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Examination Questions

Essay Questions

  1. What is an Information Architect?
  2. Identify the stages in the web design process and indicate the information architecture deliverables within this process.
  3. List four common information needs of users as defined by Morville and Rosenfeld in Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 3rd Edition.
  4. Describe the berry-picking model of information gathering and contrast it with the "pearl growing" approach.
  5. List two methods that are can be used to research the information gathering behavior and needs of users
  6. Identify at least three organization schemes. For each scheme indicate if it is an exact or ambiguous organization scheme.
  7. List the three types of organization structures. Should large web sites select a single organization structure or employ all three? Why?

Discussion Questions

  1. Information Architecture - Take a moment to review What is an Information Architect? This article indicates that information architecture is the foundation on which the form, function, navigation, interaction, and visual design of a web site should be built. Do you agree? Why or why not?
  2. Competitive Analysis - Read Competitive Analysis: Understanding the Market Context. List two types of qualitative data and two types of quantitative data that could be collected in a competitive analysis. Would your design process always benefit from a competitive analysis? Why or why not?
  3. Card Sorting - Look at the web site for the school or university you are attending. Review Card Sorting: A Definitive Guide. Describe how you could conduct a card sorting exercise for your school/university's home page. Would you use an open or closed card sort? Why? How would you document and analyze the findings of the card sort?
  4. Web Analytics - Identify at least three types of web analytic data that could potential be useful in identifying trends or problems on a site. What are the pros and cons of using web analytics to inform the information architecture?
  5. Storyboards/Process Flows - Review the article Storyboarding Rich Internet Applications with Visio. Explain when you would choose to use a simple wireframe to document the design decisions for a web site, versus, when you would choose to use a storyboard/process flow.
  6. Wireframes - Review the article Recyclable Information Architecture as well as Chapter 12.4 of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 3rd Edition. Define each of the following types of wireframes:
    • low fidelity
    • medium fidelity
    • high fidelity
    • xhtml/css
    List advantages and disadvantages for each. If you were leading a redesign project for your school's web site, which type of wireframe would you chose to use and why?