Project Overview - Coursework (Information Architecture)
Project Overview - Coursework
(Information Architecture)
A Web-based information environment was chosen to capture Information Architecture requirements in an information-rich domain of my choice. An information-rich domain is one where there is a breadth and depth of information that can be organised into a comprehensive Information Architecture. To capture IA requirements, interviews were conducted with 3-4 potential domain experts.
My domain focused on a cinema recommendation platform designed to simplify the process of finding cinemas amidst vast libraries. This platform enables users to create watchlists and receive personalised recommendations for films, TV shows, and more, based on their preferences and moods. I developed a comprehensive domain model to review content from similar digital information environments. Additionally, I created a detailed sitemap that outlines the organisation and navigation structure, including faceted navigation. To ensure a seamless user experience, I designed a user journey for a crucial and detailed interaction path, facilitating information discovery. Wireframe mock-ups were also developed to effectively communicate the platform's content, organisation, labelling, and navigation. These wireframes were evaluated from an IA perspective with 3-5 potential users focusing on determining how well organised, labelled and easy to navigate potential users consider your Web environment to be.
A Web-based information environment was chosen to capture Information Architecture requirements in an information-rich domain of my choice. An information-rich domain is one where there is a breadth and depth of information that can be organised into a comprehensive Information Architecture. To capture IA requirements, interviews were conducted with 3-4 potential domain experts.
My domain focused on a cinema recommendation platform designed to simplify the process of finding cinemas amidst vast libraries. This platform enables users to create watchlists and receive personalised recommendations for films, TV shows, and more, based on their preferences and moods. I developed a comprehensive domain model to review content from similar digital information environments. Additionally, I created a detailed sitemap that outlines the organisation and navigation structure, including faceted navigation. To ensure a seamless user experience, I designed a user journey for a crucial and detailed interaction path, facilitating information discovery. Wireframe mock-ups were also developed to effectively communicate the platform's content, organisation, labelling, and navigation. These wireframes were evaluated from an IA perspective with 3-5 potential users focusing on determining how well organised, labelled and easy to navigate potential users consider your Web environment to be.
Domain Model
Domain Model
The domain model prioritises personalisation, emphasising personalised recommendations (1). A user-entered approach levelled up important entities, such as the "viewer" entity (2), using a quad-approach. The main entities are "personalised recommendations", "preferences" (3), "viewer", and "watchlist"(4). The model's design features a circle for flexibility in link attachment, and some links have been removed for a refined appearance.
The domain model prioritises personalisation, emphasising personalised recommendations (1). A user-entered approach levelled up important entities, such as the "viewer" entity (2), using a quad-approach. The main entities are "personalised recommendations", "preferences" (3), "viewer", and "watchlist"(4). The model's design features a circle for flexibility in link attachment, and some links have been removed for a refined appearance.
Evaluations and Enhancements
Evaluations and Enhancements
I evaluated my wireframes with two users. One of them was not a frequent cinema watcher and the other one was more of a movie buff who was excited to use a website like this. For the first user, the evaluation suggested that he was intrigued by the facets and was able to understand them easily. The second user suggested that the personalised recommendation section could have more than one thing which makes it more interactive and engaging. For example, a spinning wheel with random cinema names or genres. This could be a future improvement with tabular navigation letting the user choose from the two options - questions and spinning wheel. Another suggestion was to provide curated movie playlists for users. This could be another future improvement but I would like to do some research and evaluation with more users regarding that.
I evaluated my wireframes with two users. One of them was not a frequent cinema watcher and the other one was more of a movie buff who was excited to use a website like this. For the first user, the evaluation suggested that he was intrigued by the facets and was able to understand them easily. The second user suggested that the personalised recommendation section could have more than one thing which makes it more interactive and engaging. For example, a spinning wheel with random cinema names or genres. This could be a future improvement with tabular navigation letting the user choose from the two options - questions and spinning wheel. Another suggestion was to provide curated movie playlists for users. This could be another future improvement but I would like to do some research and evaluation with more users regarding that.
Copyright © Rucha Patel | UI/UX Designer
Copyright © Rucha Patel | UI/UX Designer
Cinema Recommendation platform (IA)
Cinema Recommendation platform (IA)
Sitemap
Sitemap
The sitemap was designed based on the domain model, focusing on user goals and key pages. The global navigation includes "search", "profile", and "user group"(1). Clear labels are used, and a top-down approach is used to create subcategories for each main category (2). Google searches are used to find specific cinemas, and users can use tags or keywords to achieve their objectives. Since users have specific preferences, I have added a couple of facets apart from the main browsing categories to narrow down the content and increase findability (3). The curated watchlist also has a couple of facets for clear understanding and findability of content (4). The structure was tested with an open sort with five people and the results showed that the facets were helpful in narrowing down the content. Based on reviews of the open sort, I increased the hierarchy of the particular label with additional facets (5) and details maintaining the overall consistency of the labels.
The sitemap was designed based on the domain model, focusing on user goals and key pages. The global navigation includes "search", "profile", and "user group"(1). Clear labels are used, and a top-down approach is used to create subcategories for each main category (2). Google searches are used to find specific cinemas, and users can use tags or keywords to achieve their objectives. Since users have specific preferences, I have added a couple of facets apart from the main browsing categories to narrow down the content and increase findability (3). The curated watchlist also has a couple of facets for clear understanding and findability of content (4). The structure was tested with an open sort with five people and the results showed that the facets were helpful in narrowing down the content. Based on reviews of the open sort, I increased the hierarchy of the particular label with additional facets (5) and details maintaining the overall consistency of the labels.
User Journey
User Journey
I selected a user journey goal that was both broad enough to be accomplished by searching alone, browsing alone, or by combining the two approaches, and detailed enough to facilitate careful consideration and several decision-making points (1). I created a user journey to test and explore all parts of the website which a user can take to reach a particular goal. The “browse by category” has further granularity which is the faceted search (2) which proved fruitful as per the card sort findings. The thoughts of the users are added in the form of comments wherever necessary (4). The webpages and user actions stand out from each other due to their visual appearance. I have used stacked pages to show the search results (3) similar to the sitemap to maintain consistency across diagrams. For simplicity, diamonds were chosen as the traditional convention of decision boxes.
I selected a user journey goal that was both broad enough to be accomplished by searching alone, browsing alone, or by combining the two approaches, and detailed enough to facilitate careful consideration and several decision-making points (1). I created a user journey to test and explore all parts of the website which a user can take to reach a particular goal. The “browse by category” has further granularity which is the faceted search (2) which proved fruitful as per the card sort findings. The thoughts of the users are added in the form of comments wherever necessary (4). The webpages and user actions stand out from each other due to their visual appearance. I have used stacked pages to show the search results (3) similar to the sitemap to maintain consistency across diagrams. For simplicity, diamonds were chosen as the traditional convention of decision boxes.
Wireframes
Wireframes
Every page of the website has the logo (1) with this global navigation and the global search, profile and the user group (2). The user group is a dropdown section which lets the user choose their user group and narrows down the content based (3). I have chosen a limited typography style which indicates selected navigation items as bold. This was helpful when I was evaluating and gathering feedback for my domain. The platform prompts users to login or sign up when adding a cinema to a watchlist, like or dislike a cinema, or return for recommendation, with the create account button located on the D1 - first wireframe (4) and the profile icon visible when logged in.
Every page of the website has the logo (1) with this global navigation and the global search, profile and the user group (2). The user group is a dropdown section which lets the user choose their user group and narrows down the content based (3). I have chosen a limited typography style which indicates selected navigation items as bold. This was helpful when I was evaluating and gathering feedback for my domain. The platform prompts users to login or sign up when adding a cinema to a watchlist, like or dislike a cinema, or return for recommendation, with the create account button located on the D1 - first wireframe (4) and the profile icon visible when logged in.
D1 : Home page (Global Top 10 Media Formats)
Users can directly choose from the top trending cinemas over the globe (5). These recommendations will be general and not faceted or filtered. Therefore, an option to filter these is available by the facets in the left box under the name “FILTER” (6). Every section has cinema profile pages (7).
D1 : Home page (Global Top 10 Media Formats)
Users can directly choose from the top trending cinemas over the globe (5). These recommendations will be general and not faceted or filtered. Therefore, an option to filter these is available by the facets in the left box under the name “FILTER” (6). Every section has cinema profile pages (7).
D2 : Browse by Category page
The faceted browse option is maintained in the “browse by category” page (1). The categories are displayed as dropdowns (2) and when selected will provide content based on user preference. The filters option on the left consist of checkboxes (3), radio buttons (4) and dropdowns for displaying different types of detailed facets.
D2 : Browse by Category page
The faceted browse option is maintained in the “browse by category” page (1). The categories are displayed as dropdowns (2) and when selected will provide content based on user preference. The filters option on the left consist of checkboxes (3), radio buttons (4) and dropdowns for displaying different types of detailed facets.
D3 : Cinema Profile page
Different cinema profile chunks on all pages have been identified by varying font size and images. The individual cinema page has more in depth details (1) and buttons for adding the cinema to watchlist, liking or disliking the content and watching the trailer (2). Also, a “You may like” (3) section contains similar cinemas. Not displaying a play button indicates that the platform is not a streaming platform.
D3 : Cinema Profile page
Different cinema profile chunks on all pages have been identified by varying font size and images. The individual cinema page has more in depth details (1) and buttons for adding the cinema to watchlist, liking or disliking the content and watching the trailer (2). Also, a “You may like” (3) section contains similar cinemas. Not displaying a play button indicates that the platform is not a streaming platform.
D6 : Watchlist page
Every cinema has an option to be added to the watchlist and the user can sort it (1). The watchlist page has two sections “upcoming releases” and “new releases” (2) which makes the user curious about new content.
D6 : Watchlist page
Every cinema has an option to be added to the watchlist and the user can sort it (1). The watchlist page has two sections “upcoming releases” and “new releases” (2) which makes the user curious about new content.
D4 & D5 : Personalised Recommendation page
This feature consists of the questions (1) that the user will have to answer to receive a recommendation. These three questions are multiple choice questions. Based on the above questions, the user receives three recommendations (2) to choose from. Further, an option to randomise (3) the content is also available, which will give the next three recommendations.
D4 & D5 : Personalised Recommendation page
This feature consists of the questions (1) that the user will have to answer to receive a recommendation. These three questions are multiple choice questions. Based on the above questions, the user receives three recommendations (2) to choose from. Further, an option to randomise (3) the content is also available, which will give the next three recommendations.