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Survey results - Practicing IA

The purpose of the survey was to learn about the type of person who would come to a session about information architecture at a CHI conference.

We received 57 semi-completed surveys. We asked the SIG attendees a series of 7 questions that were related to the background, education, resources, and tools that support their IA work.

This is a short summary of the results of the survey, with a lot of links.

What is your organization, city/state, and type of organization?

Most SIG attendees were from the US, with some nice representation from the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland.

We all come from a variety of work environments: business and technology consulting firms, academic researchers, academic employees, and Fortune 100 firms.

Who are some of the most influential people who have helped shape the way you practice IA?

Listed here are the most influential people who were listed more than once in the survey results. The full list had an interesting variety of people that included academics, mentors, consultants, colleagues and gurus/experts.

What is your educational/training in IA? What were you doing before you became/knew you were an IA?

The most common professional backgrounds for the attendees were web designers and programmers. "Life before IA" ranged from architects, software engineers, usability engineers and webmasters.

What are the most relevant aspects of Human-Computer Interaction that help you practice information architecture?

A sampling of some of the attendees' responses: Usability, card sorting methods, user-centered design, task analysis, goal and scenario based design, needs analysis, interaction design, field studies, interviewing, iteration models, mental models, user research, contextual analysis, psychology.

How do you feel about degree programs or certification for IAs?

  • 7: I Strongly Agree
  • 19: I Agree
  • 20: Neutral
  • 3: I Disagree
  • 0: I Strongly Disagree
  • 8: No answer

What software do you use to convey information architecture DESIGNS to others? What types of artifacts do you create with each?

Attendees listed the following:

Software: Visio (33), MS Word (15), MS Power Point (14), Adobe Illustrator (12), Macromedia Dreamweaver (12), Adobe Photoshop (4) and a spattering of various text editors and graphics editors.

Artifacts: flowcharts, wire frames, sitemaps, prototypes, use cases, card sorting, content inventory, client audits, site hierarchies, conceptual diagrams, storyboards, requirements & narratives, blueprints, screen schematics, labeling schemes, outlines and many others techniques related to diagrams and charts.

Supply closet materials: paper, pen, pencil, post-it notes, white boards.

What resources (books, magazines, web sites, etc.) have the most impact on how you practice information architecture?

Books, Journals, Magazines, Proceedings

Websites, Mailing Lists

Other Comments

  • Books on design
  • Exhibits on design
  • Museum exhibits
  • Mind Mapping Resources
  • Agents & Multi Agents
  • Concept mapping books
  • UML documentation
‹ Notes - Practicing IAup