Job Name

Information Architect

Brief description

Information architecture (IA) is the art and science of expressing a model or concept for information (Wikipedia.org, 2007). IA describes a specialised skill set which relates to the interpretation of information and expression of distinctions between signs and systems of signs (Wikipedia.org, 2007)

This role involves taking client requirements and developing architect and presenting your solution/designs using wireframes, blueprints and prototypes in usability trials. This role involves lots of client interfacing, so your communication skills will be beyond outstanding; your patience with constant client changes will be wonderfully charming; your negotiation skills second to none; and your skill sets out of this world. (MCS Consulting, 2007)

In short, the information architect has to have good information about users, information, and business goals. If that information isn't present or is incomplete, the architect's job is to fill in the gaps in the team's knowledge. They accomplish this gap-filling with a variety of tools and approaches. (Thomas Myer, 23 May 2006, http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/ar-infoarch/)&nbsp)

Duties & responsibilities of this role

Understand both business and user goals (and, as appropriate, helping to define/refine same with other team members) (it.seek.com.au, 2007; Michigan State University, 2007)
Participate in user studies to understand user behaviors/preferences and build, from this understanding, informed user interface solutions (it.seek.com.au, 2007; Michigan State University, 2007)
Assess the project's informational needs and dynamics (it.seek.com.au, 2007; Michigan State University, 2007)
Scope, develop and understand technical considerations with the assistance of the project Technical Lead and, as required, with the client and/or third party partner(s) (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Work collaboratively with designers to develop interface functionality (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Visualize concepts quickly and cleanly through rapid prototyping methods. Produce clean, concise site maps, transaction flows, diagrams and interface schematics (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Present, clearly and concisely, various stages of interface design development to clients (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Participate in quality assurance checks during production (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Provide insights to help steer business decisions and product development initiatives (mycareer.com.au, 19 August 2007)
Analyze audiences and their information and functional needs (Michigan State University, 2007)
Work with IT staff to advise on the application of architecture models.
Developing Design patterns

Job requirements

Experience as an Information Architect in the interactive space, minimum 3 years (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Strong understanding around Usability, Accessibility and W3C standards, as well as MS Visio, MS word and CMS systems (it.seek.com.au, 2007; Michigan State University, 2007)
Strong interface design skills (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Excellent communication skills (it.seek.com.au, 2007, Michigan State University, 2007)
Outstanding time management and project management skills (it.seek.com.au, 2007)
Information management, information governance and information lifecycles (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Records management (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Information and data modelling (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Business analysis, business requirements analysis or business modelling (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Meta-data and meta-model development and management (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Business intelligence environment design and development (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Spatial information management and systems deployment (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)
Information standards and policy development (mycareer.com.au, 13 August 2007)

Salary

Location Salary Range
Sydney 110,000-150,000

Melbourne 100,000-160,000

Brisbane 100,000-140,000

Adelaide 85,000-110,000

Perth 80,000-120,000

Canberra 85,000-115,000

(careerone.com.au/survey, 2007)

Industry/Organisation

Private Sector:

IBM Australia

Diversiti Pty Ltd

Candle Australia Ltd

MACRO Recruitment Australasia

Mitchel Lake Consulting

Information Architecture Institute (http://iainstitute.org/) - Founded 2002, the institute is an non-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to advancing and promoting information architecture. Has approximately 1200 members in over 60 countries.

Job listings

MCS Consulting, 2007 (Accessed 1 August 2007) Online Information Architect

http://www.mcs-consulting.com.au/jobsearch.htm

Seek, Loaded, 2007 (Accessed 6 August 2007) Information Architect

http://it.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=43&PageNumber=1&JobID=10061870&

Seek, MCS Consulting, 2007 (Accessed 1 August 2007) Online Information Architect

http://it.seek.com.au/users/apply/ViewJobAdPrintFriendly.aspx?jobID=9977016

Seek, Mitchel Lake, 2007 (Accessed 6 August 2007) Information Architect

http://it.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=52&PageNumber=1&JobID=10082655&

My Career (13 August 2007), Information Architect, Retrieved 20 August 2007 from

http://mycareer.com.au/jobs/inner-city-area-vic/it-telecommunications/system-architecture/5330154+senior+solutions+architect.aspx?style=enhanced

My Career (19 August 2007), Information Architect/User Experience Manager, Retrieved 20 August 2007 from

http://mycareer.com.au/jobs/sydney/it-telecommunications/information-architecture/5283170+information+architect+user+experience+manager.aspx

Michigan State University (13 November 2005), Information Architect , Retrieved 20 August 2007 from

http://www.msu.edu/~wrac/pw/careers/infoarch.html

Other References used

CareerOne. (June 2007) Sector Commentary, Information Technology. Retrieved 06 August, 2007 from

http://www.careerone.com.au/webdav/site/jobs/shared/salary_survey07/information_technology.pdf

Information ARchitecture Institute

http://iainstitute.org/

Seek. (2007) Mitchel Lake. Retrieved 06 August, 2007 from

http://it.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=64&PageNumber=1&JobID=10082655&

Seek. (2007) Loaded. Retrieved 06 August, 2007 from

http://it.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=60&PageNumber=1&JobID=10061870&

Wikipedia. (2007) Information Architect. Retrieved 06 August, 2007 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Architect

Differences observed

Style of wording used is different in the two ads. The ad from MCS Consulting for example is trying to appeal to potential applicant by using terms like "..get your butts in gear and your fingers on that keyboard NOW!" (MCS Consulting, 2007).

Information Architect has various job subtypes: User Experience Designer, Interaction Designer and Information Security Architect (this is an variation of an information architect that is more concerned with information security solutions and issues) (Michigan State University, 2007). Quite literally, information architects are planners and designers of how to present certain information. However, depending on the types of information (businesses' needs) that make our job requirements vary: business development, information security, information design... The types of information and business needs are the key for our variety of the job requirements, nonetheless, communications and leadership skills and knowledge of architecture-related software (Illustrator, Visio, Photoshop, SQL Server, MS Office, Acrobat, Dreamweaver) are crucial requirements to any information architect jobs.

The Salary seemed to vary according to States and territories with Adelaide proving to be the worst paid place for information architects. It is also noticable that majority of the job advertisements fell in the private sector, as only one was found for a non-profit organisation.