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Information Architect
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An Information Architect goes through the following processes (or phases) when working on a website project.
1. Analyze
2. Define
3. Structure
4. Design
5. Evaluate
Test
While the phases do overlap and one phase (Test) extends through the entire project, the other phases do follow the order shown above.
Click the Processes link below to see the tasks performed during each phase. You will also find a list of deliverables for each phase and an example for many of the deliverables. (Deliverables are in PDF format, unless stated otherwise.) Click the icon below to download Acrobat Reader.)

 Processes 

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 Phase  Tasks  Deliverables
1. Analyze
› Gather business requirements.
› Conduct research.
› Analyze the audience, industry, and company.
› Determine site goals and objectives.
› Begin creating personas and scenarios.
› Create information flowchart.
› Conduct heuristic evaluation.
› Conduct competitive analysis.
› Personas & Scenarios
› Business Requirements
› Information Flowchart
› Competitive Analysis (1.2M file)
2. Define
› Clearly define audience(s).
› Refine personas and scenarios.
› Begin creating use cases (UML)
› Create project plan.
› Start functional specifications.
› Personas & Scenarios
› Use Cases
› Project Plan (Excel file)
3. Structure
› Design wireframe prototypes of user interface, possibly down to the button level.
› Create initial sitemap.
› Create "blueprint" of site, showing organizational and functional layout of site.
› Wireframe
4. Design
› Create site design and show flat (JPG) file of design for review and testing.
› Create final sitemap.
› Identify and incorporate company branding.
› Create functional HTML prototype.
› Finish functional specifications.
› Sitemap
› Flat JPG Design
› HTML Prototype
› Functional Specifications
5. Evaluate
› Evaluate the site after launch.
› Conduct post-launch usability tests.
› Analyze server logs to identify "actual" user paths on site.
› Develop list of updates to the site, for future maintenance release of site.
› Maintenance Guide
› Analysis Report
Test
› Early testing involves showing users paper mockups of page layout. Ask questions about naming and labeling conventions, site navigation, and general page layout.
› After a working prototype is ready, conduct usability tests to validate design.
› Conduct full usability tests pre- and post-launch of the site.
› Usability Tests
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