Information Architecture is about helping people understand their surroundings and find what they’re looking for in the real world and online. It’s also relevant to the analog world we live in. The growth of the Internet exploded in the 1990s, and small sites grew into big messes, leading to usability problems, content nightmares, and costly redesigns. People realized that planning was required for online content. In essence, what architects do for buildings, Information Architects do for websites, software, and interactive services. Content is a reason people visit websites. If visitors can find the content they’re looking for easily and in the least possible time, they’ll have the best experience with the website. However, if finding information is difficult or takes too much time, users will have a bad experience. When people abandon a website or an app after a bad experience, it’s more difficult to bring them back — This is where information architecture plays a crucial role in producing content that the users will find valuable and easy to find.
The similarities between interaction design and information architecture
Even though the two are closely related, they are not the same. Interaction design is how a person thinks and feels while using a product, system, or service. IxD designers work to enhance the user experience by incorporating utility, usability, and enjoyment into product use. At the same time, it is nearly impossible to create a good interaction design without a solid information architecture foundation. Information architecture has roots in various fields, including architecture. Information architecture relies on cognitive psychology to organize information within its products, and key elements of cognitive psychology are the most relevant for information architecture, including mental models. When information architecture practitioners take the mental models of their users into account, they create content with a structure that makes it easier to discover information. When information architecture petitioners take the cognitive load of their users into account, they create content with a structure that puts the least amount of load on users’ cognitive abilities. Information architects create content that allows for easy decision-making by providing information at the right time and providing an appropriate number of choices. Information architects also structure content, so it’s easy for users to find what they want. The more content a product has, the more significant role of information architecture in the IxD process.
