Training

Announcing our new Information Architecture and User Experience workshops

We've been putting information architecture principles into practice for nearly two decades. Now that these are becoming mainstream disciplines we have decided to put together a programme of workshops and short training courses. These range from a one-day introduction to information architecture through to a two-day advanced techniques course, and are designed to help de-mystify the whole topic, dispel the jargon and provide solid foundations for the practising information architect or user experience specialist. Read on for more details.

Introduction to Information Architecture and User Experience

Monday 19 March 2012, Maple House, Central Birmingham

Early-bird registration to this workshop only £200 + VAT (for bookings made by 29 February 2012)

This is a one-day workshop intended to provide both a sound understanding of the principles of information architecture and practical learning through relevant, real-life, hands-on activities.

In a relaxed but well-paced day delegates will learn the core principles and practices that go to make up Information Architecture and User Experience. Detailed hands-on activities will show how the main techniques and technologies are used to bring architectural design to modern websites. Prior experience is not necessary, apart from knowing how to use a web browser!

We are offering this first one-day workshop at just £200 + VAT (early-bird price available for bookings before 29 February: £250 + VAT after that date).

Target audience

This workshop is aimed at a wide variety of people:

• Web designers and developers looking to move into Information Architecture and User Experience
• Project and programme managers needing to build IA and UX skills into their teams
• Senior managers who want to gain a strategic picture of the importance of information architecture to the business
• Anyone with an interest in learning about this rapidly-growing and popular topic

Workshop outline

This will be a busy day packed with opportunities for cutting-edge learning in an exciting and growing area of information technology! The topics we will cover are:

• Where information architecture and user experience fit - in the project and in the organisation.
• Information architecture and the design process - a tour of the skills, disciplines and topics you'll need to cover when bringing user experience into the design of a new website.
• The practice of information architecture - a detailed, practical, set of hands-on activities that will show you how to make IA and UX work in your organisation. Including practical experience of analysing existing websites in a domain, card-sorting, designing site navigation and exercises in usability and interaction design.
• The future of information architecture - how the advent of new devices and the convergence of technologies are providing great opportunities for the information architect. How linked data and the semantic web will change the way we architect information services in the future.

Location and facilities

The workshop will be held in the modern, state of the art venue of Maple House, situated in the heart of Birmingham just a few minutes walk from New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill stations. Concessionary parking is available for delegates. Maple House provides an ideal professional yet informal environment for a workshop of this type.

We are offering this first one-day workshop at an early-bird price of just £200 + VAT, which will include:

• Laptops with internet connections for the duration of the workshop
• Workshop materials
• Free internet stations and wireless throughout the venue
• A light tasty breakfast, pastries, cereals and fruit
• 2 course restaurant lunch
• Endless tea and coffee  - complete with all the trimmings, syrups, herbal and even chocolate sprinkles!
• Chilled filtered water to keep you hydrated
• Healthy fruit and homemade snacks all day

More about our training programmes and workshops

Creating new web experiences is not the end of the process for us. We also provide training at whatever level your organisation and people need. We can provide training in all of these areas:

• Advanced information architecture techniques
• Designing and building metadata taxonomies and controlled vocabularies
• Building websites with WordPress (v3)
• Building websites with Drupal 7
• Using MS Office tools
• Creating software for the Mac, iPhone and iPad using Xcode tools (we wrote the book on the subject!)
• Creating Mac software using Real Studio

Just get in touch to discuss your training requirements!