According to the Information Architecture Institute, information architecture (IA) refers to the structural design of shared information environments" focused on how to organize and label content, but also on the search and navigation systems to support usability and findability.
“The organization, search, and navigation systems that help people to complete tasks, find what they need, and understand what they’ve found.”
– Peter Morville UX Specialist
The information architecture that we know of today began around the 70s, long before the emergence of web and mobile applications, or the popularization of UX design. Like usability and accessibility, IA goes beyond the digital world. From the gondolas of a supermarket to a newsstand, it is crucial that the organization of items is recognizable and makes sense to most people. Good information organization reduces friction in user interaction, providing a smoother experience. So organization of information becomes even more fundamental...