventions of the code files that make the product reality.
Make sure your content — and its organization — is relevant, appropriate and useful.
Organize the content and flow of any kind of website, app or system.
The five core types of ia models, and when to use each type.
Five ways to organize and categorize content types that always apply, no matter what you’re creating.
The best way to test and validate your ia with clients, stakeholders and users.
How to use ia work to develop primary, secondary, global and local navigation.
How to determine key navigation paths and test their appropriateness.
My tips for rock-solid ia, based on nearly three decades working with the biggest brands in the world.
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Overview

What IS Information Architecture?

Architecture: Creating a Solid Foundation

Content: Strategy, Requirements and Workflows

Creating Strategic Content

Identifying Content Requirements

Exercise: Identifying Content Workflows

Creating Successful IA: Models, Categories, Labels and Language

First: My Tips for Successful Information Architecture

Creating & Prioritizing IA

Naming and Labeling Content

Naming and Labeling Files

Grouping and Classifying Content

Exercise: Determining Information Priority

Exercise: Turning Information Priority Into an IA Model

The Five Types of IA Models (and Which to Use When)

Which IA Model is Right for My Site (or App or System)?

The Hierarchical Tree Model

The Nested List Model

The Hub-and-Spoke Model

The Bento Box Model

The Filtered View Model

Combining IA Models

Tools for Creating IA Models

Socializing Your IA: Validating Decisions and Getting Approval

Snack Break: Create and Prioritize Your Own IA Model

Navigation Design: Getting from Here to There (and Back Again)

Overview: Navigation Design

Primary and Secondary Navigation

Global and Local Navigation

Navigation Design for Different User Types

Validating Your Navigation Scheme

Determining Key Navigation Paths

Wrapping Up: If You Forget Everything Else...

Takeaways: Things to Remember

Bonus: Convincing Clients/Stakeholders to Include UX in Requirements Work

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches essential aspects of organizing content for websites, apps, and systems

Introduces practical tips and methods for categorizing and labeling information

Provides guidance on creating effective navigation systems based on user needs

Covers various types of IA models and their applications

Incorporates real-world examples and case studies

Led by an experienced instructor with extensive industry knowledge

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Information Architecture (IA) Fundamentals with these activities:

Review HTML and CSS basics

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Start the course with a solid understanding of the basics of HTML and CSS, the building blocks of websites.

Browse courses on HTML

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Go through an online tutorial on HTML and CSS basics.
Create a simple website using HTML and CSS.

Read The Elements of User Experience

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Gain valuable insights into the field of user experience and information architecture from one of the leading experts.

View The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on the key concepts.
Discuss the book with other students or professionals in the field.

Join a study group or online forum

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Connect with other students to discuss course concepts, share ideas, and get support.

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Find a study group or online forum that aligns with your interests.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Help other students by answering their questions and sharing your knowledge.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Practice organizing content into IA models

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Strengthen your understanding of IA models by practicing organizing content into different types of models.

Browse courses on Content Organization

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Choose a piece of content and try to organize it into each of the five IA models.
Compare your results with the solutions provided in the course.
Repeat the exercise with different pieces of content.

Contribute to an open-source IA project

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Gain hands-on experience by contributing to a real-world IA project, making a valuable contribution to the community.

Browse courses on Open-Source

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Identify an area where you can make a contribution.
Make your changes and submit a pull request.
Find an open-source IA project that interests you.
Contact the project maintainers and express your interest in contributing.
Read the project documentation and familiarize yourself with the codebase.

Create an IA for a website or app

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Apply your learning by creating an IA for a real-world website or app, putting your skills to the test.

Browse courses on Information Architecture

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Choose a website or app that you are familiar with.
Analyze the content and structure of the website or app.
Create an IA that represents the content and structure of the website or app.
Test your IA with users to get feedback.
Revise your IA based on the feedback you receive.

Career center

Learners who complete Information Architecture (IA) Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Information Architect

An Information Architect is responsible for the design and organization of websites, apps, and other digital products. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create effective and user-friendly information architectures. You will learn how to create site maps, organize content, and design navigation systems that make it easy for users to find what they are looking for. This course is a great foundation for a career as an Information Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

User Experience (UX) Designer

A UX Designer is responsible for the overall user experience of a website, app, or other digital product. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create user-centered designs that are both effective and enjoyable to use. You will learn how to conduct user research, create prototypes, and test your designs to ensure that they meet the needs of users. This course is a great foundation for a career as a UX Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer

Web Designer

A Web Designer is responsible for the design and development of websites. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create visually appealing and functional websites. You will learn how to use HTML, CSS, and other web design tools to create websites that are both user-friendly and search engine optimized. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Web Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Content Strategist

A Content Strategist is responsible for the planning, creation, and management of content for websites, apps, and other digital products. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create effective and engaging content that meets the needs of users. You will learn how to conduct content audits, develop content calendars, and write clear and concise content that is easy to understand and find. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Content Strategist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Strategist

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist

An SEO Specialist is responsible for optimizing websites and other digital content to improve their ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). This course will help you develop the skills you need to conduct keyword research, optimize website content, and build backlinks to improve your website's visibility in search results. This course is a great foundation for a career as an SEO Specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist

Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the planning, development, and launch of new products. This course will help you develop the skills you need to conduct market research, develop product roadmaps, and manage product teams. You will learn how to create user stories, prioritize features, and track product progress. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Product Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer is responsible for the design of the interactions between users and digital products. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create user-centered designs that are both effective and enjoyable to use. You will learn how to conduct user research, create prototypes, and test your designs to ensure that they meet the needs of users. This course is a great foundation for a career as an Interaction Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for the planning, execution, and measurement of marketing campaigns. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create effective marketing campaigns that reach your target audience and achieve your business goals. You will learn how to conduct market research, develop marketing strategies, and track campaign results. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Marketing Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. This course will help you develop the skills you need to gather and analyze data, develop solutions, and communicate your findings to stakeholders. You will learn how to use business analysis tools and techniques to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your organization. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Business Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. This course will help you develop the skills you need to use data analysis tools and techniques to extract insights from data. You will learn how to prepare data for analysis, create data visualizations, and communicate your findings to stakeholders. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Data Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software applications. This course will help you develop the skills you need to write clean and efficient code, test your code, and work in a team environment. You will learn how to use software engineering tools and techniques to build robust and scalable software applications. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Software Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst

A QA Analyst is responsible for testing software applications to ensure that they meet quality standards. This course will help you develop the skills you need to write test cases, execute tests, and report bugs. You will learn how to use QA tools and techniques to improve the quality of software applications. This course is a great foundation for a career as a QA Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer is responsible for creating documentation for software applications, hardware products, and other technical topics. This course will help you develop the skills you need to write clear and concise documentation that is easy to understand. You will learn how to use technical writing tools and techniques to create effective documentation that meets the needs of your audience. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Technical Writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course will help you develop the skills you need to manage projects effectively and efficiently. You will learn how to create project plans, track project progress, and manage project risks. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Project Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Graphic designer

A Graphic Designer is responsible for creating visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create visually appealing designs that are effective and memorable. You will learn how to use design tools and techniques to create logos, brochures, websites, and other marketing materials. This course is a great foundation for a career as a Graphic Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer