Open AccessWhat happens when context thwarts an information architect's vision?
Author(s) -
Haller Thom
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
bulletin of the american society for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8366
pISSN - 0095-4403
DOI - 10.1002/bult.2012.1720380315
Subject(s) - clarity , context (archaeology) , space (punctuation) , information overload , work (physics) , public relations , the internet , computer science , world wide web , internet privacy , engineering , political science , history , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , archaeology , operating system
Editor's Summary Working with an organization to improve the structure and content of its Internet site can be discouraging and humbling when its stakeholders resist change. Proven writing skills that work in traditional formats do not always succeed in an online environment, coming across as verbose, obstructing clarity and impeding easy navigation. Suggestions to simplify wayfinding around the information space may be ignored, leaving the information architect with a sense of failure to deliver relief from information overload. Though not all recommendations will be accepted, the professional IA learns from each interaction and strives to deepen others' appreciation of the potential for effective site content and structure.