Questions to consider during the information design phase

Do the users want to see the information grouped by subject, process, business group, or information type?

How similar are the needs of the different user groups?

How different are their needs?

How many potential main categories are there? (typically relates to navigation)

What should those groups be called?

What terms do customers find confusing?

Are there any items be included in more than one section?

What action would you take if you could not find the information you need here?

What items and groupings were easy to create?

What items and groupings were difficult to create?

card sorting a definitive guide

Heuristic evaluation

The site should provide mulitple ways to access the same content
Indexes and sitemaps should be employed to supplement the taxonomy
The navigation system should provide users with a sense of context
The site should consistently use language appropriate for the audience
search and browsing should be integrated and reinforce one another.
[information Architecture – Louis Rosenfeld & Peter Morville]

Jakob Nielsen’s Ten Usability Heuristics

Emotional Branding

“Emotional branding is about building relationships;it is about giving a brand and a product long-term value”….”It is based on that unique trust that is established with an audience. It elevates purchases based on need to the realm of desire. The commitment to a product or an institution, the pride we feel upon receiving a wonderful gift of a brand we love or having a positive shopping experience in an inspiring environment where someone knows our name or brings an unexpected gift of coffee – these feelings are at the core of Emotional Branding.” Sergio Zyman former chief marketing officer Coca Cola]