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Thinkun is a Sydney-based agency specialising in interactive mediums, from websites and social media strategy right through to online and mobile advertising. We work with other agencies, designers and both small and large companies to develop effective online communication that speaks clearly to any audience through any digital device.
Thinkun is a Sydney-based agency specialising in interactive mediums, from websites and social media strategy right through to online and mobile advertising. We work with...

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Information Architecture

The term ‘information architecture’ was first used by Richard Saul Wurman in 1975, when many computers took up more real estate that your average Westfields, and had less processing power than your average mobile phone. He was trained as an architect, but developed a long term interest in the way information is gathered, organised and presented. These days, the term is used to describe the way information is grouped, the navigation methods and terminology used within a given system.

Invisible, but important

In an online sense, effective information architecture enables people to progress easily through a system, confident they are getting closer to the information they require or concluding the transaction they are trying to make. Like with all the really good stuff that’s hard to get right, most people only notice information architecture when it’s all in a jumble and stops them from doing what they want to do.

Getting it right :)

Organising functionality and content into a structure that people are able to use and navigate intuitively rarely happens as an accident of luck. Rather, effective information architecture comes from:

  1. a thorough understanding of:
    • business objectives and constraints
    • the content
    • the requirements and objectives of the people that will use the site
  2. commitment to not making people think too hard
  3. a willingness to incorporate or mimic processes that people already understand, both on and offline

Getting it wrong :(

Unfortunately, the implications of stuffing up are fairly dire. The World Wide Web is littered with the casualties of good ideas that were struck down by a poor execution, which results in user frustration and ultimately, transaction, process or even site abandonment.

Thinkun can help you become an IA success story by using a number of tools and processes that help to ensure your site or system falls under the ‘getting it right’ heading. It’s better not to leave this step until last when undertaking project development, but even if you’ve made a start, or your project is up and running, improvements can be made.

Contact Thinkun to learn more about how we can help.