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57084 Information Architecture and Design

UTS: Communication: Journalism Information and Media Learning
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject introduces students to advanced principles in user-centred information design and architecture. Content management and organisation is examined in relation to various models for designing and structuring information and communication products and services. A range of print and multimedia options are evaluated in terms of the opportunities and capabilities available for distributing information. Policies and key issues affecting the usability of information products and services are examined in detail and related specifically to implications for accessing and sharing knowledge.

On a practical level, students develop professional capabilities for translating information architectures into web materials using advanced web authoring and HTML skills. They also develop professional communication skills by working in teams to meet collaboratively negotiated outcomes.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:

  1. understand advanced principles in user-centred information design and architecture
  2. relate content management and organisation to various models for designing and structuring information and communication products and services
  3. assess a range of print and multimedia options in terms of the opportunities and capabilities available for distributing information
  4. evaluate policies and key issues affecting the usability of information products in relation to implications for accessing and sharing knowledge
  5. demonstrate professional capabilities for translating information architectures into web materials using advanced web authoring and HTML skills.

Contribution to graduate profile

Within professional contexts, students gain practical experience and skills in the generation, design, architecture, management and communication of information using print and multimedia formats. Individual and team participation in the architectural processes of user-centred design offers students opportunities to respond in adaptable, flexible and creative ways to contemporary issues, trends, innovations and forces for change in information practice. As a life-long learning strategy, established information professionals gain an understanding of how information can be designed architecturally so that it can be communicated and distributed strategically for use by individuals and groups in culturally diverse communities to facilitate just and equitable accessibility.

Teaching and learning strategies

The learning experiences available in this subject include weekly workshops comprised of lectures, discussion of set readings, visiting speakers and 'hands-on' use of web authoring and image scanning and manipulation software in the computer laboratory. Students work collaboratively on a major project, thus developing project management and team-based skills.

Content

  • Advanced principles in user-centred information design and architecture
  • Applying information design and architecture skills to the organisation and management of content
  • Print and multimedia options in terms of the opportunities and capabilities available for distributing information
  • Policies and key issues affecting the usability of information products and implications for the design of print, electronic and web-based products
  • Translating information specifications and architectures into print, electronic and web-based products.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Design of a printed information product (individual assessment)

Objective(s): a, b, c, d
Weighting: 40%
Task: To evaluate, design and create an information product for a specific client community. Once you have your assigned problem you are to find an existing print-based information product which has been designed for your specific client community and this may inform the design decisions for your information product. The deliverables for this assignment are:
  1. an evaluation of an existing print-based information product (800-900 words)
  2. at least two scenarios/narratives
  3. your designed information product
  4. a report (1000 words) summarising the information needs and rationale for the design (format of product, typographic elements, justification for adding & deleting text, etc.) and including a brief statement of the needs of the client community.
Assessment criteria:
  • Ability to evaluate an information product based on recognised design principles
  • Demonstrated understanding of user-centered analysis and design
  • Appropriateness of the product design in alignment with the users' needs
  • Clear and effective content structure to maximise impact
  • Demonstrated ability to document the information design process
  • Evidence of an understanding of the key concepts of information design principles
  • Demonstrated use of appropriate theoretical literature.

Assessment item 2: Design journal (individual assessment)

Objective(s): a, b, c, d
Weighting: 20%
Task: To create a web-based design journal that focuses on the design of a variety of everyday things with relation to their usefulness and usability. You are expected to document six (6) different examples of poorly, and/or well-designed products (you must choose one at least one (1) from EACH of the following categories) Some items will be given to you but two (2) will be of your own choice.
  1. a web site
  2. a system
  3. a tool
Each journal entry is to be 800-900 words in length, must include an evaluation against a set of design heuristics and at least ONE must be an example, in your opinion, of a poor design. Your design journal will be started in Week 2. At least three individual entries will handed in your tutorials and you may be called upon to present your examples in your tutorials.

Assessment criteria:
  • Appropriateness and relevance of the examples to demonstrate a design issue
  • Clear and informative description of the design features (good and bad)
  • In the case of poor design, an appropriate recommendation to resolve the issue
  • Appropriate references to the theory of information design

Assessment item 3: Website interface prototype (team assignment)

Objective(s): a, b, c, d, e
Weighting: 40%
Task: Working in teams of 3 you are to develop a prototype of a website (further details of which will be provided in class). This website must operate as a web-based information product that could form part of, or operate within, an electronic information environment. Specific consideration must be given to relating a policy or key issue affecting accessibility, usability, knowledge sharing or online teaching and learning to implications for the design and architecture your web site.

The deliverables for this assignment are:

  1. narratives, persona and/or scenarios for several possible users to underpin user analysis decisions
  2. a copy of the scoping document, including wireframes and other planning and design visualisations and project management documentation
  3. a working prototype of a minimum of six (6) pages and must include
  • a) the homepage and b) the site map for the entire website
  • all pages must contain appropriate information content
  • some effort must be made, at least, at a partial use CSS
  • each team member must be responsible for the coding (HTML markup) of ONE section
  1. a summary document (1000 words) which outlines and includes
  • the design and architecture rationale adopted to meet the users' needs
  • how appropriate principles, usability heuristics, and techniques from the information architecture and design texts and references which have been applied to the web site design
  • a paragraph which reflects on the implementation of the scoping document
  • the responsibilities of the individual team members
Assessment criteria: To demonstrate:
  • an understanding of user-centered Website design
  • an ability to design appropriate classification of content to match the needs of the user community
  • an ability to design a logical website architecture for a specified user community
  • an understanding of appropriate information design and architecture principles to organise and structure content (content layout, operational links, navigation features, maintenance and strategic use of graphic user interfaces)
  • ability to work effectively on a team-based task
  • an awareness of current issues and academic debate in designing Web-based information products

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

There is no set textbook for this subject. Specific readings will be assigned on a week-by-week basis in class. The reference list below is indicative of the texts we will be using in the course.

Anatomy of a redesign. (2005). Webmonkey. Available at: http://www.webmonkey.com/. Date accessed: 8 January 2009.
Badre, A. N. (2002). Shaping Web usability: interaction design in context. Addison-Wesley. Available at: http://www.acm.org/ ubiquity/ book/ a_badre_1.html. Date accessed: 8 January 2009.
Beyer, H., & Holtzblatt, K. (1998). Contextual design : defining customer-centered systems. San Francisco, Calif.: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.
Boiko, B. (2002). Content management bible. New York: Wiley.
Bowker, G. C., & Star, S. L. (1999). Sorting things out: classification and its consequences. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
Bradford, P. (Ed.). (1996). Information architects. Zurich, Switzerland: Graphis Press Corp.
Briggs, O., et al. (Eds.). (2002). Cascading style sheets : separating content from presentation. Birmingham, U. K: Glasshaus.
Brown, D.M. (2007). Communicating design: developing Web site documentation for design and planning, Peachpit Press, Berkeley, Calif.
Coe, M. (1996). Human factors for technical communicators. New York: Wiley.
Colomb, R. M. (2002). Information spaces : the architecture of cyberspace. London: Springer.
Cooper, A. & Reimann, R. (2003). About face 2.0 : the essentials of interaction design, Wiley, Indianapolis.
Deane, S., & Henderson, R. (2004). XML made simple. Burlington, Mass.: Simple Books.
Dillon, A. (2003). Designing usable electronic text (2nd ed.). New York: Taylor & Francis.
Dumas, J. S., & Redish, J. C. (1999). A practical guide to usability testing. Exeter: Intellect.
Fleming, J. (1998). Web navigation : designing the user experience. Beijing, China: O'Relly.
Garrett, J. J. (2003). The elements of user experience : user-centered design for the web. New York: American Institute of Graphic Arts.
Griffiths, P. (2007). HTML dog : the best-practice guide to XHTML & CSS. Berkeley, Calif., New Riders
Hackos, J. T., & Redish, J. C. (1998). User and task analysis for interface design. New York: Wiley.
Hix, D., & Hartson, H. R. (1993). Developing user interfaces : ensuring usability through product & process. New York: Wiley.
Horn, R. E. (1998). Visual language : global communication for the 21st century. Bainbridge Island, Wash.: MacroVU.
Jacobson, R. (ed.) (1999). Information design, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Krug, S. (2000). Don't make me think! : a common sense approach to Web usability. Indianapolis, Ind.: Que
Kuniavsky, M. (2003). Observing the user experience : a practitioner's guide to user research. San Francisco, Calif.: Morgan Kaufmann.
Lidwell, W., K. Holden, et al. (2003). Universal principles of design. Gloucester, Mass, Rockport Publishers, Inc.
Lupton, E., & Miller, J. A. (1996). Design, writing, research : writing on graphic design. New York: Kiosk.
Lynch, P. J., & Horton, S. (2001). Web style guide (2nd). Yale University Press. Available at: http://www.webstyleguide.com/ index.html?/ Date accessed: 8 January 2009.
MacEachren, A. M. (1995). How maps work : representation, visualization, and design. New York: Guilford Press.
McGovern, G., Norton, R., & O'Dowd, C. (2002). The Web content style guide : an essential reference for online writers, editors, and managers. Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall.
Morrogh, E. (2002). Information architecture : an emerging 21st century profession. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Navarro, A. (2001). Effective Web design (2nd ed), Sybex. Available at: http://info.wlu.ca/ ~wwwsbe/ faculty/ ramsoomair/ Sybex%20-%20Effective%20Web%20Design,%202nd%20Edition.pdf, viewed 8 January 2009
Nielsen, J. (2000). Designing Web usability: the practice of simplicity. Indianapolis (Ind): New Riders.
Norman, D.A. (1988, 1990). The design of everyday things, Doubleday, New York.
Pettersson, R. (2002). Information design : an introduction. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Pub. Co.
Phyo, A. (2003). Return on design : smarter web design that works. Indianapolis, In.: New Riders.
Preece, J., Sharp, H., & Rogers, Y. (2002). Interaction design : beyond human-computer interaction. New York, NY: J. Wiley & Sons.
Ratner, J. (Ed.). (2003). Human factors and Web development (2nd ed.). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Rice-Lively, M.L. & Chen, H.-L. (2006). Information design and scenarios : a practical, user-oriented guide, Chandos, Oxford.
Schriver, K. A. (1997). Dynamics in document design. New York: Wiley Computer Pub.
Shedroff, N. (2001). Experience design 1. Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall.
Taylor, R. S. (1986). Value-added processes in information systems. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex Pub. Corp.
Tufte, E. R. (1990). Envisioning information. Cheshire, Conn.: Graphics Press.
----. (1997). Visual explanations : images and quantities, evidence and narrative. Cheshire, Conn.: Graphics Press.
Walker, S. (2001). Typography and language in everyday life : prescriptions and practices. New York: Longman.
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). (2006, 17 December 2008). Available at: http://www.w3.org/ WAI/ Date accessed: 8 January 2009.
Wildbur, P., & Burke, M. (1998). Information graphics : innovative solutions in contemporary design. London: Thames and Hudson.
Wurman, R. S. (2001). Informationanxiety2. Indianapolis, Ind.: Que.
Zwaga, H. J. G., Boersema, T., & Hoonhout, H. C. M. (Eds.). (1999). Visual information for everyday use : design and research perspectives. London: Taylor & Francis.

Journals

Information Design Journal
Interactions
Technical Communications