This case study appears in Information Design Workbook: Graphic approaches, solutions, and inspiration (2 MB PDF English)
Inrap (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives / National Institute for Research in Preventive Archaeology) is responsible for excavations throughout France and its overseas territories, covering all periods from Prehistory until Modern Times. Inrap community includes 1,500 archeologists located around France, as well as hundreds of support staff, governmental and scientific research partners, and contractor. Its mission is to disseminate and publish the results of its evaluations and excavations for the benefit of the research community and the general public.
The project
Fig.1 — Detail from map of existing intranet
When Kahn+Associates began to work with them in 2006, Inrap had developed an extensive internet site (www.inrap.fr) dedicated to informing the general public about Inrap's activities. An intranet site had been launched but had not gained user acceptance. Our work involved several aspects of information architecture: improving the naming, classification and organization of both websites, integrating current and new resources into a scientific portal, and helping to define the tasks and schedule needed to attain these goals.
As the project progressed, another challenge emerged. The Scientific Direction of Inrap wanted to create a Scientific Portal to address the needs of the archeology community. Should this become another website, or could it be integrated with the existing internet and/or intranet sites?
Our approach
We approached the intranet by reviewing the current content of the website as well as the navigation system. We continued this analysis by working with members of the team to understand the purpose of the internal and external communication, the needs of the scientific community within Inrap, and the technology development priorities. We fashioned solutions that would support the priorties of all stakeholders.
The solution
K+A began by analyzing the information architecture of the intranet, producing an isometric diagram of the site (Fig.1). We classified the content into several domains (corporate organization, scientific material, human resources, etc.), then used a color code to visualize the distribution of the content within the structure of the site.
The diagram illustrated how information with similar subjects were scattered among several parts of the site, making it difficult to find. We reorganized the content according to domain, and delivered a diagram using the same visual language showing this new structure.
Fig.2 — Home page wireframe
Transformation of the site included new section names and a new navigation system. The specifications at the page level were delivered in the form of wire frame models (Fig. 2). The wire frames were used by LM communiquer, the design agency responsible for Inrap's visual identity, to produce a new visual design for the intranet site.
As this initial intranet reorganization got underway, we were asked to work with the scientific division to define the requirements for a new Scientific Portal, aimed at both Inrap archeologists and the broader community of research partners throughout Europe. The information envisioned for this project was already spread across the current public internet site, the current intranet site, and a number of new technology projects either under development or still in the planning stages.
Fig.3 — Detail from synoptic diagram
To focus the discussion between the Communications, Scientific and Technology divisions, we developed a synoptic diagram (Fig. 3) showing each of the information collections arranged by the public they address in one dimension and by the type of information in the second dimension. Color was added to distinguish the existing internet, existing intranet and the proposed scientific portal.
For the next stage of the project, we developed user scenarios to illustrate how information is currently presented and linked on the internet and intranet sites. Here we were able to re-use the isometric diagrams created earlier, adding an overlay of information related to the scenario. This illustrated how information on a single subject, such as all the excavations in the city of Nîmes (Fig. 4), are in several different sections of the internet and intranet sites, for the most part without navigational links. Thus a user finding one piece of information remains unaware of the related communication and scientific information present on the site.
Fig.4 — Detail of Nîmes Scenario
The recommendations that followed from this analysis included developing the Scientific Portal not as a separate website but as the professional view of the reorganized Inrap internet site. The site was organized around four sections: Inform, Discover, Search, Participate. To illustrate this transformation, we developed a series of page wire frames representing the position of information on the page without reference to actual visual design. Fig. 5 shows the more scientifically oriented content visible on the page once an archeologist logs on to the site.
Fig.5 — Detail of the scientific portal home page wireframe
Once these recommendations were reviewed and accepted, the next challenge was to define a development schedule for the many modifications and additions to the existing systems, as well as additional databases and applications needed to complete the project. Following interviews and consultation with representatives of all three divisions, we developed a diagram and calendar (Fig. 6) to present our conclusions.
Fig.6 — Detail from synoptic diagram
The horizontal dimension of the diagram represents the four sections of the internet site, showing which parts of the site are affected. The vertical dimension represents the metaphorical depth of the project, from the visible parts of the internet site to the editorial systems, database applications, personnel, and information sources. Color was used to distinguish technology that was complete, under development, or not yet started. We identified eleven different phases of the project, which were then organized in a time line.
The result
Inrap now has a clear plan and schedule for developments which will expand its web presence to serve the general audience as well as the broad archeology community. The sites will continue to evolve as new applications become available.