Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 Defining Information Architecture 1 We shape our buildings: thereafter they shape us. —Winston Churchill What we’ll cover: • What is (and isn’t) information architecture • Why information architecture is important • The value of explaining and illustrating IA concepts What is it about buildings that stirs us? Whether we’re architectural connoisseurs or just plain folks, we are all emotionally engaged by the physical structures we experi- ence throughout our lives. Each building serves a different purpose. A bustling café with hardwood floors and large windows facing Main Street provides the ideal place for a quick breakfast meet- ing. A steel-and-glass high-rise with its mix of cubes and offices envelops inhabitants in a collaborative, high-energy work environment. A dark, smoky bar with tin ceilings and exposed brick walls becomes a sanctuary from the whirl of modern life. And a medi- eval Gothic cathedral adorned with granite sculptures,
Share
