information architecture
My perspective:
Information Architecture is the process of translating business requirements and goals into an organizational blueprint of usable information. The design of clear intuitive information is tailored to the intended user through the use case and definition of representative user personas.
Understanding the user audience and the medium, filters the design process by allowing the information architect to design where and when the information will be accessible. The specific deliverables must take into account the product system in its entirety. However, the crystallized examples usually result in: site maps - information organization; wire frames - user flow; and functional prototyping - interface development.
Because of the limitations of budget, time, resources, et cetera, it can be difficult to convince a client that the production of site maps and wireframes are important. However, it is necessary to communicate the significance of a logical user flow as the foundation of the user experience.