[Sigia-l] The fuzzy line btwn IA and Design

[Anne Hjortshoj]

I agree absolutely with Mike. The approach where IA develops designs
independent of the visual designers - for example, when IA develops
wireframes and then "throws them over the wall" to the visual design team
- leads to conflict. A side-by-side approach is collaborative,
respectful, and can lead to great results.

Obviously this approach assumes that visual designers understand and
welcome IA involvement in the design process (and vice versa). In any
case, a little proactive education can work wonders.

-Anne


On Fri, 26 Apr 2002, Mike Combs wrote:

> I find that working side by side with the other designers can solve some
> of these issues.  I'd make the argument that the visual representation of
> the navigation is as important as the IA as well.  Each informs the other,
> or at least they should.
> 
> -mike
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- Thomas Donehower <thomasdonehower at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Let me share something with you that I think we all might have
> > experienced 
> > at one time or another. This may be especially helpful for PeterV as it 
> > seems he's interested in tackling real world IA problems for his book
> > (Can't 
> > wait!). One of the biggest problems I constantly come up against is not
> > in 
> > the development of IA, but in the execution of it by Design.
> > 
> > I learned long ago not to make my wire frames too visual, even though
> > they 
> > looked sexier. Visually designed wire frames will cause nothing but
> > trouble 
> > when Design tries to interpret them. They will either feel as if you're 
> > trespassing on their territory or they will be paralyzed and not know
> > how to 
> > proceed.
> > 
> > Yesterday I was in a meeting where we were preparing for a pitch. I
> > started 
> > by explaining the initial IA (what they were looking at was wireframes
> > taped 
> > to the wall) and then we reviewed individual design comps that were
> > supposed 
> > to be based upon the IA. The question that came up constantly was "Is
> > the 
> > design true to the IA?" Comments like "The IA has the primary nav along
> > the 
> > left-hand side. The design has it running across the top. Both seem to
> > make 
> > sense." were being asked.  I generally let the designers be fairly
> > liberal 
> > with their interpretation of wire frames and stay focused on asking 
> > quesitons like "Is the priority of the information still consistent w/ 
> > what's shown in the wireframe."
> > 
> > So here's the Big Question: What does it mean for a design to be true to
> > the 
> > IA? What do you do to help ensure that the IA vision is reflected in the
> > 
> > final design?
> > 
> > -Tom
> > 
> > Thomas Donehower
> > Sr. Information Architect
> > 
> > EURO RSCG NETHOD CIRCLE
> > 200 Madison Avenue
> > New York, New York 10016
> > Direct:  212-251-7272
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> > e:      thomas.donehower at nethod-euro.com
> > 
> > P.S. still unable to send to list from work email listed above!!!
> > 
> > 
> > 
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