02. Information Architecture
Information architecture can be thought of as creating the "blueprints" for a website. It's critical to establish the scope, structure, and navigational scheme for a site before attacking graphic design issues. The two main deliverables out of this process are a navigation map (also known as a "site map" or "flowchart"), and wireframe document.
The navigation map is "tree" diagram that shows the hierarchical structure of the site--what the main content divisions are and how "deep" the site is.
A wireframe is essentially a sketch of each key page in the site. It shows the navigational scheme (links and buttons used to move around the site), general content scope, and how these elements are prioritized and positioned in relation to each other.
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