bannermuseum

This page reviews ideas from the Research and Strategies steps of the Information Architecture planning process as you prepare to produce your materials. Keep in mind that you don't have to be designing a large website to benefit from planning the environment.

Whether you plan your project on paper or in your head, it's important that you have a clear idea about what your web page will accomplish. Ask yourself: What function will this page or website serve? Who is likely to use it and why? What is the purpose of the website?

Analyze Potential Users

Start with an analysis of your users. To whom will you be speaking, sharing, and interacting? What are they like as explorers, web users, and learners? How do they typically behave when using the Internet? Will they be passive users or active participants within your web environment? What special considerations will need to be made based on the age, maturity, gender, cultural background, and reading level of the users?

try itGo to Richland County Public Library. Notice that resources are available in Spanish!

Identify Your Purpose

Also ask yourself about the purpose of the page. What's your mission? What are you trying to accomplish and why? Try not to focus on the technology itself. If you find yourself saying that your mission is "to make a website", you have a problem. It's not the website that's important. The focus should be on the communication of information. Why are you creating the website in the first place? Why should the audience be interested in your web pages?

State Expected Outcomes

Consider the outcomes you expect. In other words, what do you want your users to accomplish from using the page? Do you want them to be informed on a topic or persuaded to take action on the issue?

Organize Your Content

Once you've identified your users, developed a mission, and created a clear set of outcomes, you're ready to select content for your page. What are the most important pieces of information? Can they be organized into categories? Can information be clustered together? Is there a hierarchy or sequence to certain pieces of information?

Think in nonlinear terms. Develop a concept map of your ideas. The center of your map or web will become the core page or index of your project. Each circle could represent a connected page or link to an outside resource. The more you plan now, the easier it will be to create the pages later. Many people like to create their concept map on poster paper. Others like to use the computer. A software package called Inspiration is a popular tool for organizing ideas. Your map will serve as the blue print for your project.

Create a Preproduction Plan

Regardless of whether one or one hundred people will be involved with your project, it's helpful to begin with a preproduction plan. This plan will serve as a guide for your entire project. When developing a preproduction plan, be sure to include all your ideas, resources, and activities. By creating a master list of options, you have many possibilities to explore. At this point, you're not committed to any outcomes or activities.

Develop a Theme

Your project will come to life quickly if you identify a theme, logo, metaphor, or analogy to go with your site. For example, you might design a cute creature such as your school mascot that will lead users through the pages.

Consider a logo or standard screen design such as a small icon to represent each major category or a different color to represent each page.

Many people use metaphors and analogies as part of their sites. For instance, you might create a virtual field trip and use the information highway analogy. Many people design their site like a museum with different levels, rooms, and exhibits.

You could create a web site that uses a board game graphic as a main menu, a pie that shows the parts of the project, or a puzzle where users click on pieces. Use your imagination and make your site interesting and appealing to all ages.

Design Your Layout

Create a structure for your site. How will the pages be organized? Most sites are organized in a hierarchy. In other words, there's a core page that serves as the main menu, followed by a series of submenus and content pages. Consider drawing a diagram of the organizational structure to help with development of the pages.

Will the pages be self-explanatory or are they part of a larger project or unit of instruction? What will the pages look like? What fonts and sizes will be used? What will the headings look like? Will graphics and animation be used to support the text? Will the users be involved in some way? Will they answer questions, search for information, or be guided to additional information if needed? Where will users go for help?

The diagram below of a project called Rocks Rock! In addition to three main areas, the site also links to a credit section and a participant list.

rock diagram

The Types section contains student reports and background information. It also links to lots of cool rock and mineral sites. This area is a great resource for all project participants as well as others who are interested in rocks.

The Rock World section contains data from two global projects. The first project is called Rocks Near You. In this project, students identify and chart rocks in their area and submit them to the master web page list. Students then compare the data to geological maps of the world. The second project called Famous Rocks asks people to write about a famous geological site in their area and share it on the website. The Uses section highlights how rocks are used in our world including the areas of fun, art, and products. Part of this activity involved emailing people who work with rocks as part of their job and asking questions about their use of rocks. Students also took pictures of rocks in the community.

As you design your web environment, consider the following steps:

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