Information Architecture + Information Design = User Experience Design

E-learning teams are noticing and becoming aware of the immense potential of UXD (User Experience Design) practices in addition to the learning design methods used until now. "This article is an early attempt to define the elements of learning experience design or LXD and to explain the importance of Information Architecture and Information Design in this new emerging scenario."



Knowledge of Information Architecture and Information Design can help e-learning teams look into providing enhanced learning experiences.



"Information architecture (IA) and information design (ID) are two fields that are taking the Web experience to a new level. They form the foundations of what is now widely known as user experience design (UXD).

At its core, Information Architecture deals with the structure of a website. It has strong connection to the library sciences. If you have a large website handling many documents, then the task of easily finding, browsing and navigating these documents is the responsibility of the information architect. Typically this would entail building labeling systems, creating taxonomies and controlled vocabularies, designing the navigation and optimizing the searching of documents.

While Information Architecture deals with the structure of a website, Information Design deals with the design and presentation of information to facilitate understanding."

"Information design addresses high level information problems to provide the most possible clarity, understanding and effectiveness... In order to achieve that ambitious end, information design must be open to any and every discipline or field of thought... information design must actively encourage and participate in research that increases our understanding of information and the effect that it has: how and why people respond to information, how the human brain processes information and builds knowledge, as well as how humans organize knowledge and convert it into improved behavior and operation. Better understanding of these factors will enable us to create the best possible information, interfaces and communications."

(Dirk Knemeyer, Chief Design officer at Thread Inc.:)