The Information Architecture Institute's Tools project aims to disseminate new IA tools from the community in order to learn from each other. Below you will find document templates, process map posters and other tools to help you in your practice. The documents have been donated by the community, by people just like you.

If you have templates and documents that you would like to share with the information architecture community, contact us.

Content Inventory/Site Map Tool

Patrick Walsh of Herts Highways in the UK, presents a Content Inventory/Site Map tool, utilizing a unique cartography-inspired content mapping approach. The Word document gives an explanation on how the map might be constructed and the Visio document contains the customised "Metro" stencil.

Patrick describes his approach in a recent Boxes and Arrows article.

Content Inventory/Site Map - Word Documentation (DOC) (66 KB)
Content Inventory/Site Map Visio Stencil (VSD) (117 KB)
Content Inventory/Site Map Visio Stencil (VDX) (117 KB)

Task Analysis Grid

Todd Warfel submitted templates for a Task Analysis Grid. Used as an alternative to a requirements document, the Task Analysis Grid is a powerful visual tool showing stakeholders scenarios and prioritized tasks to address during product development. An Illustrator version, offered in ZIP or Stuff-It, prints in large format (6 by 10 foot). The PDF is 33.3 x 18.8 inches. An Excel version is also available.

Task Analysis Grid Template (PDF) (1 MB)
Task Analysis Grid Template (XLS) (11 KB)

Compressed Illustrator Version:
Task Analysis Grid Template (Stuff-It) (384 KB)
Task Analysis Grid Template (ZIP) (373 KB)

Personas

Olga Howard produced a persona tool, showing a presona development process and sample diagram

Howard Persona Diagram (19 KB)

Site Map Templates

Jon Stuckey and Marcia Stanton created this Excel Site Map Template. The Excel advantage is portability: virtually everyone can open, print, and edit an Excel file.

Excel Site Map Template (64 KB)

Case Study: Digital Web Redesign

Christina Wodtke produced this set of deliverables--personas, conceptual model, site map and wireframes--for the Digital Web redesign in 2002.

Digital Web Redesign (3.3 MB)

Omnigraffle Stencils

Paper Plane has created a set of IA stencils for OmniGraffle. They're optimized for OmniGraffle version 3.0, but will work with version 2.0 upwards. Complete installation instructions and additional examples are available from the Paper Plane website. The stencil shapes themselves were created by Matt Leacock, Bryce Glass and Rich Fulcher.

(Zip) Flow Map Stencil (9 KB)
Flow Map Example (658 KB)

(Zip) Block Diagram Stencil (7 KB)
Block Diagram Example (119 KB)

Michael Angeles created a set of basic wireframe shapes for OmniGraffle. Visit his website for more details and installation instructions.

(Tar) Wireframe_Shapes.gstencil.tgz (12 kb)

IA Presentations

A Process By Any Other Name... (IA Summit 2006)
(Powerpoint) 91_Presentation_Desc.ppt (188 kb)
 Polansky_Artifact_Assessment.vss (88 kb)
 Polansky_Site_Map.vss (222 kb)
 Polansky_Wireframe.vss (143 kb)
Submitted by Adam Polansky, April, 2006

IA for Indexers
(Powerpoint) Leise-IAforIndexers.ppt (188 kb)
  Leise-IAforIndexers.pdf (217 kb)
Submitted by Fred Leise, May, 2004

Why IA Matters
(Powerpoint) Morville-WhyIaMatters.ppt (1.7 MB)
  Morville-WhyIaMatters.pdf (958 kb)
Submitted by Peter Morville, May, 2004

Introduction to IA (with notes)
(Powerpoint) Maurer-IAIntro.ppt (2 MB)
  Maurer-IAIntro.pdf (3.9 MB)
Submitted by Donna Maurer, May, 2004

Introduction to IA
(Powerpoint) Bailey-IAIntro.ppt (1.4 MB)
  Bailey-IAIntro.pdf (600 kb)
Submitted by Samantha Bailey, May, 2004

Content Development Spreadsheets

 HoweContentTool.xls (21 kb)
 john-howe_desenvolvimento-de-conteudo.xls (In Portuguese, 44 kb)
Submitted by John Howe, February 6, 2004

 RiceContentInventory.xls (6.6 MB)
Submitted by Sarah A. Rice, April 19, 2004

Wireframe Templates

Templates used in creating wireframes are available for your use.

  LombardiWireframe.vst (177 kb, for Visio)
  LombardiWireframe.vdx (754 kb, for importing into Omnigraffle)
  LombardiWireframe.pdf (16 kb, for viewing or importing into Illustrator)
Submitted by Victor Lombardi, March 25, 2004

  SmithWireframe.vst (147 kb)
  SmithWireframe.vdx (1 MB, for importing into Omnigraffle)
  SmithWireframe.pdf (11 kb, for viewing or importing into Illustrator)
Submitted by Gene Smith, March 26, 2004

(Illustrator) WarfelWireframe.ai (660 kb)
  WarfelWireframe.pdf (5.1 MB)
Submitted by Todd R. Warfel, April 2, 2004

(Powerpoint) CavazzaWireframe.ppt (120 kb)
  CavazzaWireframe.pdf (496 kb)
Submitted by Frédéric Cavazza, April 9, 2004

  GarrettDimon_Wireframes_2003.vsd (Visio 2003, 733 kb)
  GarrettDimon_Wireframes_2002.vsd (Visio 2002, 692 kb)
Submitted by Garrett Dimon, September 20, 2005

Wireframe Stencils

  GarrettDimon_IA_Stencil_2003.vss (Visio 2003, 276 kb)
  GarrettDimon_IA_Stencil_2002.vss (Visio 2002, 252 kb)
Submitted by Garrett Dimon, September 20, 2005

Fundamental Concepts of Reuse

Content reuse is fundamental to a successful unified content strategy. This excerpt from Ann Rockley's book Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy defines content reuse and the benefits of its use. It explores how other industries have employed reuse for decades to improve their processes and the quality of their products.

 ConceptsOfReuse.pdf (1 MB)
Submitted by Ann Rockley, December 10, 2003

Introduction to IA Brochures

Two brochures that help explain information architecture to business and technical people. A full color 6"x8" version is suitable for printing as postcards, and an 8.5"x11" black and white version can be printed on any printer. Both are covered by a creative commons license and can be modified to suit your needs.

 IAforBizAndTech_6x8.pdf (1 MB, color, 6"x8")
 IAforBizAndTech_8.5x11.pdf (24 kb, b&w, 8.5"x11")
Submitted by Victor Lombardi and Dan Willis, November 27, 2003

Design Review Checksheets

Useful checksheets with questions for consideration by the design team and reviewers when reviewing work at different stages of the process. There is a checksheet for Concept review, UI/interaction design review and Visual design review. Has space indicated for approvals and signature sign off by selected approvers. These sheets are great for tracking the progress and making sure key people approve and sign off on each step.

 DesignReviewChecksheets.pdf (230 kb)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Design Review Process

A template to capture the dates in the Design Review Process and key milestones and stakeholders

 DesignReviewProcess.doc (28 kb)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Design Scope

The Design Scope template should outline the general aims and goals of the project design and lists the major deliverables and milestones. To be completed by the experience design team lead.

 DesignScope.doc (28 kb)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Project Overview

A template to be completed by the experience design team lead in preparation of or as an attached document to Product Requirements documents. Information should be filled in to give an overview to project team who may be new to the project.

 ProjectOverview.doc (26 kb)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Creative Brief

A template to provide a brief description of the project. It should outline the objectives, audience, and assumptions for the project and details the creative concept the team intends to use moving forward. This document should accompany the materials for the Conceptual Design Review. Information should be filled in to give an overview to project reviewers who may not be intimately involved in the project. Differs from project overview in that this is specific background information related to design constraints, concerns and other information directly relating to the solution presented for review. The Creative Brief can also be used to inform outside firms about a project when brought in for consulting.

 CreativeBrief.doc (27 kb)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Project Definition and Scope

A template for providing historical information, available industry research, initial scope, a rough schedule, and implementation plans for the proposed project. It should outline business objectives of the project. It is to be completed by the project requestor – usually a business stakeholder.

 ProjectDefinitionandScope.doc (26 kb)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Process Maps

A poster sized map showing the steps and deliverables through the UI/IA/UX project lifecycle. Maps various activities and deliverables against project roles and indicates major milestones. Excellent resource for educating clients (internal and external) about "the process" and what to expect at each phase of the cycle. Two different "takes" on the process are available for downloading.

 DesignProcess_color.pdf (128 kb, color map)
 ExperienceDesignFlow_bw.pdf (104 kb, b&w map)
Submitted by Erin Malone, Sept. 5, 2003

Other organizations also distribute tools that may be useful:

• Usability Toolkit from the Society for Technical Communication
• Presentations and Sample Deliverables from Adaptive Path
• Research and Analysis from Information & Design