Introduction to Information Architecture from Pluralsight

Information Architecture (IA) is the way that you arrange the parts of something to make it understandable. This course is meant to introduce the concepts of IA and give you confidence in practicing IA yourself.

No matter what your job or mission in life, if you are working with other people, you are dealing with information architecture. Information Architecture (IA) is the way that you arrange the parts of something to make it understandable. Whether it is determining the labels for your products and services or creating navigational systems to help users move through a complex ecosystem of marketing channels, everybody architects information. This course, Introduction to Information Architecture, is meant to introduce the concepts of IA and give you confidence in practicing IA yourself. First, you'll learn why IA matters. Then, you'll explore the ontology, taxonomy, and choreography. This course will wrap up by covering some of the most common questions about IA. By the end of this course, you'll have a fundamental knowledge of information architecture.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Why IA Matters

Ontology

Taxonomy

Choreography

Common IA Questions

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores information architecture, a core skill for organizing content

Taught by Abby Covert, who is recognized for her expertise in information architecture

Covers the foundational concepts of information architecture, making it particularly suitable for beginners

Develops core skills in information architecture, making it valuable for both personal growth and professional development

Provides a comprehensive study of information architecture, making it suitable for those seeking a holistic understanding of the subject

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 Introduction to Information Architecture with these activities:

Read 'Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web' by Louis Rosenfeld and Peter Morville

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of IA.

View Information Architecture for the World Wide Web on Amazon

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Create a glossary of terms related to IA

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Creating a glossary will help you understand and remember the key terms used in IA.

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Review the course materials.
Create a list of key terms.
Define each term.

Practice identifying and categorizing different types of information

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Categorizing information will help develop a solid understanding of the concepts of IA.

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Collect a variety of samples of information, such as articles, blog posts, and marketing materials.
Identify the key concepts and topics in each sample.
Categorize the samples into different groups based on their key concepts and topics.

Four other activities

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Follow a tutorial on how to use a specific IA tool

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Following a tutorial will help you learn how to use a specific tool to apply the concepts of IA.

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Choose a specific IA tool to learn about.
Find a tutorial on how to use the tool.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step.

Design a navigational system for a real-world website or app

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Designing a navigational system will help reinforce the concepts of IA by applying them in a practical setting.

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Choose a website or app that you are familiar with.
Analyze the current navigational system.
Design a new navigational system that you believe will improve the user experience.
Implement your new navigational system.
Test your new navigational system and collect feedback.

Create a prototype of a user interface for a website or app

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Creating a UI prototype will help you apply the concepts of IA to a specific project.

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Choose a website or app that you are familiar with.
Analyze the current user interface.
Design a new user interface that you believe will improve the user experience.
Create a prototype of your new user interface.
Test your prototype and collect feedback.

Write a blog post about the importance of IA

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Writing a blog post will help you solidify your understanding of the key concepts of IA.

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Choose a specific aspect of IA to write about.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a draft of your blog post.
Edit and revise your blog post.
Publish your blog post.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Information Architecture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Metadata Specialist

A Metadata Specialist creates and manages metadata, which is data about data. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture, which is essential for creating and managing metadata effectively.

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Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer creates and implements the interactions between users and products or services. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture, which is a key component of interaction design.

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Information Architect

An Information Architect designs and builds websites, intranets, online communities, and software applications that are easy to find and use. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture.

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Content Strategist

A Content Strategist plans and manages the creation, delivery, and maintenance of content. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture, which is essential for organizing and structuring content effectively.

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Knowledge Manager

A Knowledge Manager is responsible for managing and sharing knowledge within an organization. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture, which is essential for organizing and structuring knowledge effectively.

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Taxonomist

A Taxonomist creates and manages taxonomies, which are systems for classifying and organizing information. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture, which is essential for creating and managing taxonomies.

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User Experience Designer

A User Experience Designer is responsible for the overall experience of a user when interacting with a product or service. This course can help you build a foundation in the principles of Information Architecture, which is a key component of user experience design.

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Web Developer

A Web Developer designs and develops websites and web applications. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create websites and web applications that are easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as a web developer in the job market.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates and manages technical documentation. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create technical documentation that is easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as a technical writer in the job market.

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Museum curator

A Museum Curator manages and preserves museum collections. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create museum exhibits and services that are easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as a museum curator in the job market.

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Librarian

A Librarian helps people find and access information. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create library systems and services that are easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as a librarian in the job market.

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Archivist

An Archivist manages and preserves historical records. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create archival systems and services that are easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as an archivist in the job market.

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Knowledge Engineer

A Knowledge Engineer creates and manages knowledge bases. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create knowledge bases that are easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as a knowledge engineer in the job market.

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Information Technology Project Manager

An Information Technology Project Manager plans and manages information technology projects. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you create information technology systems and services that are easy to find and use. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as an information technology project manager in the job market.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist analyzes and interprets data. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in learning more about the principles of Information Architecture, which can help you organize and structure data in a way that makes it easy to analyze and interpret. Having a foundation in Information Architecture may give you an advantage as a data scientist in the job market.

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