How do you enforce information architecture guidelines?

Information architecture (IA) is the practice of organizing and labeling the content and functionality of a website or app to make it easy for users to find and use. IA guidelines are the principles and standards that help you create a consistent and coherent IA for your project. But how do you enforce them across your team and stakeholders? Here are some tips to help you ensure that your IA guidelines are followed and respected throughout the design and development process.

1 Communicate your IA guidelines clearly

The first step to enforce your IA guidelines is to communicate them clearly to your team and stakeholders. Explain the purpose and benefits of having a well-defined IA, and how it supports the user needs and business goals. Provide examples and evidence of how your IA guidelines apply to your project, and how they address common IA challenges and issues. Use visual aids, such as diagrams, wireframes, or prototypes, to illustrate your IA structure and navigation. Make sure your IA guidelines are documented and accessible, and invite feedback and questions from your team and stakeholders.

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John Dougherty

Sr Solutions Architect @ Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Al Ambassador
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Information architecture is tied inextricably to the data architecture and particularly to the domain model. It's a great idea to give the IA a seat at the table for data architecture bringing information navigation from the users perspective to the DA team. This should be part of the guidelines for IA.

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2 Establish roles and responsibilities

The second step to enforce your IA guidelines is to establish roles and responsibilities for your team and stakeholders. Define who is in charge of creating, reviewing, approving, and updating the IA, and what are their tasks and expectations. Assign specific IA roles, such as IA lead, IA reviewer, IA tester, or IA owner, and clarify their scope and authority. Establish a workflow and a timeline for the IA process, and communicate it to your team and stakeholders. Use tools and platforms, such as collaborative software, project management systems, or content management systems, to facilitate the coordination and collaboration of the IA work.

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John Dougherty

Sr Solutions Architect @ Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Al Ambassador
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In cases where the Infrastructure Architecture (IA) is newer while the Data Architecture (DA) is established and different, it may become necessary to introduce an intermediary technology that facilitates the implementation of the GraphQL pattern. A role needs to be defined as the intermediary between IA and DA. This intermediary technology acts as a bridge, effectively decoupling the IA from the underlying data storage strategy e.g. AWS AppSync.

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3 Monitor and evaluate your IA

The third step to enforce your IA guidelines is to monitor and evaluate your IA throughout the project. Check if your IA is aligned with your user needs and business goals, and if it follows your IA guidelines. Use methods and metrics, such as user testing, analytics, or heuristic evaluation, to measure the effectiveness and usability of your IA. Identify any gaps, errors, or inconsistencies in your IA, and prioritize and resolve them. Collect and analyze feedback and suggestions from your team, stakeholders, and users, and use them to improve your IA. Update your IA guidelines as needed, and communicate any changes to your team and stakeholders.

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4 Educate and train your team and stakeholders

The fourth step to enforce your IA guidelines is to educate and train your team and stakeholders on the value and practice of IA. Provide them with resources and opportunities to learn more about IA, such as articles, books, courses, webinars, or workshops. Share best practices and examples of successful IA projects, and explain how they apply to your project. Encourage them to ask questions, share ideas, and participate in IA discussions and activities. Recognize and reward their contributions and achievements in IA work, and foster a culture of IA awareness and appreciation.

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5 Advocate and promote your IA

The fifth step to enforce your IA guidelines is to advocate and promote your IA to your team, stakeholders, and users. Showcase the benefits and outcomes of your IA, and how it enhances the user experience and the business performance. Demonstrate how your IA supports the brand identity and the value proposition of your project, and how it differentiates it from the competitors. Solicit and share testimonials and reviews from your users, and how they appreciate and enjoy your IA. Celebrate and share your IA successes and learnings, and inspire others to adopt and follow your IA guidelines.

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6 Review and update your IA guidelines

The sixth and final step to enforce your IA guidelines is to review and update them regularly. IA is not a one-time activity, but a continuous process that evolves with your project and your users. Review your IA guidelines periodically, and check if they are still relevant, effective, and consistent. Update your IA guidelines as your project and your users change, and as you learn from your IA work. Communicate any changes to your IA guidelines to your team and stakeholders, and explain the reasons and implications. Keep your IA guidelines current and flexible, and adapt them to your project and your users' needs.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Kate G.

CX Designer @ RSA Conference | User Research, AI, UX Strategy
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Understand how data and information is stored in your digital product. Things like pre-existing IA, database structures and other "invisible"/back-end aspects can prevent changes or easy implementations. Bring in technical partners as soon as possible to understand your current information situation, and work towards a solution that fits into that landscape, rather than trying to force a pie-in-the-sky solution that's just simply not feasible with the current tech stack. And if you are starting from a green field/0-1 situation, the technical requirements might be a little bit more flexible but still exist and must be considered.

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How do you enforce information architecture guidelines?

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4

5

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1 Communicate your IA guidelines clearly

2 Establish roles and responsibilities

3 Monitor and evaluate your IA

4 Educate and train your team and stakeholders

5 Advocate and promote your IA

6 Review and update your IA guidelines

7 Here’s what else to consider

Information Architecture

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How do you enforce information architecture guidelines?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Communicate your IA guidelines clearly

2 Establish roles and responsibilities

3 Monitor and evaluate your IA

4 Educate and train your team and stakeholders

5 Advocate and promote your IA

6 Review and update your IA guidelines

7 Here’s what else to consider

Information Architecture

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