Information architecture
When I first began designing and building websites, we were given entire web projects to complete from start to finish. As well as doing the design, HTML coding, project management and client liaison, this also meant that scoping and information architecture was part of the brief. In those early days we generally used pencil and paper to sketch out our sitemap and wireframes, and common sense to figure out how to structure the site.
Much has changed in IA since then, and the role has become far more specialised than it used to be. For a few years I didn't do much IA at all - it was carried out either by the designer or by a specialist information architect, but recently I've been doing much more, mainly for my freelance clients. I've also had a consultative role during the initial scoping process at companies such as Shift where the decisions made by the information architect impact on the development requirements and hence the timeline and budget.
My main IA tool these days is Freehand (well, it's somewhat more technical than pencil and paper!), together with common sense and a deep understanding of how people use websites, based on my many years of experience. When we're pitching for a freelance job we include the sitemap and wireframes with our fixed-price quote, as it provides our potential client with a visual representation of our thought-process, and it also allows us to calculate an accurate price for the job - the number of templates and the range of functionality being directly related to the overall cost of the design, build and integration. We then refer to these wireframes throughout the design, build and integration phases.
These are the sites where I have been responsible for the information architecture and/or navigation. They are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. I have indicated my professional status for each site at the time of its creation.
Click on image to see the live website (only available where my work is still current) or click text for more info on the project.
Bamford Medical
Website: Bamford Medical
Client: WM Bamford & Co Ltd
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
Following the successful launch of the Bamford website, we were asked to create a companion website, Bamford Medical, which would allow the company to sell a selection of their medical products online. The templates and CMS backend of the new site are based on the original Bamford site, with a completely different look and feel so that they are easily distinguishable from one another. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, testing, training, QA and ongoing support.
Holmes Consulting Group
Website: Holmes Consulting Group
Client: Holmes Consulting Group
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The international architecture firm Holmes Consulting Group asked for a completely new photography-centered design, new HTML/CSS templates, and a new CMS, which would be populated with all-new content. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, testing, putting together the skeleton site in Silverstripe, training, QA and ongoing support.
Save Radio New Zealand
Website: Save Radio New Zealand
Client: Save Radio New Zealand
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The Save Radio New Zealand website is a companion to the original Facebook group, which reached 20,000 members in a little over a month. It's built using an existing (subtly restyled) WordPress theme. I was responsible for the intial client liaison and project proposal when I first came up with the idea, then project management, scoping, information architecture, selection and restyling of the WordPress theme, content-writing, research, content-loading and ongoing support as the website's webmaster.
Office of Film & Literature Classification - information for students
Website: OFLC - information for students
Client: Office of Film & Literature Classification
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The OFLC wanted a new website aimed at students doing projects on censorship in New Zealand. The website needed to be accessible, e-govt compliant, and the design had to appeal to young people. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, e-govt accessibility compliance, testing, building the skeleton site using Dreamweaver templates, training, QA and ongoing support.
Environmental Protection Authority
Website: Environmental Protection Authority
Client: Ministry for the Environment
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
Following our successful redesign of the Ministry for the Environment website, we were asked to design and build a website for the new Environmental Protection Authority. The HTML would be based on the MfE Dreamweaver templates within a completely different design, and we were also asked to build and content-code the initial 77-page website. The HTML/CSS needed to be best-practice e-government compliant and the site was to be tested for accessibility once it was built. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, e-government and accessibility compliance, site build and content-coding, testing, site delivery and ongoing support.
Read more about the Environmental Protection Authority project
Optimation
Website: Optimation
Client: Optimation
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
Optimation's existing website was looking old and tired, and no longer represented the company as well as it could. In contrast to the old website, which was largely passive and not well integrated with Optimation's other marketing activities, the new site needed to work much more actively as well as being an interactive space between the company and its clients - and it had to be designed to enable busy clients to get what they need in the minimum time possible. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility compliance, testing, QA, CMS training and ongoing support.
Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Inc
Website: Master Plumbers
Client: Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Inc
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
Master Plumbers had an old website that needed redesigning and integrating within a more user-friendly CMS. We identified three main sections of the site - Public, Trade and Members - which led to a four-colourway design solution. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility compliance, testing, content-loading, CMS training and ongoing support.
Ministry for the Environment
Website: Ministry for the Environment
Client: Ministry for the Environment
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The 13,000-page Ministry for the Environment website was looking old and tired, and the Ministry wanted a medium-term website redesign solution that would allow them to keep their old legacy content, while bringing the look & feel up to date. The Ministry web team needed to be able to transfer their entire website into our new design and set of best-practice e-government compliant Dreamweaver templates as painlessly as possible, and the CSS also had to include matching styles for all their old content code. I was responsible for the initial quote, some information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery and JavaScript, e-government and accessibility compliance, testing, site delivery and ongoing support.
WM Bamford & Co Ltd
Website: WM Bamford & Co Ltd
Clients: WM Bamford & Co Ltd
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
WM Bamford & Co Ltd is one of New Zealand's leading independent medical supply companies, and needed a new website which would reflect and complement their new print brochure - and which would allow potential customers access to their substantial product listings as well as providing information about Bamford's supply agencies and partners. I designed and built the site and also worked on project management, information architecture and site schematics, as well as creating dynamic functionality via jQuery and facilitating CMS integration.
Māori Media Network
Website: Māori Media Network
Client: Māori Media Network
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The Māori Media Network wanted a new website which would promote their skills and services online. I designed and built the site and also worked on project management, information architecture and site schematics, as well as planning for JavaScript and CMS integration.
Drilling for Diamonds
Website: Drilling for Diamonds
Client: The Mills Group
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The Mills Group wanted a website which would both promote their Drilling for Diamonds online coaching products and act as a secure portal through which D4D coaches could train staff. The secure login includes an admin section through which The Mills Group staff can add new clients and coaches, give them access to the online coaching materials, and create collections of personalised coaching materials for specific groups within the coaching scheme. I designed and built the site and also worked on project management, information architecture and site schematics.
The Gathering Archives
Website: The Gathering Archives
Client: me
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
In October 2006 I began creating, designing, building and writing The Gathering Archives website and accompanying WordPress blog, with the aim of becoming the authoritative source of information on the history and background of iconic New Zealand dance party, The Gathering. The site is divided into different sections for each of the six Gatherings, and includes facts & figures, media coverage, Gathering artwork, photos, video and film footage, Gatherer stories and maps of the venue for each party. The design for each section is based on the official Gathering artwork from that year.
Land Information New Zealand
Website: linz.govt.nz
Client: Land Information New Zealand
Government status: government department
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
LINZ wanted to redevelop and add new content to the Mariner's section of the LINZ website, which was housed outside the main site, and is not part of the CMS.
After I completed this project, I designed and developed 11 subsites which house LINZ's most-requested key documents - including the LINZ Statement of Intent and the Annual Report. I was responsible for the information architecture for all of the subsites.
Fonterra
Website: fonterra.com
Client: Fonterra
My professional status: employee at Origin Design
The Fonterra website incorporated a public website (with large archive section), an intranet and a secure extranet (for externally-based contractors) and was updated every week, sometimes every day. I built, developed, managed and maintained the website which went through two complete redesigns before Fonterra took the project in-house.
Origin Design
Website: Origin Design
Client: Origin Design
My professional status: employee at Origin Design
Origin's website serves as a showcase for both their web and print design, and we completely redesigned and rebuilt it once a year to keep it fresh and to try out new ideas. I developed the existing Origin site, and brought an added level of technical expertise and creative input to each new redesign.
WebWeaver Productions
Website: WebWeaver Productions
Client: me
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
Commissioned, designed, architecture-d, developed, built, written, edited and project-managed by me. The site is designed to be fully accessible, is written in valid HTML 4.01 Transitional and CSS, has been fully tested and displays consistently across a wide range of browsers in Mac and PC. I've built it using templates and Dreamweaver library items so that in the future I can easily update it and make alterations.
Monkey Records
Website: monkeyrecords.co.nz
Client: Monkey Records
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The Monkey Records website is an e-commerce venture, with the record label relying on it to provide a large proportion of their CD sales. I designed and built the site, which includes information on all Monkey's recording artists, and a simple shopping cart where visitors can listen to and buy CDs.
Wai 100%
Website: wai100.com
Client: Minaaka
My professional status: contractor at Base Two and then independent web designer/developer
Māori electronica duo Minaaka wanted a fresh and groovy website where they could showcase their music and their artistic vision. I designed and built this promotional site for them. Some of the site was in te reo, the rest in English and it included mpg video and mp3 audio files.
TeachNZ
Website: teachnz.govt.nz
Client: Ministry of Education
My professional status: contractor at Base Two
The existing TeachNZ website needed to be completely rebuilt and restructured - with all-new content and with a double navigation structure utilising frames and popup navigation windows. I co-designed the architecture and navigation systems and then built the site itself.
Lungfish
Website: lungfish.co.nz
Client: Health Sponsorship Council - Smokefree
My professional status: contractor at Base Two
Lungfish is the youth brand of Smokefree New Zealand. We rebranded the Lungfish website, targeting its market directly with a very funky, experimental and fresh image and navigation/architecture design. I co-designed the navigation and architecture concepts with the Base Two team and then built and project-managed the site.
Te Rauparaha
Website: Te Rauparaha
Clients: National Library, Ngati Toa, and the Ministry of Education
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media
The National Library wanted to develop their te reo online education resources, and chose the story of Te Rauparaha to begin. I designed the architecture and oversaw the development of this site, which utilised the taonga of the Turnbull Collection to illustrate the story.
WOMAD
Website: womad.co.nz
Client: The Edge™ (for WOMAD)
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
1998 was the first year that a full-scale WOMAD festival was held in New Zealand. They needed an attractive and accessible site that would tell the world about WOMAD Aotearoa. I designed and built this award-winning website, which could be easily added to and updated in the runup to the 1998 event.
Health Action
Website: healthaction.org.nz
Client: Health Action
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
Nelson-based health advocacy group Health Action, who had absolutely no experience of the web, wanted a website which they could utilise as one of their outreach tools for youth. I designed and built this youth-oriented site, which included a database listing a wide range of health resources in the local region.
Kiwi Recovery Programme
Website: kiwirecovery.org.nz
Clients: Department of Conservation, Bank of New Zealand (sponsors), and Forest & Bird
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media and then independent web designer/developer
This is a join initiative between DoC, the Bank of New Zealand (who sponsor the programme) and Forest & Bird. I built and maintained this multi-award-winning framed website, with considerable design freedom in deeper levels of the site. Later I suggested areas within the site that could be developed, all of which I then researched, wrote, designed and built.
The Gathering
Website: no longer online
Client: The Gathering
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The Gathering was New Zealand's largest and most well-respected annual dance party. I created, designed, wrote, built and maintained the 900-page multi-award-winning website, giving Gatherers as much information as possible about every aspect of The Gathering, as well as archiving previous parties.
EEO Trust
Website: eeotrust.org.nz
Client: EEO Trust
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media
The EEO Trust were new to the web and wanted an easily-navigated information-rich website, which I designed and built. The site communicated what the EEO Trust was about, and how it could be of benefit to employers.
Hillary Commission
Website: no longer online
Client: Hillary Commission
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media
I designed and built the Kids Go 4 It and Push Play sections, and maintained and developed the main multi-award-winning site. In 1999 the Hillary Commision wanted a compete overhaul of the site, which I carried out - including design and architecture, budgeting and timelining.
InterLink
Website: InterLink
Client: The British Council
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media
I developed, designed, built and constantly updated this multi-award-winning website for a ground-breaking project linking 12 pairs of schools in New Zealand and the UK, who worked for 6 months on a range of 70 projects using the internet for trans-global communication - and I also managed the InterLink project itself.
Asia2000
Website: asia2000.org.nz
Client: Asia2000
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media
This site began life as a web version of a printed quarterly newsletter, which I maintained and updated following an existing design (1996). In 1998 I redesigned, developed and built the site into a complete award-winning package, incorporating the newsletter within a new and larger website.
