2016 IA Summit
In 2016 the IA Summit took over a hotel in downtown Atlanta, GA between May 4th and 8th. With an overall theme of “A Broader Panorama” it mixed experienced information architects with first time speakers for a memorable weekend. Once again the organizers put on one of the best conferences of the year.
How to Filter Information
Karl Fast has built a framework for how to process information by breaking down interactions in a reusable framework. This allows for people to have a shared understanding when it comes to the way that people filter and search complex information landscapes.
Building Relationships: Linked Data and IA
Linked data allows for machines (and humans) to share information with each other while being confident that the concepts mentioned are the same. As it becomes easier to work with it becomes more important for information architects to understand how it works and how it can be leveraged to enrich our digital information environments. Duane Degler gives a four hour introduction during this interactive workshop.
Design is a Team Sport
Jared Spool kicks off the IA Summit with a challenge to not be the hero who saves the design day. Rather anyone who impacts the final design can be considered an information architect or user experience professional.
Video
Constructing Meaning Is Bloody Work: Winners in the Taxonomy Wars
There is no possible way to catalog everything or even do so perfectly. Wendy Stengel summarizes how to fight for victories in the trenches and build sustainable taxonomies that can thrive even in less then ideal conditions.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/wendy-stengel/
Video
Architecture of Teaching and Learning
Peter Morville always has something thought provoking to say when he speaks in front of an audience. In this talk he focuses on the RIGOR framework and how it can help us to determine our goals and continue to learn throughout our professional careers.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/peter-morville/
Video
User Memory Design: Experiences That Stick
Memory is reconstructed every time we remember an experience. This means that designing memorable experiences is harder than it seems. Curt Arledge suggests some ways that we can be intentional about crafting memorable experiences for users that will encourage them to keep coming back.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/curt-arledge/
Video
Cory Doctorow keynote
With computers a ubiquitous part of daily life how can we ensure that the world is not locked up behind digital locks. On the conclusion of Day 2 Cory Doctorow challenges the audience to question the impact of increased commercialism on our digital environments.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/cory-doctorow/
Video
The Inviting Dark: IA In Physical Space
Jason Alderman proposes that information architecture embraces the physical as well as the digital environment. His framework provides a way to think about designing for mixed environments where the physical medium is just as important as the digital ones that it interfaces with.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/jason-alderman/
Video
Leonie Watson keynote
Accessibility is the responsibility of anyone who does design. Neglecting it not only leads to poor user experiences for some of your users but also locks out those who may have disabilities and all of us will face some sort of disability at some point. Leonie Watson offers up suggestions for how to think about these issues when designing our interfaces.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/leonie-watson/
Video
Architecting Apps in Meat Space
People use the interfaces we design in physical environments. These contexts can greatly influence the experiences users have. As a result it is important to prototype and research as much as possible. Gretchen Anderson gives a framework for how to think about designing for the physical space in this session.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/gretchen-anderson/
Video
https://blueprintdigital.com/ia-summit-2016/gretchen-anderson/
The Territory of the Map: Cartography and the Problem of Information
Maps do more than give directions from one location to another. They also tell stories. Joe Sokohl unpacks the relationships between information systems and maps. From this we can learn how abstractions can be used to communicate any story.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/joe-sokohl/
Video
Lands, Hubs, and Weinies: Placemaking Lessons from the Magic Kingdom
Jorge Arango loves Disney as much as anyone else. As a result he uses his passion for the Magic Kingdom as a framing device for lessons that information architects can take away from the Magic Kingdom’s design. Anyone who watches this talk will never be able to see amusement parks in the same way again.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/jorge-arango/
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Jesse James Garrett closing keynote
Jesse James Garrett remains a highlight of any conference. What better way to conclude a world class conference than with a memorable examination of the essence of the field? Here he challenges the community to look at design through the lens of humanity rather than algorithms, data, and metrics.
http://www.iasummit.org/person/jesse-james-garrett/