Story #

The human-centered information architecture #

Who #

Anyone. But usually we try to aim at a certain population (e.g., personas), focused on orienting them with the information they intend to use.

What #

With information, we can focus on the data, or we can focus on the goal. Data is hard to constrain, so usually we focus on the goal. Well constructed, the goal is based on the user, but the goal has often been the intent of the data purveyor.

When #

With information architecture, “when” is now. Until it’s needed, it’s waiting. It was built in the past to support the moment it’s needed, it’s efficacy an everyday Schrödinger's cat.

Where #

Where it’s at. Information is everywhere, in everything. Wherever it interacts there is connection forming, including in space.

How #

Infinite possibilities. Every way in which information is passed – every potential change state — has some kind of underlying architecture.

Why #

Infinite possibilities, so instead focus on why information is likely passing through the perceptual veil.

A well-built story can survive for millenia. The Odyssey is around 3,000 years old. The First Nations of Australia have stories confirmed by geological data, which also puts the stories at around 10,000 years old. 

Stories can be powerful and lasting.

What story does is supply rich context to become easier to personalize a happening. That personalization helps to build memory and learning.

Get deep enough into a sea of data, forming connectome, and story forms. It starts with the information selected to inform navigation, the categorization and how that information forms juxtapositions on which the navigation structures are formed.

Putting people in a story built of information and data but no narrative takes a little more time and thought. Instead, putting them in the story entails setting up supported entry point. 

What we can most affect in thoughtfully building digital information architecture is who, what, and why.