[Sigia-l] Visual Balance vs. Left Leaning Layouts

[Hankinson, Jody]

I think the practice comes from a couple of different things. Cost is
probably the biggest - for so long projects have been using the waterfall
approach to project management so they see the roles as a step instead of a
continuous process. As part of that, the iterative development approach
looks messy on paper and is often perceived as hard to manage - too many
overlapping pieces. It lacks the efficiency of line work. The challenge then
becomes to change the comparison and explain why things should NOT be
compared to line work.

Also, silos happen in organizations where people feel as though they need to
protect their own. I've been doing some reading around organizational
structures and the implications of influence and power within an
organization. It has left me wondering if there are two big challenges
facing IAs: the first is to find a management style and philosophy that
enables an IA to practice, and the second is to establish the practice
(whatever that may be).

- Jody

Jody Hankinson | Information Architect
212.852.5051 | jhankinson at girlscouts.org
GSUSA | Where Girls Grow Strong | 420 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10018

-----Original Message-----
From: Brett-Luxaco [mailto:brett at luxaco.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 4:14 PM
To: Hankinson, Jody; sigia-l at asis.org
Subject: Re: [Sigia-l] Visual Balance vs. Left Leaning Layouts

Hi,

I think you are right about IAs not working with designers or even the
developers. I have been in a firm where rarely they interacted and it did
lead to bits of struggle, even though each were really cool people. Usually
once the IA is finished their work they leave the project, what happens when
things happen and changes have to be made, who is left making them, the
designer?

Not too sure where this independent attitude is coming from? I work for
myself so know how one effects the other and all are equally as important as
the other.

Brett
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hankinson, Jody" <JHankinson at girlscouts.org>
To: <sigia-l at asis.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 2:47 PM
Subject: RE: [Sigia-l] Visual Balance vs. Left Leaning Layouts


> I'm a little late to the thread, but I'm surprised by what wasn't
posted...
>
> Have you shared your motivations for wanting the navigation a certain way?
I
> have learned through trial and error that tension arises between the
> Designers and the IAs, because there isn't enough sharing of the project
> goals, interface goals and the *usability* goals, i.e. "I'd like the
> navigation on the left because proximity better illustrates relationships
> between the categories, but it also gives us room to grow the navigation
in
> the future without subjecting everyone to a new design."
>
> If that approach isn't successful, ask for one of the design treatments to
> be a reflection of your goals. Three treatments seems to be the norm and
> I've yet to have anyone balk at trying to prove me wrong by poorly
designing
> the approach they don't like. The process can be illuminating for the
> designer, but it also gives me something I can use for a friends & family
> test. Amazing what a quick test around the office can prove even if the
> color pallet looks like vomit.
>
> Lastly, designers breathe life into our work the same way a developer
does.
> Sometimes you just have to let go and wait for round two.
>
> - Jody
>
> Jody Hankinson | Information Architect
> 212.852.5051 | jhankinson at girlscouts.org
> GSUSA | Where Girls Grow Strong | 420 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10018
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