Tutorial 6: Information architecture: integrating practice and research

Instructors: Peter Morville & Keith Instone

Time: Saturday, June 3 AM

Description

The fields of information science, librarianship, and human-computer interaction offer valuable insights into the design of usable web sites, intranets, digital libraries, and other hypertext-based information systems. This half-day tutorial explores the principles of information architecture, their application within major corporations and universities, and the need for research in this nascent field. The tutorial begins with a high-level overview that defines information architecture, explains why it's important, and introduces major concepts and methodologies. Following this conceptual overview, we outline the information architecture design process, moving from research and strategy to conceptual design to implementation. To illustrate this process, we draw upon case studies from a wide variety of projects for Fortune 500 companies and major academic institutions. To provide a richer, more dynamic learning experience, we will engage members of the audience in hands-on exercises and discussion. To conclude the session, we present an information architecture research agenda, highlighting what we don't know about the subject and outlining possible approaches involving both business and academia, aimed at answering some of the most critical questions for the field.

Instructor information

Peter Morville is Chief Operating Officer of Argus Associates (http://argus-inc.com/), a leading information architecture consulting firm. Since 1993, he has provided information architecture solutions to some of the world's leading organizations. Peter is co-author (with Louis Rosenfeld) of the best-selling book on the subject, Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (O'Reilly & Associates). Additional publications include the Web Architect column in Web Review magazine and The Internet Searcher's Handbook (Neal-Schuman). He holds a Masters degree in Information and Library Studies from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in English Literature from Tufts University. Keith Instone is an Information Architect at Argus Associates. He has provided information architecture consulting services to a diverse array of clients including. Keith is a recognized expert on the subject of usability for the Web. He is the curator of Usable Web (http://www.usableweb.com/), the leading guide to Web usability resources. Keith earned B.A and Master's degrees from Bowling Green State University in Computer Science, with a special focus on human-computer interaction.