Saturday, November 17, 2001, 1:00 pm

NOTE--Location for Meeting
Cleveland Park Library, 2nd Floor, Large Meeting Room
3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Wash., DC

We're bombarded by information. Businesses that can manage layers of knowledge (processes, procedures, technologies, messages, figures, experience) have a competitive edge. By looking at information as a tool for improving human performance, and applying our knowledge of hierarchies and patterns for presenting information, we can save substantial time and money.

At the heart of framing and presenting information is an accurate perception of the audience. Underpinning clear writing and usable information design is the science of information architecture--an understanding of how to convey complex information as clearly as possible, electronically or in print. Information architects pinpoint the communication objectives of a project, organize information with performance goals in mind, and find ways to lead users to information.

For example, to build or redesign Web sites that support users, information architects ask eight questions:

1. Performance--What do users need or want to do on the site and how do we measure successful performance?
2. Product--What forms best suit the needs of the site's users?
3. Presentation--How can we visually structure information so the site's users can accomplish their tasks?
4. People--Who will provide content and expertise?
5. Politics--How does an organization's structure hamper efforts to enable its site to meet the needs of its users?
6. Process--How will we build this communication product?
7. Perspective--How will this seem from the user's point of view?
8. Possibility--What are the ways we can respect and help users, while maintaining our focus on the site's mission?

Thom Haller works as a communications consultant to corporations, organizations, universities, associations, and government. He offers advice and training on structuring information. Recently, he has directed a large-scale project for a national association--taking 16,000 pages of Web content and crafting a 6000-page focused tool that supports the organizational mission and improves organizational performance.

In 1996, Thom Haller received the USDA Faculty Excellence Award. He has written award-winning user manuals, technical documents, annual reports, and job aids for corporations and nonprofit organizations. Thom Haller also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Communications Consultants.

Info.Design, Inc., is a consultancy and think tank. Its consultants believe workplace documents are tools to help people learn, use technology, make decisions, and get their jobs done. Info.Design teaches strategies for presenting information so it's easily understood, structures electronic and print documents, and helps clients express corporate identity and share knowledge.

Location: One-half block south of the Cineplex Odeon Uptown movie theatre on Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. (There are many restaurants suitable for pre- or post-meeting  gathering/networking/refreshment in the block north of the library.) 

Parking: Very small lot, off Macomb St., to left of library. 

Metrorail--Cleveland Park Station on the Red Line (on Connecticut Avenue, just 1.5 blocks north of meeting site) 

Free