How information architecture (IA) can simplify your life
While it may sound dull, information architecture (IA) is the foundation of designing anything (whether it’s a user interface, or sorting out your life).
As said by the people over at Adobe;
“Information architecture is a discipline that focuses on the organization of information within digital products. For example, when designers create apps and websites, they lay out each individual screen so that the user can easily find the information they need.”
Wonder why its so easy to find great shoes on ASOS — despite their HUGE product range? Or how you can find the perfect romcom on Netflix instantly? This ease is due to well-done information architecture.
How this applies to life…
While there are lots of articles on IA online, I’ve found these 5 elements of the design process game-changing for making life less overwhelming!
- Visual presentation (organising my personal routine)
Visual presentation greatly influences the ease in which users can navigate a page. In particular, the Gestalt principles of similarity and proximity helped me realise that in my own life, I need to group similar objects together if I am going to use them.
Recently, I decided to move my magnesium tablets to my bedside table, so I’d take them before bed. The issue with this, however, is that the other supplements I take are in my kitchen. Because of this, instead of taking magnesium before bed, I just stopped taking it completely.
To solve this, I put ALL my supplements beside my kettle, since I make tea before bed anyways. Simple change, BIG difference.
In your life… how do you organise your things, and how do you think it impacts the way you use them?
2. Mental models (creating content on the right platform)
Mental models are the assumptions someone has about how something works. For instance, if a user wants to contact a company, they’d maybe assume that they’d go to the “contact us” section and fill out a form.
A few months ago, I decided I wanted to create more content around user experience and personal development. While I love social platforms, I feel overwhelmed by the sheer number. I wanted to reach the right people, and post content that’s relevant to what they want to achieve on those platforms.
Ultimately, I chose LinkedIn and Medium — the two places where ambitious designers seem to hang out. It has only been a short while of writing regularly, but already I’ve made great connections like Michael Curtis and have sparked important conversations with design colleagues where I work.
In your life… what mental models do people have when seeing you and your work? Do you need a Twitter for your career in crypto, or would a YouTube channel make more sense?
3. Cognitive load (editing my computer folders)
There’s a law called “Miller’s Law” that some designers find helpful to follow when it comes to IA (and various other work). This law states that users can only keep about 7 items in their working memory at a time.
Recently I was feeling overwhelmed, and as I looked at my computer desktop and Google drive, it became obvious as to why. I have 15+ folders on my desktop and no folders at all in my Google drive (the files are just loose — this would never fly in my Figma)!
Through giving myself a maximum of 7 folders, and budgeting out the time to reorganise my files, the stress relief I have felt has been mind-blowing.
In your life… are all of your computer files all over the place? Could you distill them down to just seven?
This week…
I challenge you to think about visual presentation, mental models and cognitive load. How can you make your own life easier? Whether its in the same way as me (or in another way) reach out to me on LinkedIn and let’s start the conversation.
