Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web

Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: After having seemingly slagged off every book I read these days, I was delighted to pick up a new book and enjoy it - particularly on a subject as seemingly done-to-death as Usability/ Information Architecture/ Experience Design.

Wodtke manages to make a rather tedious subject interesting - even exciting, like her blogs are. She writes in a very readable manner; neither trite like Steve Krug, pompous like Jakob Nielsen nor buttock-clenchingly academic and dull like Jesse James Garrett. Thoroughly recommended

Rating:
Summary: the "Don't Make Me Think" of Information Architecture.
Review: Although best read by practitioners of information architecture (or those who peripherally practice it) this book is like Steve Krug's book in that it's no-nonsense, witty, erudite but not dry and has a solid thesis, readably espoused, passionately argued and well presented.

It should be on every web designer/ web project/ software architect's book shelf.

An A+

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: As a freelance designer who is starting to take on larger projects, this book came in VERY handy. I learn't an awful lot and if I hadn't read this book before even attempting to take on some of my larger clients, I can easily say I would not of landed the pitch. Very good info and a lot of resources linked from it for even more reading.

Rating:
Summary: Great for IAs and Non-IAs Alike! Refreshing! No B.S.!
Review: As a professional Information Architect (IA), I try to read as many design books as I can, and this is one I will recommend again and again, mainly for it's refreshing lack of pretense and it's easy-to-follow style.

For the Non-IA, read this book because it "demystifies" IA on many levels. It explains what an Information Architect does, why you might need one, and does a great job of discussing all of the possible deliverables an IA might produce and why. If you're overwhelmed with design "buzzword bingo", this book explains a lot, and in easy-to-understand terms.

For the IA, read this book for the up-to-the-minute tools and techniques. She doesn't dictate a fixed methodology or hard-and-fast rules, instead, she presents a toolbox and guidelines for using them. I found the chapters on Personas and Taxonomies/Controlled Vocabularies especially helpful. She demonstrates that she's been out there working in the real word when she offers advice on overcoming creative blocks, working with people, and how to get your ideas across to (not always supportive) groups of people.

Many IAs will see themselves in this book ("I've created wireframes that look just like that" or "Yes, I've found that too!"), but the real value here might be recommending this book to your favorite Project Manager or Developer so they can gain a little more insight into what you do and go to bat for you on the next collaborative project.

Rating:
Summary: The "Don't Make Me Think" of Information Architecture
Review: Christina Wodtke has done for Information Architecture what Steve Krug did for usability - produce a practical and accessible introduction to the field. 'Blueprints' provides a pragmatic look at the practice of information architecture, illustrating a solid "toolbox" of techniques and methods useful for web designers, producers, developers, and others involved in the creation and evolution of web sites.

Wodtke's quirky humor and light tone make the book an easy read, but don't let the fresh style convince you that the content is lightweight. Behind the breezy prose is solid instruction in methods that hit the sweet spot of effective tools that still work with limited budgets. The "How-to" coaching is coupled with reasonable explanations about why and when to apply the techniques...Ms. Wodtke doesn't just prescribe methodology, she informs the reader with enough theory behind the practice to explain and justify it to management, clients, or other team members.

The tools taught in the book all center on creating a web site with great usability and findability - where things are easy to use and content is easy to find. While the "toolbox" isn't complete, it's a great foundation for pursuing a user-centered approach to creating web sites.

The book's biggest shortcoming is inevitable - IA is a complex field, and there could be so much more detail on some of the topics. Sometimes I felt that I wanted more on a particular subject, and it wasn't there. But to keep the book readable and accessible, some things have to be left out. The book's recommended reading list does go into more depth on many of the topics, providing an avenue for people to learn more once they've absorbed the lessons here.

Overall, this is a great debut and a valuable addition to the field of information architecture and the broader practice of web design and development. Experienced information architects will find little new here, but it's great to have a book that acts as a gentle on-ramp to IA and puts so much into one package. If you're new to the field, work in a related discipline like graphic design, or want to have a quick explanation of various IA methods for colleagues, I highly recommend Blueprints for the Web.

Rating:
Summary: Trendy opinionated hodge podge
Review: Christina Wodtke says she doesn't like rules, so she calls them principals. Whats the difference? She says she won't recommend software. So why does she give us a click-by-click review of Adobe InDesign, her "program of choice"? She even recommends a tall triple latte if you need a caffine high. Hello? In between, she also says some relevant stuff (and takes a lot of time saying it), but the true nuggets of wisdom are easy to miss in this hodge-podge of opinion spiced with California-webchic. Blueprints for the Web reads more like a blog than a book, which is to say it's pretty badly organized for a book that's supposed to teach organization.

Rating:
Summary: IA Takes A Step Forward
Review: Christina's thought provoking guide to the nuances of IA and what it really takes to get beyond site maps, frameworks, and card sorts to start architecting effective information tools for users is a top notch guide for those interested in creating better user interactions.

Full of bold statements like, "On the web, everyone's a woman," and then backing them up with equally provacative insights, this thoughtful book puts the reader on the frontlines of the corporate IA revolution. This book is an easy read with many valuable lessons, both burned and learned.

Christina's no nonsense approaches culled from a rich experience in print and digital media make this book a must read for IA's, and the people that IA's want to influence, to start making them think differently about not making people think at all and inspiring interfaces that allow people to just DO.

The most exciting thing about "Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web" is the way it begins to hint that there may just be life after the web for IAs who still have hope. Thanks for the affirmation that Information Architecture is still very alive and well, and most important, more necessary than ever.

Nice Pants!

Rating:
Summary: great IA book that's useful
Review: I have to say, this was one of the few books that can be
used out of the box. Like the book said, this book may not
be too useful for experienced information architects/UI desingers, but you may still learn some new tricks.

There are lot of IA/user experience books for the websites out
there, and you may spend lot of money....but if you could
only afford few books and you are a practicing IA or desinger,
new to this field then read this book couple of times.

Rating:
Summary: Wake up the editor!
Review: I suppose Wodtke knows everything there is to know about IA, but I not so sure about her book writing skills...

Given that she claims that "yes, it's a short book" (false modesty at 350 pages?) it's surprising to notice the number of digressions - into some pretty lame issues, perspectives and tips:

- How she got the idea of writing a book.
- What the book is not about.
- A 30 page discussion of guidelines she does not support.
- A comprehensive guide to the pros and cons of different ways to draw people, e.g. stick people.
- A note that you need a big notebook or a whiteboard and some markers if you want to do some topic mapping.
- A tip that when receiving guests you might break the ice by asking if it was easy to find the way.

Actually, I learned quite a few things by reading this book, but I call for the editor to wake up and give Wodtke some decent advise if she decides to go for a follow up. Any half decent editor could take a hundred pages out of this book in an hour, ending up with a much better read.

Rating:
Summary: VALUABLE FOR TAMING COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT WEB-SITES
Review: If your headache is how to overcome maintainance problems in any type of web site, then this book will be of tremendous help to you. It was designed for web designers/administrators whose responsibilities include the design and maintainance of very complex web sites. Its message is cogent and comprehensive. Anybody who listens to it would discover easy ways of designing web sites and flexible intranets which support growth, navigation, management, and above all, ease of use.
This is one book whose advice would ensure that most web emergencies are adequately controlled.