About the Information Architecture Institute

The Information Architecture Institute is a 501(c)6 professional organization, operated by a dedicated, multi-national group of people who are dedicated to promoting the concept, craft and community of information architecture.

We live in exciting times. As the information age rolls forward, our businesses, markets and societies are being transformed into adaptive, connected networks. The Internet of today only hints at the ubiquitous communication infrastructure of tomorrow. The construction of this brave new world requires a new kind of architecture, focused on digital structures of information and software rather than physical structures of bricks and mortar. As we spend more time working and playing in these shared information spaces, people will need and demand better search, navigation and collaboration systems.

Volunteering our own resources, we aspire to collaborate within our community and build bridges to related disciplines and organizations. We invite you to join us in advancing the state of information architecture through research, education, advocacy and community service.

The IA Institute Framework

Final framework

We aim to facilitate the following relationships and the people and groups they serve:

  • Mentors/Institutions and Apprentices/Students
    This is the relationship of induction, education, training and professional development. It is about bringing people into the practice of information architecture and strengthening their acumen.
  • Researchers and Practitioners
    This is the relationship of reconciling theory with practice. It is about getting important research out into the field, as well as getting feedback from the field about which research is important.
  • Project Teams and Volunteers
    This is the relationship of service. It is about providing the infrastructure for motivated people, whose time we recognize as valuable, to perform effectively and achieve results in the endeavours of the organization.
  • Vendors and Customers
    This is the relationship of commerce. It is about enabling our members to trade the products and services that make them more effective at the practice of information architecture.
  • Workers/Consultants and Employers/Clients
    This is the relationship of work. It is about connecting information architects with the projects and organizations that make their skills useful to the outside world.

In addition to these mediating relationships, there are the relationships the Institute itself forges directly:

  • Business Decision-Makers
    This is the relationship of outreach. It is about explaining to business leaders the value of information architecture and how it fits into their organizations.
  • Other Organizations
    This is the relationship of alliance. It is about adding further definition to the Institute by situating it among a broader community of similar, but different organizations.

Read our Annual Report (2014) (PDF) to find out what we accomplished in our tenth year of operation.

Spotlight on our People

Jeff Parks

Ottawa, Canada

Jeff Parks photo

I am an Information Architect and User Experience professional with a background in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology. Over my 15 year career, I have worked with public, private, and non-profit organizations.

In addition to user experience, I have an extensive background in the field of e-learning. I successfully wrote a Microsoft Certified Training (MCT) program that taught the concepts of adult learning theory, planning, communication, motivation, and training delivery. The program was adopted by Microsoft as a benchmark against which all other MCT programs were measured.

I presented at the 2011 Information Architecture Summit in Denver and was the Closing Keynote at the Polish IA Summit in Warsaw Poland in 2012. I continue to guest lecture at universities and colleges in Canada and through Follow The UX Leader, which I co-created with Kris Mausser.

Over the past five years, I have interviewed leading thinkers and authors in web and mobile design from companies like Google, Adaptive Path, Rosenfeld Media, Morgan Kaufmann and New Riders on podcasts for popular design conferences and industry webzines like Johnny Holland and Boxes and Arrows. I graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Social Work, and hold a post-grad diploma in Information Technology.

Spotlight on our Partners

COMMUNITY PARTNER

SEGD - Society of Environmental Graphic Design
SEGD, the Society for Environmental Graphic Design, is the more than 1,300 members who work in the planning, design, fabrication, and implementation of communications in the built environment. SEGD is guided by a Board of Directors, which creates policies and programs to grow, enrich, and provide educational resources to the community. A strong network of Chapter Chairs represents SEGD at the local level, providing a vital liaison role between local members and the Board of Directors. A diverse professional staff implements Board initiatives, provides member support, and works to provide new services and resources for the SEGD community. IA Institute members can register for their Xlab conference at SEGD member rates.