Information Architecture
Information Architecture is a study of the organization and presentation of content for interactive systems and web sites.
SYLLABUS:
MAJOR ASSIGNMENT LIST:
| # |
Assignment: |
Due: |
| 1 |
Creative Brief |
Week 6 |
| 2 |
User Profiles |
Week 7 |
| 3 |
Functional Specifications |
Week 8 |
| 4 |
Site Map |
Week 9 |
| 5 |
Revised Site Map + Wireframes |
Week 10 |
| 6 |
2 Interface Designs |
Week 17 |
CALENDAR:
WEEKLY SCHEDULE + DIGITAL ASSETS:
Click on the top bar for each week to expand or collapse the contents, or you can expand all weeks or collapse all weeks.
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Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: Creative BriefDue: Week 6
- Set up your class web page.
- Complete your creative brief and post it on your class web page.
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: Functional SpecificationsDue: Week 7
- Create a functional specifications document. It should have three parts to it: 1) a list of features, 2) a page-by-page description, and 3) a user flowchart visually depicting how a user interacts with the site.
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: Site MapDue: Week 9
- Create a site map for your client site. Bring a printed version to class next week, and post a PDF file of your site map on your UH class web site.
- Sketch, sketch, sketch!
- Consider paper prototyping (using paper/index cards to layout your site map).
- Read Chapter 5 from Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think (Paper hand-out in class).
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: Revised Site Map and Wireframes (Min. 3)Due: Week 10
- Based upon the feedback from the wall critique in class, revise your site map and post the revised version on your class web page.
- Begin working on your wireframes. Do as many wireframes as you see fit. You should have a minimum of three. For example, the home page, a sub page template, and one other sub pages that may not follow a templated layout, such as a gallery/photo page or a product listing page.
- Sketch, sketch, sketch before you work digitally!
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: Begin DesigningDue: Week 17
- Begin thinking about your final interface designs. Suggestion: start by doing thorough visual research on the web, then consider the company's branding personality, starting with the logo.
- Design the logo for your company.
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Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: 2 Interface DesignsDue: Week 17
- Finish your logo designs.
- Begin working on your 2 home page mockups/interfacedesigns.
- Set up your Wordpress site at byethost.com.
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: 2 Interface DesignsDue: Week 17
- Continue working on your 2 home page mockups/interface designs.
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: 2 Interface DesignsDue: Week 17
- Continue working on your 2 home page mockups/interface designs. Polished (near-complete) drafts are due next week.
Lesson:
Assignment: 2 Interface DesignsDue: Week 17
- Continue working on your 2 home page mockups/interface designs.
Lesson:
Class examples + related links:
Assignment: 2 Interface DesignsDue: Week 17
- Continue working on your 2 home page mockups/interface designs. Use the feedback from today's review to improve and enhance your site. Return to your creative brief, usability checklist, site map, and wireframes - are you including everything? Would Steve Krug and Jokob Neilson feel that your site is usable?
- Be sure to post your Jpegs inside of an html page, with the goal of presenting your designs to the client as if they would appear in a browser window.