This presentation will examine the purpose and application of information architecture for the so-called ‘next generation’ of information tools, including blogs and wikis. We will introduce ‘needs based’ information architecture, the methodology used for organising and designing information-rich environments in a way that allows people to use them more easily. We will then look at how the best practice principles behind this approach apply equally well to emerging technologies. Presented at Open Publish 2007, by Patrick Kennedy of Step Two Designs.

1. Best practice Information Architecture Open Publish, Sydney 2 nd August 2007 Patrick Kennedy, Step Two Designs

3. An introduction to needs based IA

6. But how do you get it right?

8. For example, we’re given a job to implement a call centre intranet…

10. This is actually one of the main sources of information for staff…

12. … as are these documents, sitting on every desk

14. These documents were actually the big problem for staff

16. Email was the other big source of pain…

18. The key is researching user needs.

20. Needs analysis

22. Typical IA methodology

23. Needs based IA methodology

25. Key principles

26. Is the identified problem the symptom or the cause?

28. Our methodologies often assume that organisations work like this…

29. … whereas they are much more like this in reality

30. Needs analysis is ethnographic, focusing on activities and environments

32. You can’t deliver effective solutions to people you haven’t personally met

34. There are no shortage of problems to be solved…

36. … but the real challenge is knowing where to start

38. How to do needs analysis

39. In the trenches, you will learn many things…

41. … but not everything will be directly relevant

43. Some needs analysis tips and tricks

50. Cross pollinate skills between disciplines

52. Whatever 2.0

53. The bells and whistles of Web 2.0

55. There seem to be two types of 2.0; there’s the ‘social web’ phenomenon…

57. … and the Rich Internet Application (RIA)

60. What about this new breed of business tools?

64. As featured in Bit Literacy by Mark Hurst

66. Caltex HR Service Centre

70. Courtesy: thisisbroken.com

74. Needs analysis is a universal tool, to be used for any type of project, including Web 2.0

76. The wrap-up

77. Rather than a fairly hit and miss approach…

79. … good needs analysis allows you to hit the mark

81. Yes I know it’s past 5:00pm :-)

88. So why are they so unpopular?