I was at a family dinner the other week, where brother-in-law asked me what I now do for a living. "I'm an Information Architect" I said - this was met with a look of bemusement and suspicion.
If I'd said I was an accountant or a builder I would have received a knowing nod and not have to spend the next 10 minutes elaborating on what an IA did.
That said, once he'd got the gist of it he realised I could be as useful to him as an accountant or a builder. He spent the next hour or so picking my brains on what he could do to improve his company's website.
This got me thinking - how many people know what an IA actually does?
What do IAs do?
Within the digital industry, IAs are perhaps seen by some as mystical Überlords with knowledge and insight way beyond that of mere mortals. The less charitable may on the other hand think we are complete shysters who love nothing better than a round of buzzword/bullshit bingo (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_bingo).
Generally speaking, we have worked in the industry long enough to know a fair bit about what can be achieved, creatively and technologically. We use our knowledge to determine the best way of communicating with people through the appropriate digital channels.
For us the user is king, our primary goal is to produce something that users will have a genuine need for.
Planning good usability
Put simply, usability is about providing an interface that communicates information effectively to its intended audience.
Over the past ten years I have been a web designer, a web programmer, an online games developer, a creative director, a project manager and an account director.
I have seen all manner of digital projects from all angles and I would say those that have been successful, from a usability point of view, have borne in mind the wants and needs of the user from the outset.
That may sound a ridiculously obvious thing to do but it is often overlooked or forgotten - and there is a common reason for that...
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