InContext Enterprises - Contextual Design: How We Design is an excellent well illustrated explantion of the contextual design process and how it applies to IA.

Cam posted his talk "A Guide to Open Source Technologies for Project Mangers " which is a nice --if a bit biased-- introduction to open source technology.

from the wonderful Web Page Design for Designers - Symbolism

"One of the most important aspects of navigation, and interface design generally, lies in an understanding of graphic symbolism.

If you have had a good art college training, you will probably have been introduced to the theoretical concepts behind symbols and logotype design.

Capturing the literal or abstract essence of a company identity and making a visual representation of it in the form of a symbol or trade mark is something a graphic designer has to do all the time.

Designing icons and navigational devices for computer programs requires exactly the same skills and, for those readers who have not had the advantage of such a background, I will give a brief introduction."

Italics mine. I had not made this connection before, but it rings very true and provides a clue to why so many icons fail....

Stages in the Design Process is not a bad outline of approaching a technology problem. However it would have been nice if they included why each stage was necessary and what advantage it gave.

Just found the Design for ... Home Page while researching a project.

"To gain the competitive advantage we must

Design for Value (choice).

From the perspective that each person must design so that those to follow in the process can do their best, we must also:

Design for Conceptualizability

Design for Evaluability

Design for Marketability

Design for Designability

Design for Prototypeability

Design for Testability

Design for Producibility

Design for Deployability

Design for Operability

Design for Supportability

Design for Evolvability

Design for Retireability

Design for Manageability "