Information Architecture (or the “polar bear book”) explains how to organize, structure, and label information across digital channels so users can find and understand it.
Information architecture is the structural design of shared information environments. (24)
The relationship between words and meaning is tricky at best. (24)
The abstract idea of chess is more “real” than a physical chess set. (30)
Searching, browsing, and asking are all methods for finding. (46)
In the berrypicking model of information seeking behavior, users start with a need, formulate a request (query), then move iteratively through a system, picking bits of information (“berries”) along the way. (47)
We only understand things in relationship to something else. (53)
We bring this awareness of place — and the placemaking drive — to information environments. (54)
Our understanding of the world is largely determined by our ability to organize information. (97)
Classification systems are made of language, and language is ambiguous. (99)
Organization systems are composed of organization schemes and organization structures. (103)
An organization scheme defines the shared characteristics of content items (e.g., size, shape, color). (103)
An organization structure defines the types of relationships (e.g., equivalent, hierarchical, hypertextual, linear, spatial). (103)
Exact or “objective” organization schemes divide information into well-defined and mutually exclusive sections (e.g., alphabetical, chronological, geographical). (105)
Ambiguous or “subjective” organization schemes divide information into categories that defy exact definition (e.g., topic, task, audience, metaphor). (108)
Precision is the number of relevant documents retrieved divided by the total number of documents retrieved. (228)
Recall is the number of relevant documents retrieved divided by the total number of relevant documents. (228)
A thesaurus is a controlled vocabulary in which equivalence, hierarchical, and associative relationships are identified for the purposes of improved retrieval. (282)
There are three subtypes of hierarchical relationship: generic, whole-part, instance. (297)
Ranganathan build his system upon the notion that documents and objects have multiple dimensions, or facets. (303)
The old model asks the question, “where do I put this?” (303)
The faceted model asks the question, “how can I describe this?” (303)
Book Notes
In re-reading the polar bear, I’m surprised to find less overlap with my next book than expected. This is good. The “information architecture” in my mind is a different beast.
I spent the past year reading books and writing notes. It was fun. Now the research phase ends, and the hard work begins. I need to define the vision and draft the outline. Or, as we used to say back in the day, “it’s time to do the IA.” Wish me luck!
As I work on Natural Information Architecture, I’m sharing notes and quotes from my sources of inspiration and provocation. As always, your questions and suggestions are welcome.