A new tool you can use during the design process for information architecture, lenses provide essential questions to evaluate and critique virtual structures and navigation.
Sharif's 9-BOX Monitoring Model for Adaptive Programme Management
Information Architecture Lenses - by Dan Brown
1. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown
IA Lenses
Helpful Perspectives for
Information Architects
Confab – April 2019
Dan Brown @brownorama – @ialenses
2. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 2
Information architecture is the
design of virtual structures,
through which users find or
interact with information.
design virtual structures
3. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 3
A lens is a perspective from
which to consider, explore, and
interrogate a design decision.
consider explore
interrogate
perspective
design
4. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 4
What’s a lens?
Category
Title
Description
Prompts
Key Question
8. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 8
Observation 1: Ambiguous Labels
I can’t tell the difference
between research and
publications.
9. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 9
Challenge 2: Lack of Context
Nothing tells me what the
World Bank really does.
10. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 10
Challenge 3: Value of Persistent Navigation
I wish the navigation
helped me understand
where I am.
11. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 11
After observing, we ask…
Ambiguous labels Lack of context Persistent navigation
I can’t tell the difference
between research and
publications.
Nothing tells me what the
World Bank really does.
I wish the navigation
helped me understand
where I am.
12. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 12
After observing, we ask…
Ambiguous labels Lack of context
Are there
clearer words?
Can users grok
what’s available?
Persistent navigation
What would actually
help users?
I wish the navigation
helped me understand
where I am.
I can’t tell the difference
between research and
publications.
Nothing tells me what the
World Bank really does.
13. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 13
What else can we ask?
Are there
clearer words?
Can users grok
what’s available?
What would actually
help users?
How will this be
maintained? Will this
distract users?
Who benefits most
from this structure? Which one of these
items is not like the
others?How can this increase
user confidence?
Does this
tell a story?
How difficult
to build?
What precedent
does this set?
What’s the
shelf-life?
What burden does this
place on the menu?
How do we support
exploration?
And many more…
27. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 27
Using the lenses
Who we are Where we work What we do Understanding poverty Work with us
28. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 28
Example 1: Lens of Stability
Who we are Where we work What we do Understanding poverty Work with us
29. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 29
Example 2: Lens of Narrative
Who we are Where we work What we do Understanding poverty Work with us
30. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 30
Example 2: Lens of Narrative
We face big challenges to help the
world’s poorest people and ensure
that everyone sees benefits from
economic growth. Data and
research help us understand these
challenges and set priorities,
share knowledge of what works,
and measure progress.
Data & Research
- By country
- By indicator
Development Priorities
- Climate change
- Education
- Energy
- Conflict & Violence
- Poverty
- Sustainability
- Trade
- Health
Who we are Where we work What we do Understanding poverty Work with us
31. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 31
Example 3: Lens of Multiple Homes
We face big challenges to help the
world’s poorest people and ensure
that everyone sees benefits from
economic growth. Data and
research help us understand these
challenges and set priorities,
share knowledge of what works,
and measure progress.
Data & Research
- By country
- By indicator
Development Priorities
- Climate change
- Education
- Energy
- Conflict & Violence
- Poverty
- Sustainability
- Trade
- Health
Who we are Where we work What we do Understanding poverty Work with us
35. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 35
What am I really struggling with?
Who we are Where we work What we do Understanding poverty Work with us
We face big challenges to help the
world’s poorest people and ensure
that everyone sees benefits from
economic growth. Data and
research help us understand these
challenges and set priorities,
share knowledge of what works,
and measure progress.
Data & Research
- By country
- By indicator
Development Priorities
- Climate change
- Education
- Energy
- Conflict & Violence
- Poverty
- Sustainability
- Trade
- Health
37. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 37
You get a lens and…
You get a lens and…
You get a lens and…
You get a lens and…
You get a lens and…
You get a lens and…
42. @ialenses — EightShapes — Dan Brown 42
What I’m working on now…
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