information architecture: what is it?

Information Architecture (IA) is a specialized skill set that is focused on the interpretation of information through a model or concept designed to express how complex systems work. These systems include web development, application interface and user interaction for websites, portals, intranets and online communities.

Here is a visual summary:




‘Information architecture’ was coined in 1976 by Richard Saul Wurman, who was an American architect and graphic designer. The term may also relatively pertain to ‘information design’ and ‘web user experience design.’

"I thought the explosion of data needed an architecture, needed a series of systems, needed systemic design, a series of performance criteria to measure it." — Richard Saul Wurman

Though there is not one label or definition for IA, in theory, taking from a holistic point-of-view, it is described as:

• The combination of organization, labeling and navigation schemes within an information system.
• The structural design of an information space to facilitate task completion and intuitive access to content.
• The art and science of structuring and classifying websites to help people find and manage information.