Information Architecture (IA) Fundamentals

Everything you need to know — from what content should be presented to what it’s called to how it’s organized!

Created by: Joe Natoli
30-year UX + Design Veteran; Consultant, Author & Speaker

What Will I Learn?

• 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.

Requirements

• Nothing. I speak plainly and I deal in reality; no technical terms, jargon or unnecessary acronyms here. This course is for anyone already creating digital products, and anyone completely new to all of it!

Target audience

• Anyone responsible for the success of digital products (apps, sites, systems) — designers, developers, UX professionals, content professionals, marketing folks, project managers and product owners.