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 (2010) (PDF) to find out what we accomplished in our eighth year of operation.

Read our latest Meeting Minutes from the Board of Directors for up to date news on the Institute's activity.

Spotlight on our People

Jeff Parks

Ottawa, Canada

Jeff Parks photo

Jeff Parks is the President of i.a. consultants and the voice of Information Architecture and User Experience for Boxes and Arrows, Radio Johnny, and the i.a. podcasts, syndicated through iTunes. A world-renowned conversationalist, Jeff has interviewed some of the most influential minds from Google, IBM, Apple, FatDUX, ClickTale Web Analytics, Apogee, Adaptive Path, Cisco, and more. With a global audience numbering in the tens of thousands, Jeff’s collegial yet thought-provoking style has become the “must-download” resource of the industry since 2005.

With over 15 years experience, Jeff has lead the successful delivery of projects in the Health Care and Information Technology industries including the development of Enterprise IA, Enterprise portal frameworks, e-Learning programs and in-class training, cognitive rehabilitation systems, and corporate-wide strategic frameworks.

Jeff is currently leading the highly successful workshop series on Information Architecture and User Experience Design through Follow the UX Leader, as well as the local Ottawa chapter of the UX Book Club.

Jeff proudly volunteers his time as a mentor for the Information Architecture Institute, and is assisting the SIG CHI chapter for Ottawa, CapCHI, in the development of workshops for 2011.

Spotlight on our Partners

Peachpit Press is home to a wide selection of beloved series including the Visual QuickStart Guides, Hands-On Training titles, Wow! books, and more. IAI members receive 35% off book purchases.