Information Design

1
Lesson 3

• Information Design

2
Objectives

• Upon completion of this lesson, you should be
  able to
• Identify and document your Web sites message.
• Identify and tailor your information for your Web
  sites audience.
• Identify and develop your Web sites purpose and
  scope.
• Structure your Web sites information into a
  flowchart.

3
What Is a Design Document?

• Great Web sites are built by teams whose members
  have three essential skills
• Writing skills
• Computer programming skills
• Artistic skills
• A design document keeps all of these talented
  people working together effectively.

Step-by-Step 3.1
4
What Is a Design Document?

• A design document outlines your sites goals and
  has at least three types of information
• Information design (writers needed)
• Interaction design (programmers needed)
• Presentation design (artists needed)

Step-by-Step 3.1
5
What Is a Design Document?

• Information design requires balancing three
  elements
• Message (Whats the message of the site?)
• Audience (Who is the audience for the site?)
• Presentation design (What is the purpose of the
  site?)

Step-by-Step 3.1
6
What Is a Design Document?

• A design document should contain these parts
• Message
• Scope
• Audience
• Audience background
• Persona
• Purpose
• Structure-flowchart
• Resource list

Step-by-Step 3.1
7
What Is a Design Document?

• In Step-by-Step 3.1, begin writing your design
  document by creating a message statement and a
  list of resources that will explain the topic of
  your Web site to others.

Step-by-Step 3.1
8
Who Is My Web Sites Audience?

• An audience a group with something in common.
  For example
• Where they live.
• What they do for a living.
• The hobbies they share.
• The clothes they like.
• The music they like.
• The language they speak.
• The food they like.
• A cause they share.

Step-by-Step 3.2
9
Who Is My Web Sites Audience?

• A persona a composite member of your defined
  audience.
• An audience analysis helps you make educated
  guesses about
• The kind of information that your audience wants
  to read and see.
• What your audience already knows.
• The benefits to your audience.

Step-by-Step 3.2 3.3
10
What Is My Web Sites Purpose and Scope?

• A purpose explains what a Web site is for
• Make the purpose clear before you begin.
• Do not be too broad.
• Do not be too narrow.
• Be specific!
• The more you know about your message and
  audience, the easier it is to define your purpose.

Step-by-Step 3.3
11
What Is My Web Sites Purpose and Scope?

• A scope defines the size of your site and the
  resources needed to develop it
• You dont want too much information on your site!
• You dont want too little information on your
  site!
• You want your site to be just the right size.

Step-by-Step 3.4
12
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• A Linear Structure allows one page to be seen
  at a time in sequence
• The simplest way to organize pages.
• Used when its best to have the user see one page
  at a time in sequence.
• Used to explain a step-by-step process.

Step-by-Step 3.5
13
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• A Random Access Structure allows users to jump
  from one page on the site to any other page
• Best used when quick access to all information is
  required.
• Can be confusing if theres too much information.
  Best with limited amounts of information.
• Each page links directly to every other page.

Step-by-Step 3.5
14
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• A Hierarchical Structure allows the access of
  information through a hierarchy of categories and
  subcategories, similar to an outline
• Looks like a family tree with parents and
  children.
• A good way to organize large amounts of
  information.
• Top categories introduce, while subcategories add
  more detailed information.

Step-by-Step 3.5
15
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• A Mixed Structure can use portions of linear,
  hierarchical, and random structures
• Gives creativity and flexibility to the Web
  designer.
• Allows for cross-referencing of information.
• Allows your message to be divided into smaller
  chunks.

Step-by-Step 3.5
16
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• Brainstorm the structure of your Web site by
  chunking main categories of information. Each
  chunk of information could turn into a Web page.

Step-by-Step 3.5
17
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• Gradually, your Web site structure will take
  shape as you begin drawing lines from each
  related chunk of information to another. These
  lines show the relationships between the chunks
  of content.

Step-by-Step 3.5
18
How Should the Message Be Structured?

• Redraw your chart more carefully a second and
  perhaps even a third time. Place boxes around
  chunks of information and lines between the boxes
  to show relationships. You may need to repeat
  this exercise several times.

Step-by-Step 3.6
19
Summary

• In this lesson, you learned
• To identify and document your Web Sites message.
• To identify your audience so that you can tailor
  the information contained within your Web site to
  the audiences needs.
• To identify, develop, and document your Web
  sites purpose and scope.
• That using a flowchart allows you to structure
  your Web sites information.