What are the most important IA skills to master for great user experience?

1 Research and analysis

One of the first steps in any IA project is to research and analyze the needs, goals, and behaviors of your users, as well as the content, context, and constraints of your project. You need to gather data from various sources, such as interviews, surveys, analytics, usability tests, and competitor reviews. You also need to synthesize and interpret the data, using techniques such as personas, scenarios, user journeys, and affinity diagrams. Research and analysis skills help you understand your users and their problems, and inform your IA decisions.

3 Information design

Information design is the skill of presenting your information in a way that is easy to comprehend, attractive, and engaging. It involves choosing the right format, layout, style, and visual elements for your information, such as text, images, icons, charts, diagrams, maps, and videos. You need to consider how your users will perceive, process, and interact with your information, and how they will retain and recall it. You also need to follow the principles of accessibility, readability, and usability for your information design. Information design skills help you communicate your information effectively and efficiently.

4 Interaction design

Interaction design is the skill of designing how your users will interact with your information and your system, using elements such as buttons, menus, forms, sliders, checkboxes, and tooltips. You need to consider how your users will perform their actions, such as clicking, scrolling, dragging, typing, and swiping, and how they will receive feedback, such as sounds, animations, pop-ups, and messages. You also need to follow the conventions and standards of the platform and device you are designing for, such as web, mobile, or desktop. Interaction design skills help you create a smooth and satisfying user experience.

5 Content strategy

Content strategy is the skill of planning, creating, managing, and evaluating your content, using tools such as content audits, inventories, calendars, guidelines, and metrics. You need to consider how your content will support your business objectives, your user needs, and your IA. You also need to ensure that your content is relevant, useful, accurate, consistent, and up-to-date. Content strategy skills help you create and maintain quality content that meets your users' expectations and your project's goals.

6 Collaboration and communication

IA is not a solo activity. It involves working with and communicating with various stakeholders, such as clients, managers, developers, designers, writers, editors, and testers. You need to collaborate and communicate effectively throughout the IA process, from gathering requirements, to creating deliverables, to testing and iterating. You also need to use appropriate tools and methods for collaboration and communication, such as wireframes, prototypes, sitemaps, card sorting, and presentations. Collaboration and communication skills help you ensure that your IA is aligned with the project's vision and scope, and that it is understood and implemented correctly.

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?