Links to Information Architecture Research

semanticstudios has links to some real gems

What do we really know about information architecture? Do we know what works? Can we defend our designs? Are we improving?

In preparing for my upcoming seminars, I revisited the role of research in the design process, and surveyed the literature most relevant to the practice of information architecture.

Before we dig into the research itself, it's worth considering the myriad inputs that shape design. They include:

    * Goals and Scope. The stated project goals and scope which may be conveyed in an RFP or as functional specifications.
    * Constraints. The budget, schedule, project team, and technology infrastructure.
    * Discovery. Project-specific research to learn about your unique blend of users, content, and context.
    * Competitive Analysis. Reviewing what everyone else is doing and borrowing from the best.
    * Expertise and Experience. What you already know, including explicit and tacit knowledge.
    * Guidelines. Published heuristics and guidelines derived from research and/or practice.
    * Published Research. Results of academic or corporate research in human-computer interaction, library and information science, cognitive psychology, etc.
    * Usability Testing. Iterative project-specific testing of prior designs and new prototypes.

<some great links here>>