UIEtips: Four Essential Skills for Information Architects - An Interview with Donna (Maurer) Spencer
August 27th, 2008
I recently facilitated several usability tests, watching user after user struggle with our client’s web site. Not one user could find the most valuable content on the site. Every user knew exactly what they wanted and all of the information they were looking for was available — they just had no idea how to find it.
Once they made it to the page with their content, they still struggled. The navigation links and categories were so unclearly written that users weren’t at all sure where to click. They had to work very hard just to figure out what content was available to them on the site.
The content was disorganized, confusing, and lethargic. Fortunately, we knew exactly who to turn to discuss and solve these types of problems. In this week’s feature article, we’re publishing an interview with Donna (Maurer) Spencer, a world renowned information architect.
In this week’s UIEtips article Donna and I discuss how the best information architects successfully tackle specific content challenges. Donna shares the essential skills separating the best information architects from the rest of the pack.
Read the article - Four Essential Skills for Information Architects: An Interview with Donna (Maurer) Spencer
We are so excited by Donna’s work that we’ve invited her to present a full-day seminar, Information Architecture Essentials: Best Practices for Organizing Your Site’s Content, at the User Interface
13 Conference in October. It’s a great place to learn what it takes to become a great information architect.
How have you tackled your site content challenges? In your experience, what skills do the best information architects possess? Share your thoughts and experiences below.
