Information Architect

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Need of Information Architect
Each building serves its purpose uniquely. Architecture and design of a building depends upon the purpose, location, users, finance etc. if we start constructing a building without deciding its design and architecture the constructors will have problems in constructing it, users will have problems in using it and the purpose for which the building was constructed will never be achieved. Similarly websites are resource of information. Each website serves its purpose uniquely. If website is developed without any planning about design and architecture then developer may have problems in organizing the information and maintaining it, users may have problems in using the website in searching and accessing the information. These problems may be like time consuming search, time wastage in loading of web page due to improper formats used and difficulty in browsing due to the use of improper keywords.



Main Job of information Architect
The main jobs if the information architects are given below. An information architect
1).Clarifies the mission and vision for the site, balancing the needs of its sponsoring organization & the needs of its audiences.
2).Determines what content and functionality the site will contain.
3).Specifies how users will find information in the site by defining its organization, navigation labeling and searching systems.
4).Maps out how the site will find accommodate change and growth over time.

The Consumer's perspective
confused, frustrated and angry. Because different users have varying needs it is important to support multiple Users want to find information quickly and easily. Poor Information Architecture makes busy users modes of finding information. From the consumer’s perspective there can be two modes of finding information.
Known item searching: Some users know exactly what they are looking for. They know what it is called and know it exists. This is called known item searching.
Casual Browsing: Some users don't know what they are locking for. They don’t know the right label. They casually browse or explore the site and they may learn that they have never even considered.
If you care about the consumer, make sure that your information architecture supports both modes. While attractive graphics and reliable technologies are essential to user satisfaction, they are not enough.

The producer perspective
If you are producing an external website the users can be actual or prospective customers, investors, employees, business partners, media & senior executives. If you are producing an intranet the employees of your organization are the consumers. The cost of designing and implementing the architecture is the cost of time spent: