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Sarah R. Barrett
Sarah R. Barrett

193 Followers

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·Apr 11

Information architecture and metaphor

I’ve written previously about architectural skeuomorphism, that is, the attempt to make digital experiences structurally resemble physical locations (tl;dr, it doesn’t work, don’t do it.) I’ve also written, more recently, about metaphors to explain why we do information architecture. Metaphors are inescapable in information architecture, not just to explain things…

Information Architecture

6 min read

Information architecture and metaphor
Information architecture and metaphor
Information Architecture

6 min read


Published in

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·Mar 30

The parable of the railroad: a useful metaphor for Information Architects

I find the practice of information architecture is mostly about convincing people that something needs to be done, rather than making diagrams or coding anything. Categories and structures are deep within us. An attempt to create a new architectural approach is an attempt to create a new shared fiction that…

Information Architecture

3 min read

The parable of the railroad: a useful metaphor for Information Architects
The parable of the railroad: a useful metaphor for Information Architects
Information Architecture

3 min read


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·May 6, 2021

Understanding Architectural Scale: Tabletops and landscapes

In my last article, I asked if you could remember where your grandparents kept their telephone. Our brains are usually very good at this kind of thing, so most of us can. Not all spatial memories are so easy, though. I also asked if you knew where your most recent…

Information Architecture

10 min read

Understanding Architectural Scale: Tabletops and landscapes
Understanding Architectural Scale: Tabletops and landscapes
Information Architecture

10 min read


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·Mar 24, 2021

Websites are not living rooms and other lessons for information architecture

Wherever you are, please take a moment and think if you can remember where your grandparents kept their telephone. Close your eyes if you need to. Where was your high school locker? Where is your can opener in your house right now? Now, where is your most recent copy of…

Information Architecture

6 min read

Websites are not living rooms and other lessons for information architecture
Websites are not living rooms and other lessons for information architecture
Information Architecture

6 min read


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·Mar 11, 2021

Your Information Architecture is an Accessibility Problem

You may not have an information architect on your team, but you definitely have information architecture in your experience. Information architecture (IA) isn’t commonly associated with accessibility, but a review of the literature shows that’s a huge mistake. …

Information Architecture

7 min read

Your Information Architecture is an Accessibility Problem
Your Information Architecture is an Accessibility Problem
Information Architecture

7 min read


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·Apr 8, 2020

How we did it: Getting to Structured Content

Inspired by a question on Twitter, I want to provide an example of the power of structured content as we have leveraged it on Docs.microsoft.com. First, a little background: Microsoft Docs is the successor to MSDN, Technet, etc. and is the platform on which Microsoft is centralizing (nearly) all of its technical documentation, training…

Information Architecture

6 min read

IA in Practice: Getting to Structured Content
IA in Practice: Getting to Structured Content
Information Architecture

6 min read


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·Mar 26, 2020

Evidence and Antelopes: Buckland’s “Information as Thing”

Periodically, we’re taking a classic paper in information science and breaking it down into its argument, some clear examples, other perspectives from the field on the same issue, and what it can mean for an information architecture practice today. This week, we’re looking at Michael Buckland’s “Information as Thing.” [PDF] …

UX

7 min read

UX

7 min read

Sarah R. Barrett

Sarah R. Barrett

193 Followers

IA, information person, Seattleite.

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