Findability

Libraries, Learning, Literacy

2013-01-16T18:38:28Z

My wife (a librarian) loves to tell me that I'm not a real librarian. And she's right. While I do have the degree, I've never served as a librarian. But, I do care a whole awful lot about the future of libraries and their impact upon our schools and society, which is why I wrote the following two articles.

Architects of Learning

It's a tough time to be a teacher. The bureaucracy is stifling. The politics are worse. And, the irresistible force of disruptive innovation has come to school. Everywhere you look, entrepreneurs sell silver bullets that will save our kids from the assembly line. Some teachers quit. That's understandable but sad, because while the system must change and technology will prove transformative, when the dust settles, teachers will continue to serve ...

Inspiration Architecture

The library in 2020 is the last bastion of truth. Sure, you can search yottabytes of free data by simply batting an eyelash. But it's dangerous to believe what you see through the iGlass lens. As you learned the hard way back in the Facebook era, if you're not paying for it, you are the product. That research study about the safety and efficacy of Lipitor Lollipops™ was sponsored by ...

I'm not sure what's next. These articles may be tiny seeds for a big book, or not. For now, I'm happy to have these ideas out there, and I look forward to talking about them at some upcoming conferences. See you on the road!

Strange Connections

This year's World IA Day is in 15 cities, including Ann Arbor.

Understanding IA has over 100,000 views. Thanks for spreading the word!

The Gift of Writing Back

2012-12-21T14:50:50Z

In myriad ways, writing is a gift. It's a gift to have the education and talent necessary to write well. It's a gift that's invaluable in social, scholarly, and professional pursuits. And, writing creates a gift you can give. When you write an article, a book, or simply a tweet, you send a bit of yourself out into the world, where it might inform or inspire someone you've never met.

Mostly, you never know who is touched by your words. But once in a while, someone writes back. For example, I wrote Architects of Learning and soon after received this response:

Dear Peter,

I received your article the very hour I was pondering if/how to incorporate "after-school programming" into my daughter's Montessori school using the curriculum provided by codecademy.com. The point that propelled me is "We can't wait to be invited. We must crash the party." I'm meeting with my daughter's school today and expect the program will be approved. If it isn't, I'll keep trying. Thank you for the thought-provoking and inspirational article.

Sincerely, Jennifer Michaels

Later that same day, I received this follow-up:

Good news! I got approval to offer the program at the Montessori school. I'll probably start with programs like Scratch and Alice for the younger kids (I didn't even know about them until the kind people at Codecademy suggested them as options).

I also spend time with kids in foster care group homes and plan to introduce programming at a basic, fun level. Maybe one or more kids will feel inspired and confident enough to pursue technology as an area of study or profession. Foster kids need all the inspiration and chances they can get.

Sincerely, Jennifer Michaels

These messages made my day. So, thank you Jennifer, for teaching, and for telling me that my words made a difference. And, thanks to everyone who pays it forward by giving the gift of writing back. As I writer, I can tell you with absolute conviction that your words make a difference too!

Strange Connections

A glimpse of what it's like to be a teacher. Claudia, our 11 year old daughter, can quote this word for word, and she gets the voices just right.

Thanks to everyone who's working to make the second annual World IA Day a big success. I look forward to seeing some of you in Ann Arbor.

Dear Peter,

I received your article titled, Architects of Learning the very hour I was pondering if/how to incorporate "after-school programming" into my daughter's Montessori school using the curriculum provided by codeacademy.com. The point that propelled me is, "we can't wait to be invited in. We must crash the party." I'm meeting with my daughter's school today and expect the program will be approved. If it isn't, I'll keep trying. Thank you for the thought provoking and inspirational article.

Sincerely, Jennifer Michaels

The Last Ironman

2012-09-11T14:57:03Z

On Saturday, I successfully completed my first (and last) Ironman 70.3. It was an amazing experience: a well-organized event, perfect weather, and my wonderful family to cheer me over the finish. But I'll never do it again.

It's not that the triathlon itself was difficult. In fact, after all the pre-race worry, it was fun to swim, bike, and run. I simply don't want to put that much time and energy into training. So, after a decade of upping from 5k to 10 mile, half-marathon, marathon, olympic triathlon, and half-ironman, I'm done. I've climbed my highest mountain. I'm ready to downshift. To pass the time, I'll do something easy. For instance, I may write another book...

Strange Connections

Early in my training, after a nasty bike injury, I nearly quit. I found the inspiration to go on from several sources including this book and video.

I've joined the advisory council of SJSU SLIS and am looking forward to their upcoming (free) virtual conference, Library 2.012, in early October.

Tomorrow, I'm bound for Glacier National Park to witness some glaciers before they disappear. And yes, I may even climb some mountains.

Interviewed by LIS Students in Greece

2012-06-28T12:14:54Z

Zoi and Chrysanthi, students at the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, interviewed me about becoming an information architect.

1. How did the IA concept originate? There are several different opinions expressed on this matter, and we would like a clarification. Do you agree that IA first started at Argus Associates?

Who invented the airplane? When was America discovered? Where did IA begin? None of these questions can be answered faithfully with a fact. In 2004, I wrote A Brief History of Information Architecture to capture my version of the story. For different perspectives, you might also read:

A Brief History of Information Architecture by Resmini and Rosati
The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Information Architecture by Royce

Looking back, I recognize we weren't entirely fair to Richard Saul Wurman, and today I'm particularly inspired by holistic framings of our field, as evidenced in Jorge Arango's Architectures, that show "Wurman IA" and "Polar Bear IA" to be one and the same. In short, I'm less interested in defining where IA began than I am in exploring where it's going.

2. Could you imagine your future progress as a professional when you studied LIS in Michigan or even when you wrote your IA book?

No. I love to tell our daughters (who are both in middle school) that I have a job that didn't exist when I was in college. But my inability to predict my own future goes much further than that. When I studied LIS at Michigan, I never planned to become an entrepreneur. When I began at Argus, I never imagined we would grow our little startup into a 40-person business. And when Lou and I wrote the polar bear book, I never dreamed it would play a pivotal role in the careers of so many people all around the world.

Now, I'm an independent information architecture consultant. I've been flying solo for over a decade. I didn't predict that either. So, I guess that means I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing during the next 10 years.

3. You and Louis Rosenfeld are known as pioneers in this particular professional practice/field. Was it easy to find people that shared your ideas and vision, or was it a process that demanded a great deal of time to "convince" others about the power and the dynamics of IA?

It wasn't hard to find good employees. In the mid-to-late 1990s, there were lots of smart, young LIS and HCI students who shared our ideas and vision. It was, on the other hand, sometimes hard to find good clients. We learned the hard way not to waste much time trying to convince prospective clients of the value of information architecture. Folks need to feel the pain that's caused by bad IA before they're ready to invest in good IA. Of course, today, that pain has spread into every nook and cranny of business, so it's much easier to find good clients.

4. For those who are not familiar with the field, how would you describe an IA's professional object?

The easy answer is that information is the IA's professional object. In the polar bear book, we define IA as "the structural design of shared information environments." Today, that definition is still valid and useful, but I find myself increasingly drawn to the framing of IA as "the architecture of understanding" which positions understanding as our professional object.

In Understanding IA, we explain that as information architects, "We help our users to understand where they are, what they've found, what to expect, and what's around. We help our clients to understand what's possible."

5. What do you like and dislike most about your job?

I love the diversity that consulting affords. Over the years, I've worked with amazing people on web, intranet, mobile, and cross-channel challenges at the Library of Congress, Macys.com, the National Cancer Institute, Cisco, Harvard, the Kresge Foundation, Polar Bears International, etc.

On the other hand, while I love the freedom of being a solopreneur, it can be lonely and isolating. Which is why I enjoy collaborating with partners such as Q LTD and TUG. It's great to have colleagues as well as clients.

6. What is the source of your inspiration when you write a book?

My books are born of frustration. For instance, I wrote Ambient Findability because I was annoyed by over-use of the word usability. But I'm also driven by empathy for the user and a conviction that by writing books about information architecture, findability, and search, we're helping designers and developers to understand how to make better products and services.

7. Do you believe there are solid foundations to consider that make the transition from librarian to becoming an IA possible? And if not, could you suggest some actions that would empower such a future development?

There is no single path to become an information architect. It helps to have "empathy for the user" and a disposition towards "systems thinking."

8. Would you suggest a shift in LIS curricula in order for students to achieve a better understanding of IA? And if so, could you name some suggestions as courses to be taught?

Yes. The ideal program would piece together a multi-disciplinary curriculum that draws from architecture, anthropology, communication, design, journalism, marketing, LIS, HCI, and the list goes on.

9. Do you think IA should be taught in undergraduate or postgraduate level? For example, in our country (Greece), LIS studies are at the undergraduate level and there are few possibilities to receive a Master in LIS.

I'd like to see it taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels. And, the basics of information architecture should be taught to elementary school children as part of a broader course in information literacy.

10. Are there methods/actions that can help spread the ideas and concepts of IA among peers, academics and the market?

Most products, services, sites, and systems are designed without the direct involvement of an information architect. So, we have a great opportunity and responsibility to educate our clients and colleagues about the concepts, principles, and best practices of information architecture. We need to keep writing articles and books and speaking at companies and conferences.

11. In our country there are very few professionals (computer scientists, librarians, web designers, etc.) that are even aware of the term "Information Architecture." Would you consider this alarming, considering the wide-spread dissemination of ideas through the Web? Do you experience a similar situation in your country?

I find that neither surprising nor alarming. And it's largely the same in the U.S. As Herbert Simon explained, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention. Consequently, it's incredibly hard to reach people with any message. And IA isn't an easy message to digest. Most people don't want to think about complex systems. It makes their heads hurt. Which is precisely why I'm optimistic I'll get to evangelize IA for the rest of my life.

12. In Greece, the LIS community, both academic and professional, is not familiar with the concept of IA. What would be, in your opinion, an efficient way to inform them of IA?

I've written lots of articles about IA, most of which are available for free via the Web. That's the most efficient way I know to make the information accessible. But there's no efficient way to make them want to learn.

13. Are there any obstacles/problems on getting co-workers/peers and clients to appreciate the value of IA?

I'm very lucky. The folks with whom I work generally appreciate the value of information architecture. So, I'm the wrong person to ask.

14. In your opinion, which are the top 3 skills that an IA must absolutely have in order to succeed?

An IA must be able to learn, synthesize, and communicate.

15. How much has the IA field developed since publication of the polar bear book? Do you think that the IA field needs more publications to promote IA?

Half of what's in the polar bear book is as relevant today as it was in 1998 and 2002 and 2006, but the other half is totally out of date. It's your job as an information architect to figure out which is which. I'm not sure we need more IA publications, but we do need one or two really good ones.

16. To what extent do you think that the practice of IA can help solve the challenges of information overload?

Organizing information can move us towards calm computing, but like obesity, overload is largely a cultural problem. If we're going to stop people from wanting to drive with an iPhone in one hand and a Chocolate Cookie Crumble Frappuccino in the other, we must figure out what's driving us to distraction. So, yes, I think that's a job for the architects of understanding.

Understanding Information Architecture

2012-02-28T12:10:53Z

I've said it before and I'll say it again: there has never been a better time to be an information architect. Demand for classic IA remains strong, while cross-channel and ubiquitous beg for attention. It's tremendously exciting but also overwhelming. That's why Jeff and I created Understanding IA.

We want to connect the dots between where IA comes from and where it's going. And, we hope to encourage folks to think differently about what we do. So, please take a look and then let us know what you think. Thanks!

Strange Connections

Don't miss Design for Cross-Channel Experiences at the IA Summit!

Or, perhaps we'll see you at IA Konferenz or UX Lisbon.

Or, stay put, grab some popcorn, and watch the World IA Day videos.

Information Architecture Stories

2012-01-31T13:42:48Z

A wonderful thing began to happen about a year after publication of the polar bear book. A complete stranger would approach me at a conference, introduce themselves, and then tell a story about how our book changed their life by inspiring them to become an information architect.

Some of the stories were intensely personal. In one, a man told me about reading the polar bear book while watching over his mom on her deathbed. Some folks were thankful we'd given a name to what they'd been doing all along, while others were ecstatic that we'd opened their eyes to a whole new way of seeing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have heard these stories.

I don't hear them so much anymore, which is why I'm hoping folks will step up and share their IA Stories. We're leaving behind (and forgetting) an era. It's not just about the polar bear book or information architecture more broadly. It's about the exhilaration of being present for and participating in the birth of something new in the world. That doesn't happen every lifetime.

To get things going, I'll share a few of my own, beginning with a short story about a big query that changed my life. I hope you'll join me. It's an opportunity to capture memories that are fading fast while simultaneously celebrating the first-ever World IA Day. So, what's your IA Story?

Strange Connections

Design for Cross-Channel Experiences may sell out soon. Sign up now!

Don't miss The System of Information Architecture in The Journal of IA.

Please join us on February 11 to celebrate World IA Day in Ann Arbor!

Multi-Channel Communication

2011-12-08T13:52:10Z

This year I collaborated with Q LTD to redesign The Kresge Foundation's website (here's the old one). We updated the information architecture and content to better reflect the foundation's priorities, while striving to improve usability, findability, credibility, and other facets of the user experience.

One of my favorite parts of the process was helping the organization to engage with social media in a safe, sensible manner. We provided the education, encouragement, and design needed to get the ball rolling. Along the way, I had to answer a couple of wildly divergent questions.

First, several folks asked: Why should we use social media at all when we already have a website? In response, along with explaining the potential of social media as tools for conversation and community, I told this story:

Ten years ago, Marcia Bates gave a talk at the University of Michigan about information seeking. Her delivery was dry and the subject quite academic. I recall plotting to escape. But once I began to understand the thrust of her argument -- that while we focus attention on design for directed search, people absorb the vast majority of knowledge (80 percent) by simply being aware in their social context and physical environment -- I was hooked. This was a provocative message to deliver in what was still largely a library school. Of course, I didn't know what to do with this knowledge. How could I design for awareness? The answer arrived years later in the forms of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media that brought the water cooler to the Web.

So, I continued, while it's comforting to believe our goals can be achieved by one or two channels, it's simply not true, which is why we must embrace a multi-channel communication strategy that accommodates the spectrum of behavior from active, directed search to passive, undirected awareness.

This brings me to the second question (asked by an IT manager): since we have social media and The Web is Dead, why do we need a website? I explained that reports of the Web's death had been greatly exaggerated, and that the site remains the centerpiece of the communication strategy, providing access to the full archive, and serving as a verifiable source of authority. After all, you can't believe everything you read on the Web!

Later, I created this diagram (above) to illustrate the complex, dynamic relationships between an organization's website and its social media. As an information architect, I'm finding the diagram plus my Marcia Bates story to be helpful in explaining how and why the structural design should support multi-channel communication. It's an interesting time to be having these conversations, given the ongoing evolution of how we know what we know.

Information Architecture Events

2011-12-06T17:41:37Z

I'm looking forward to some great IA events next year. In February, there's the first ever World IA Day in 14 cities worldwide (including Ann Arbor). And in March in New Orleans, there's the thirteenth annual IA Summit with an impressive lineup of keynotes and workshops. Samantha Starmer and I will be leading a full-day workshop on Design for Cross-Channel Experiences.

The gap between physical and digital has blurred. We buy a Wii to get in shape. We read books and newspapers on Kindles. We unlock car doors with iPhones that double as GPS navigation devices. And, we order online for in-store pickup. Increasingly, people expect to be able to interact with products and services when and where and how they want -- and that's not always on your website.

The future of design is everywhere. Customer journeys encompass a growing array of physical and digital touchpoints. In response, user experience practitioners must design for holistic, integrated experiences that bridge multiple platforms, channels, and devices.

In this interactive full-day workshop, Peter Morville and Samantha Starmer will provide specific tools and recommendations for designing for the complete experience lifecycle across channels and touchpoints. You will leave the day ready to integrate cross-channel design techniques into your toolkit.

We hope to see you at both events. Looks like a great start to 2012!

Social Computing

2011-11-09T19:11:55Z

As an advisor to the Interaction-Design.org Foundation, I'm pleased to offer a preview of the new encyclopedia entry on the topic of social computing.

After exploring the videos and commentary, I recommend reading about the organization's mission and history. It's an interesting and inspiring story!

Mobile First

2011-09-23T00:00:00Z

I devoured my advance copy of Mobile First in less than three hours. Not a second of that time was wasted. Luke has packed oodles of data, scads of examples, and years of experience into this admirably brief book. It's a brilliant explanation of why we should design for mobile first, and how.

Every information architect and experience designer should read this book. It will change the way you work today and how you think about tomorrow. In short, Luke Wroblewski has gone big by going small. You should too!

Strange Connections

Can't wait for the book? Read Luke's optimization article.

Or try Responsive Web Design, the perfect complement to Mobile First.

Or be at EuroIA in Prague tomorrow for Luke's opening keynote.

Cross-Channel Strategy

2011-09-16T10:58:38Z

At UserFocus 2011 I'm delivering a keynote (slides here) that features a new illustration I call the cross-channel crystal. The crystal is intended to catalyze conversation around the formulation of cross-channel strategy.

Here is a brief explanation of each facet:

Composition. The mix of platforms, devices, and media (and the features of each). Is the service multi-channel or cross-channel?
Consistency. Symmetry of brand, features, organization, and interaction must be balanced against platform-specific optimization.
Connection. Bridges across channels (e.g., links, tags, addresses, barcodes, signs, maps) must be visible at the point of need.
Continuity. Apps should maintain state so users can flow between devices while reading books, watching movies, shopping, etc.
Context. How will time, location, device constraints, and personal or social context impact use cases and user psychology and behavior?
Conflict. To address channel conflict and free riding, we may need to realign incentives, metrics, the business model, and the org chart.

Of course, this crystal is but a diamond in the rough, so please send your feedback. What's unclear or unnecessary, and what am I missing? Thanks!

The Wisdom of Middle Age

2011-09-01T15:07:55Z

The first thing I did upon turning 40 was run my first marathon. It was my way of saying "I'm not ready to slow down." Of course, it will be difficult to keep up the pace. Our bodies largely decline with age.

But that's not true of our brains. Despite widely-held beliefs to the contrary, modern neuroscience suggests that we're smarter (creativity, judgment, pattern recognition) between 40 and 65 than we were in our twenties.

In The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain, Barbara Strauch offers a multi-disciplinary survey of the scientific literature. Highlights include:

In four out of six categories tested - vocabulary, verbal memory, spatial orientation, and, perhaps most heartening of all, inductive reasoning - people performed best, on average, between the ages of forty to sixty-five.

Sometime in middle age we begin to develop the ability, when faced with a perplexing problem, to use both sides of our brain instead of one. This bilateralization is part of the reason we begin to see the big, connected picture.

As we age, the two sides of our brains become more intertwined, letting us see bigger patterns, have bigger thoughts...that's why age is such an advantage in fields like editing, law, medicine and coaching and management.

Exercise has emerged as the closest thing we have to a magic wand for the brain...Neurogenesis is not an event, it's a process. And, there's no question, physical activity makes new brain cells proliferate.

So, I'm looking forward to becoming a better information architect as I grow older and wiser. Of course, it's unlikely I'll ever run a faster marathon, which is why I'm trying my first Olympic distance triathlon next weekend. Apparently, we not only get smarter with age, but we also grow crazier.

Strange Connections

I'm also looking forward to User Focus 2011 (9/16) in Washington, DC.

Mark your calendars: February 11, 2012 is the first ever World IA Day.

Angels Landing

2011-08-24T16:09:38Z

We're back from a lovely family holiday centered around Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. It was awesome! I highly recommend a visit.

Highlights included:

River hiking in the Zion Narrows (with a butterfly).
Voluntouring at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (and walking a pig).
The buffalo at Zion Mountain Ranch (and feeding the chicken).
Solitude at Observation Point (except for the bird).
Hiking into the depths of Bryce Canyon (beneath Thor's Hammer).
The pools of the Desert Pearl Inn and Mandalay Bay.
Watching our kids watch the Fountains and the Volcano.

Of course, what I will remember most clearly is the amazing view from Angels Landing. Hiking the narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides was among the most terrifying and most fun experiences of my life.

So, please do tell, where should we go next year?

Framing Futurity

2011-08-08T12:50:55Z

In my article about being an information architect, I reveal that I've been doing some soul searching around my goals and aspirations. I find such introspection to be invigorating, especially when I'm lucky enough to do my thinking while hiking amidst the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

During this particular round of reflection, I found it helpful to brainstorm a whole bunch of ways of framing the future, including:

Where do you want to be in 20 years?
What BHAG would you be willing to suffer for?
How do you want to change the world/web?
How can I get better faster?
What do I want to learn?
Boredom or fear. Choose one.
Big/small fish in a small/big pond?
What's my sustainable, competitive advantage?
How about choosing an interesting life, one day at a time?
What activities/relationships will lead to flow/fulfillment?
Do I want to leverage what I know or who I know?
What's on my bucket list?
What if you only had two years left to live?
What if you could only work for four hours a day?
How can you achieve a healthy life/work balance?
What legacy do you want (and how much do you care)?

Perhaps you'll find these useful next time you think about your future. Of course, in my case, I ended where I started, albeit with a renewed sense of passion and purpose. I remembered how much I love the freedom and adventure that come with being an independent consultant, and I realized that there has never been a better time to be an information architect.

Strange Connections

Part I and Part II of my UX Russia interview.

Designing Search

2011-05-13T13:01:11Z

I'm excited to learn that Designing Search by Greg Nudelman is now publicly available. It's a brilliant book that overflows with illustrations and insights.

In celebration, I'm posting the foreword. If you have any interest in search, I highly recommend you read Greg's book. Of course, you should also read:

Search User Interfaces by Marti Hearst
Search Patterns by Peter Morville and Jeffery Callender
Search Analytics by Louis Rosenfeld

After reading all four books, you'll have a real appreciation for just how much you still don't know about search. Welcome to the club!