Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, Second Edition

A Final Note

Whichever points and approaches you use to make your case for information architecture, keep in mind how difficult this challenge is. After all, you’re promoting something that’s abstract, intangible, and new, and each situation demands a unique solution. This is generally a lot harder than selling a mass-produced tool that everyone uses in the same way, like a spreadsheet application, or something that can be grasped visually, like a graphic design firm’s portfolio.

On the other hand, the information stored in most web sites and intranets is growing at a ridiculous rate. And the content already on those sites may be good today, but may be spoiled tomorrow if there’s no good plan for maintenance. Problems associated with the information explosion are only going to get worse. In the long run, your efforts to market and promote information architecture should get easier as more and more people experience information pain. Hold firm: time is on your side.