The first interview in this section of reading makes me very happy:
Q: Information is the word, and information architecture is the mantra, of today’s Web design. Can you explain how aesthetics are introduced into information presentation?
A: If they have to be introduced, it’s too late. Introducing aesthetics to information presentation sounds like putting lipstick on a pig. it’s something that needs to be present from the outset.
To me that’s like saying if you are organizing the information properly and in the most comphrehensible way the design and aesthetics of it will flow naturally. If the information is not properly organized then it is difficult to understand and therefore will have a poorly designed interface which does not allow for flow and direction within the website.
This is something that I will need to work on. I can organize things in a logical manner and think in my head how to present the information, but as far as creating my own graphics and color scheems, I completely fail at that. I feel it is something I can definately learn from taking classes and with some tutoring. But at the same time, as much as I love a good infographic, I don’t want that to be my primary. I want to learn the whole scheme, or the general know-how of back end information architecture. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
Eric Rodenbeck also describes a valuable asset to his team as being a person who can easily accept the task of learning or relearning tools. I am all over that one. There are so many people out there who are super specialized that it’s difficult for them to want to learn new things. But at the same time those are also your go-to people when you are in a pinch. So from what I can extrapolate from this interview is that we should all develop a high level of skill in one area and dabble in others to make ourselves more useful and desirable on a team.
