Browse Books

Reviewer: Ian Ruthven

This is the second edition of the book Amazon.com rated as the “Best Internet Book of 1998” [1]. This edition has been extended a great deal, from 202 pages in the first edition, to 461 pages in the current edition. Information architecture is fundamentally concerned with the design and presentation of large-scale Web sites. Architecture in this context is specifically not concerned with the technical underpinnings of Web sites, but with the logical construction of the information contained within the site. The content of this book is roughly split between two components: information architecture, which covers how to visually structure information and create labeling systems, and the management of information architecture, which encompasses creating an information architecture team and the relationship between information architecture and business strategies. The main agenda of the book is to introduce good design principles for creating usable Web sites. The discussion is driven by the information content, structure, and intended use of the Web site. In contrast to many books on Web architectures, this book promotes an information-centered approach to creating an online presence. The book is design-oriented; it is intended for designers who already possess, or who can tap into, a high level of technical expertise. The second (and not very hidden) agenda of the book is an attempt to provide a professional underpinning to the field of information architects. As in most new fields, there is an inherent tension between formalizing the discipline by the use of strong, well-founded guidelines and practices, and developing the skill, talent, and imagination of the individual practitioners. This tension is especially pronounced in any area involving design, including this book. The authors are at their best when developing good practice: general, sound guidelines for how to be consistent and avoid poor style and design. The message becomes less intuitive when the authors discuss Web sites that confound the rules, but are still regarded as possessing good information architecture. The old maxim, “Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools,” applies here as everywhere. The style of the book is conversational, light, and occasionally sassy. The text is eminently readable and intuitive to anyone who has at least seen a Web site. However, the chatty, motivational style can be wearing. Elements of the book could be successfully used for introductory classes in Web design. Instructors attempting to use the book for more advanced classes, however, should expect to supplement the book with additional material. Aside from a sprinkling of references throughout the book, there is an overall lack of pointers to academic texts. This is the main flaw in the book: anyone interested in learning more about the concepts used may struggle to get enough information from the minimal and highly selective set of sources given. Consequently, the reader is forced to trust the authors to p rovide accurate and comprehensive coverage of the topics described. Generally, they appear to fulfill this criterion, but slips do occur. While discussing Amazon’s recommendation system, for example, the authors state: “It’s when Amazon starts trying to recommend books based upon past purchases that the... [system’s personalization functionality] breaks down,” followed by, “The exception in Amazon’s case is the collaborative filtering engine, which works well” (p. 128). Amazon’s collaborative filtering system is based on past purchases. The book is most suitable for those who design medium to large Web sites and want a good, general set of guidelines and advice. In particular, the sections on management of information architecture research and development may be of great use to new, commercial practitioners. The book has two strengths. The first is its overall coverage of techniques that can be used in designing Web sites. The second and potentially more lasting strength is its ability to encourage designers to look away from the screen, and think about what type of Web site they are designing and why. Online Computing Reviews Service