Information Architecture

This course provides a practical understanding of fundamental concepts and methods of value to anyone involved in building and managing large scale websites. Information architecture includes:

  • The combination of organization, labeling and navigation schemes within an information system.
  • The structural design of an information space to facilitate task completion and intuitive access to content.
  • The art and science of classifying web sites to help people find and manage information.
  • A discipline and community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.

We will also think about the implications for technology design of how humans perceive, process, transform, and use information.

Required Texts:

Information Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing Large-scale Web Sites,, 2nd edition. Peter Morville & Louis Rosenfeld, O'Reilly: New York, 2002.
Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web, Christina Wodkte, New Riders: Indianapolis, 2003.
The Design of Sites: Patterns, Principles, and Processes for Crafting a Customer-Centered Web Experience, Douglas K. van Duyne, James A. Landay, and Jason I. Hong

Additional readings:

Articles from www.boxesandarrows.com

Assignments:

Assignments 30%
Final Project 50%
Class participation & presentations 20%

Kathryn Summers

CR 500
410-837-6202
ksummers@ubalt.edu
Office Hrs: T, W, R 3:30-4:30pm, & by appointment