Our Mission

The Information Architecture Institute (formerly The Asilomar Institute for Information Architecture “AIfIA”) is a global organization that supports individuals and organizations specializing in the design and construction of shared information environments. Through education, advocacy, services, and social networking, the Institute will lead the way in demonstrating the value of information architecture to the world at large, and provide a framework for members to improve their skills and enhance their professional standing.

Defining Information Architecture

We define information architecture as:

  1. The structural design of shared information environments.
  2. The art and science of organizing and labeling web sites, intranets, online communities and software to support usability and findability.
  3. An emerging community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.

Are these definitions definitive? Absolutely not. Our craft is new and still taking shape. We're clear on the center but fuzzy at the boundaries. This inherent ambiguity challenges us to think deeply and seek diverse perspectives.

The Value of Information Architecture

Because information architecture is relatively intangible, our "invisible work" is often misunderstood and undervalued. The Institute recognizes the importance of defining metrics and showing value, particularly in unsupportive environments.

Our efforts are focused around the following cost and value propositions:

  • The cost of finding information
  • The cost of not finding information
  • The cost of using information
  • The cost of building and managing information systems
  • The value of educating employees and customers
  • The value of creating knowledge networks
  • The value of strengthening brand
  • The value of fostering innovation

We encourage researchers and practitioners to share experiences and data, so we can build a more convincing case for the value of information architecture.

Who Benefits?

We have identified several groups of individuals who benefit directly from our Information Architecture resources:

  • Designers and technologists who practice information architecture
  • Colleagues in the design and technology fields
  • Businesses, government agencies, and organizations that need information architecture
  • Media professionals seeing to characterize various aspects of the IA field

This page was last modified on January 16, 2007 06:03 PM.