in·for·ma·tion, n. knowledge derived from study, experience or instruction.
ar·chi·tect, n. one who plans or devises the construction of something. |
Job Description: |
Quite literally, information architects are the planners and designers of how to present certain information. They work behind the scenes, taking into account the not only the purpose and goals of the clients, but also the best way to articulate those purposes and goals to the target audience. Some responsibilities include, but are not limited to: |
- Develop thorough, realistic plans that support organizational objectives
- Work with customers to understand their business models and goals and help define strategy, content, and features for design of their web site
- Analyze audiences and their information and functional needs
- Define site architecture and navigation that serves as a blueprint of the site upon which all other aspects are built
- Create wireframes, site maps, schematics, process maps, feature lists, mockups, visual specification, working prototypes and other artifacts to describe the intended user experience
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Job Subtypes |
Other names or variations of the Information Architect position: |
- User Experience Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Information Security Architect
- this is a variation of an information architect that is more concerned with information security solutions and issues
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Education Requirements |
The education requirements for an information architect will depend heavily on the company and what their needs are. However, some common education requirements include: |
- BA or BS in the following: Graphic/Visual Arts, Library and Information Science, Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, Information Sciences, Marketing, Industrial Design, Fine Arts, or a related area
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Professional and Personal Skills |
Skills that an information architect are expected to have: |
- Strong knowledge of site design; mastery in principles of Web design (HCI, HTML, CSS)
- Strong knowledge of user interface design processes and methodology
- Working knowledge of User Centered Design Principles and Practices
- Exceptional communication skills
- Good leadership and interpersonal skills
- Detail-oriented
- Comfortable in a fast-pace environment
- Knowledge of architecture-related software (Illustrator, Visio, Photoshop, SQL Server, MS Office, Acrobat, Dreamweaver)
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Experience Needed |
Generally employers ask for: |
- 2-10 years relevant work experience
- Experience working on large, complex sites
- Experience observing user research and translating user research into design decisions
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Course Connection |
Some PW courses that you would be sure to take in preparation for this type of job: |
- WRA 320 > Technical Writing
- WRA 210 & 410 > Intro and Advanced Web Authoring
- WRA 417 > Multimedia Writing
- WRA 451 > Coordinating Large Scale Projects
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Salary/Pay Scale |
Salary is usually based on how many year's of previous experience you have. In general, the pay scale for an IA is: |
- 60,000-81,000 USD per year > starting salary with 3+ years experience
- 70,000-115,000 USD per year > starting salary with 7-10 years experience
- $45-65 per hour (ballpark figure) for 3+ years experience
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Links to Job Overviews / Day in the Life Of ... |
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Job Outlook |
It's hard to say what the job outlook is specifically for Information Architects. Most of that information is outdated or includes many different and related fields. However, according to the University of Indiana School of Informatics, it is predicted that there will be 3.2 million available positions for IT (information technology) professionals in the next five years. |
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Straight from the Horse's Mouth ... |
"The Web is an organic growth whose tendrils stretch across corporate networks and into our homes. Page by page, link by link, we have grown a vast digital jungle. Taming this wild landscape, guiding people to answers amid the chaos, is the design challenge of the information architect."
--Rich Julius, President & Founder, Specific Impulse Inc.
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Works Cited |
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