school stuff

[tdjohnsn]

So, I am procrastinating writing a presentation to teach how to do Information Architecture for web sites. I have one I have given the last few years, but it just doesn't get through to the students that, no, really, this is important. I have figured out a potentially good way to teach wire frames, so that is good, though it will be a bunch of extra work for me which of course I am not paid for. Grrrr. (that is leaving aside the fact that I am not actually an information architect, so i am pulling it out of my ass....)

Anyway, what I am fussing with instead is needing to create some extra content for a small e-commerce web development project. I haven't done this for a few years, and now that so few people use LiveJournal, I'm not sure how effective it will be, but I need to generate company names across some product categories to randomize the projects and last time everyone seemed to have fun choosing company names.

So, as much as possible the company names should be made up rather than real companies, but other than that, everything is fair, so last names, puns, wordplay, so forth are all fine.

The product categories I need company names for are:
Mustard
Jerky
Jelly/preserves
Salad Dressing
Ice Cream

Salsa is also on the list for the project, but I already have names for that since that is the base project I am expanding for this new project.

Comments

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Claimer: I *am* an IA ;-)


How did I not know you did this?

So yeah, wireframing as a concept is pretty straightforward, and it's also the most fun, but are you going to cover important elements like card sorting, user flows, paper prototyping and user interviews/testing?

Let me know if you need anything… I've lectured at length about basic and advanced IA topics, so I may have some resources that you can steal/use/borrow/whatever.

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

I generally focus on user scenarios and blueprints. Wireframes are surprisingly hard to teach to graphic design majors because it is easy to start designing the visuals and lose site of the interaction you are supposed to mainly focusing on. I'm usually teaching html at the same time too, so I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to IA so I focus on identifying audience and the importance of having a solid plan before you start visual design or coding. But, that said, I finally landed on card sorting as a perfect group activity so they can experience the back and forth and the whole, "other people think different then you" thing that they struggle with as they sort out what should go where.

What I need most is an example of what the IA documents look like when you present them to the client in a meeting. Do those ever get enough past the point of non-disclosure and proprietary info that I could get a pdf from you? Just being able to say, "we are doing the basics to get you familiar with the process, but this is what you are working towards" would be a huge boost.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Oh, indeed I can supply them!

I've got all sorts of fun stuff… Annotated wireframes, user flows, personae documents, site maps, site models, something we call a Feature Value Analysis, which is a collaboratively created spreadsheet of functionality, and arguably the most important doc that is created during the scope phase of the project. I don't do all deliverables for all clients, but rather whatever feels needed for the project.

Would you like anything in particular?

[kung-fu-monkey.livejournal.com]

Okay, let me see what I can do here. I'll start with some easy ones.

Jerky -
Soylent Corporation's 'All-Natural' Plankton Jerky

Salad Dressing-
Audrey Jr.'s "Mean Green" Salad Dressing

Mustard-
Bari's Blistering Hot Mustard, now with extra Nitrogen!

(I'm going to leave the jelly/preserves alone as I invariably come up with utterly inappropriate material)

Ice Cream-
Guy Man's Green Mouse and Telephone Pole Ice Cream (Deliriously good!)

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

Very nice! Thank you.

The student who gets the ice cream one will curse your name, but I will be highly amused.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Colonel Mustard
Canadian Moose-tart - the sweet and tart mustard from Up North.
Herky Jerky
Grief Jerky - the high-protein treat served at funeral parlors the world over
Jam Packed
Jam Dandy
Jelly Mole
Sneezer's Caesar - the salad dressing for allergic people

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

those are fun!

thank you Allan!