What you READ is what you get
What you READ is what you get
Services > Information architecture workflow
Information architecture workflow
I. Administrative Set-up
  • Identify and meet with key stakeholders
  • Plan communication system
  • Plan authority matrix (who decides what)
  • Set-up project-tracking applications and documents
  • Identify, locate style guides and standards
  • Identify, locate test facility and equipment
II. Discovery
  • Heuristic evaluation of existing site
  • Research meetings (internal)
  • Competitive analysis (benchmarking)
  • User research (demographic, market, analytics)
  • SEO research
  • Content assessment
  • Technology assessment
  • Preliminary IA analysis and designs
III. Planning
  • Information architecture--strategy report
  • Consult on budget, schedule, communication plan
  • Consult on success metrics, assessment methods
  • Plan wireframe testing
IV. Clarification
  • Contribute to Creative Brief
  • Content Requirements
  • Technical Specifications
  • Functional Specifiations
V. Project kick-off
  • Contribute to review of Project Plan with stakeholders
VI. Develop Site Structure
a. Content
  • Content inventory
  • Content models
  • Content classification (taxonomy), as needed
b. Information Architecture (top-down structure)
  • Map high-level pages
  • Verify labels (e.g. card sorts)
  • Verify label compliance with SEO plan
  • Search functionality
  • Socialize flow diagrams to stakeholders
c. Wireframes (bottom-up structure & navigation)
  • Start working with graphic designer(s)
  • Identify wireframe types (via content, user tasks)
  • Develop wireframes
  • Test, analyze results
  • Revise as needed
VII. Production
  • Consult on any IA, UI revisions
  • Consult on Style Guide
  • Consult on search engine optimization
VIII. Quality Assurance
  • Consult on QA
IX. Success Measurement
  • Consult on success measurement
  • Consult on follow-up user testing
About this IA workflow
This is a highly condensed outline of a 60+ page document I've developed to try to stay disciplined as an information architect. While it's a handy checklist and reference tool, it's also a 'blue-sky' scenario--every Web design project is unique to the business behind it and the people involved.

"The two most important rules about site structure are to have one and to make it reflect the user's view of the site and its information or services."

- J. Nielsen, Designing Web Usability
© 2011 Clearwater Communications