How can information architects improve collaboration with UX professionals?

I will use the blueprint reference to explain this because the purpose of both documents is nearly identical. Just like a blueprint, Information architecture provides designers (as well as product development and engineering teams) a bird’s-eye view of the entire product. Having a single document that delivers a simple and understandable representation of how the application or website works is vital for developing new features, updating existing ones, and for seeing what is possible considering the existing product. With IA available, it becomes significantly easier to make key decisions for new features and implementations, to understand timelines for product changes, and to follow user behavior through multiple processes.

The most challenging aspect of creating a new information architecture is almost always in constructing it hierarchically. It’s a common misconception that IA must be built “from the top down.” That’s almost always more difficult to do unless it’s an existing product, such as in the video above. When building IA from scratch, unless your website or application is following a standard format, drawing out anything after the top level is very difficult. It’s like asking a mechanic to build a car from the top down instead of in parts. Each piece has to be constructed in advance with its own research, time for design, and development. The same is true with IA.

Displaying visual hierarchy is a valuable asset to IA, not only because it provides better context for the reader, but also generalizes key regions of the product. If your app’s most significant feature is ordering a ride (a la Uber or Lyft) which can be done from the homepage, then that page will have the most touchpoints and the most value to the product. The same will be true for the visual hierarchy.

To enhance collaboration between information architects (IAs) and UX professionals, establish clear communication channels, define roles, and responsibilities, organize collaborative workshops, encourage cross-training, and prioritize a user-centric focus. Implement iterative prototyping, use shared design tools, and participate in each other's processes. Define shared metrics, schedule regular check-ins, and foster a culture of open communication to continually refine and improve collaboration.

Embracing a growth mindset is key in this step. Attend workshops, webinars, and conferences to stay abreast of the latest in IA and UX. Engage in cross-disciplinary collaborations to gain fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Utilize online resources and communities for continual learning. Regularly seek feedback from your UX team and users, and be willing to iterate your designs based on this input. By being adaptable and open to new ideas, you enhance your ability to create user-centered designs that effectively meet evolving user expectations and industry standards.

There are plenty of software applications that allow for building an IA, but few are simple and quick enough to make the experience enjoyable. Or at the very least, easy to manage. Draw.io, used in the video above, is completely free for personal and professional use and automatically plugs into Google Drive.