Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web

by Christina Wodtke

All web sites have an architecture, whether you design one or not-just as every building has an architecture, from the lowly shanty by the railroad track to Chicago¿s tallest skyscraper. Unfortunately, most web sites are shanties, not skyscrapers. Companies that hastily threw up a web site in the dot-com boom days were visited by building inspector Jakob Neilsen, who told them their site should be condemned. But now we are entering a time of rebuilding, and we¿ve got a chance to get it right. Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web introduces the core concepts of information architecture: organizing web site content so that it can be found, designing web site interaction so that it's pleasant to use, and creating an interface that is easy to understand. This book will help designers, project managers, programmers, and other information architecture practitioners avoid the costly mistakes of the past by teaching the skills of information architecture swiftly and clearly. Use this book and you will pass the usability inspection with flying colors!

Genres: Design, Web, Nonfiction, Website Design, Technology, Architecture, Computer Science

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2002

About the author

An established thought leader in Silicon Valley, Christina is a “curious human” with a serious resume. Her past work includes re-design and initial product offerings with LinkedIn, MySpace, Zynga, Yahoo! and others, as well as founding three startups, an online design magazine called Boxes and Arrows, and co-founding the Information Architecture Institute. She is currently a Lecturer at Stanford in the HCI group in the Computer Science department.

Christina teaches worldwide on the intersection of human innovation and high-performing teams. She uses the power of story to connect with audiences and readers through speaking and her Amazon category-bestselling books. Christina’s work is personable, insightful, knowledgeable, and engaging.

Her books include Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web, Pencil Me In, and The Team that Managed Itself. Her bestselling book is a business fable called Radical Focus, which tackles the OKR movement through the powerful story of Hanna and Jack’s struggling tea startup. When the two receive an ultimatum from their only investor, they must learn how to employ OKRs and radical focus to get the right things done.
To connect with Christina or to get more information on how to become a whole-mind, high performing team, visit http://cwodtke.com/ or http://www.eleganthack.com.

Reviews

[Mikal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great companion to Donna Spencer's "A Practical Guide to Information Architecture". The two together provide the intermediate toolkit for Information Architecture.

Where "A Practical Guide" is at home with content. Wodtke is at home with web applications and site layout.

Where the center of gravity of "A Practical Guide" is the card sort and techniques for content inventory. The center of gravity for Blueprints for the web is the wire framing and scenario flow of each individual webpage. A Practical Guide is a starting point for intranets, Information Architecture is for those in building sites for the modern web.

And finally "A Practical Guide" speaks to the practice of implementing an information architecture project, including the political and enterprise requirements, reports and deliverables. Where "Blueprints for the Web" focuses to the user goals and IxD techniques for designing an information architecture.

Both are valid and important techniques.

At roughly 280 pages this was a breezy focused read that builds on other interaction design concepts. If you are starting from zero, the book is approachable however you may not fully recognize the intricacy behind the simple and plain language and ideas.

I felt this book did a great job summarizing the types of 'user journeys' information architectures have to solve as a bonus the information architecture of this book is very practical and useful.

Notes:
This book will help you answer
- How do I architect for social
- What are the key considerations I should keep in mind when designing a page
- How do I match my architecture with the user intent
- How can I user metadata to help users get the most out of my site

The only gripe keeping this from five stars is that its not well cited. It does not cite the user studies or academic studies to backup many of its claims.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not as in-depth as 'the polar bear book' by Morville and Rosenfeld, this book on IA is much more approachable, and therefore perhaps easier to introduce IA concepts to interested colleagues. Also has some tips on keeping care of yourself as you play the IA game.

[Second edition has significantly updated content, as well as colour images:]

[Sean Fishlock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read some glowing reviews, I decided to pick up a copy of this book for myself. I was expecting something academic, instead it turned out to be quite different, laden with quirky cartoons and little text. This is a breath of fresh air compared to many of the textbook approaches. What I didn't like is the way the book changes tone several times and too often the author declares principles without much substance to back them up and goes off on a tangent.
Although I found it easy to read this made it difficult to get through. Topics jump around the place and don't seem to head in any real direction. the humour isn't that funny. Blueprints borrows heavily from Information Architecture for the World Wide Web but appears to be a "Dummies" version of it. Although Blueprints contains some real gems that you can't find elsewhere, comparisons will ultimately favour Rosenfeld and Morville's more in depth book.
The last few chapters degrades into a spiel of personal advice and open ended commentary on the direction of the industry. This is fine, but probably best left to follow up in a blog, as it has the appearance of filler content.
On a positive note, it manages to hold it's age quite well by avoiding the traps of elaborating specific technologies and techniques.
Although it claims to be useful for designers, programmers, consultants and information practitioners, it is almost solely written from the perspective of a project manager. So while the early parts apply to most roles, anyone else might not find too much in worthwhile in the rest.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2002, needless to say it’s a bit outdated. Still...a useful and readable primer on the topic. I’d recommend this to designers, product managers, project managers, and any other site/software stakeholders with no IA or library science background but with a vested interest in good information architecture. I read this right after the polar bear book, which was a bit jarring but good because this brings you back down to the level you need to be at to speak effectively to people lacking this expertise.

[Rica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucid introduction to the field. Confirmed some things I'd figured out on the fly while helping reorganize a couple of entrepreneurs' site, and taught me plenty that I can put to good use in future.

I particularly enjoyed Wodtke's approach to "Gurus and Rules," as laid out in Chapter 1.

Also, I enjoyed the personable style she demonstrates throughout, along with her wry humour: "Information likes to be free, but people want to get paid."

Occasionally, I didn't see the point of including some of the cutesy asides (e.g., the description of Easter-egg hunts in her childhood). But that's a tiny quibble about an otherwise excellent work that's full of information--along with plenty of pointers to resources from which the interested reader can learn more.

I'd cheerfully purchase another book by Wodtke, and will recommend this one to anyone who wants a superb overview of ways to "make the complex clear" on the Web.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wodtke is so funny! This is was my first formal introduction to information architecture (although I had certainly been exposed to it indirectly throughout my industrial design education/career), and I couldn't have asked for a better person to lay it all out.

She speaks in shades of grays, but somehow nothing comes across as fuzzy. Chock full of great examples and hilariously down to earth, this book is a great hands-on introduction to the not-so-obvious function of information design.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid introduction to information architecture. No, it isn't Morville and Rosenfeld's Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, but Wodtke and Govella's book covers the essentials, does so in a friendly, non-frightening way, and is a little more portable than the polar bear book. Plus, it's actually enjoyable to read, which is a good thing in its own right.

[Robert Bogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s one statement that is definite truth, there’s no mystery in how Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web approaches IA. It’s all about the web – and why shouldn’t be. If we’re accessing information today we’re likely doing it via the web. Whether it’s an internet web site that sells Shepherd’s crooks or a corporate intranet, we’re spending more and more of our time consuming information in a browser.

Click here to read the full review

[Xuejin Chuang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the process of creating a web site. However, the structure of this book is great as it covers persona research and development, content design and up till wireframing. However, the author did not explain his thought process or reasoning on why each step is a must and how it contributes towards the entire UX design process.

However, still a must read for UX wannabes

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely didn't intend to read this in one day, but it was engaging, and it was interesting. It actually reminded me a lot of both the exhibit design and database design classes I had to take in grad school.

I imagine I'll either use it as a reference or else I'll just flat out re-read it.

[Antti Palmén · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an interesting read, not too outdated yet. Not too heavy and quite easy to follow thanks to a lot of screenshots and examples.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to information architecture, especially for those without an IA background who need practical advice on how to build a web site.