Focused IA

Helping users to focus is just as important as helping them when they can't. As you plan for IA, consider the kinds of distractions that could occur and how to avoid them. For example, are you providing intuitive navigation? Are there mental models to consider that will keep your customers/users on track and focused? What do you want users to learn and/or discover along the way? Can objectives be completed easily, or will confusion and panic lead to calls to customer support or giving up in frustration? What happens when users veer off course? Can they easily find their way back? What if users are in a hurry and don't have time for diversions? Have you provided a clear path? Are you even aware if these issues exist? Have you planned and budgeted for usability studies to observe how users behave and respond to your design? Have you interviewed users to understand what they might need from your design? If you cannot answer these questions affirmatively and in detail or you are wondering...