Reframe IA: The Information Architecture of Meaning Making

JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN

THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING

REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

THE INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

OF

MEANING MAKING




Design thinking, as an academic discourse, has been around at least since the 1970’s.

Rittel and Webber, Cross, Buchanan, Van der Merwe, Krippendorf, Brown, Lockwood…


It is broadly acknowledged

• That the complexity of the world we live in steadily

increases

• That the problems we face are systemic and grounded in

social realities

• That design has been battling to respond in it’s current

siloes (graphic, industrial, architectural, digital)




The complexity of

social realities

present

indeterminate or

wicked problems




Research conducted

to understand

complexity emerges

from a multi-

disciplinary

approach

and creates a mass

of data




Defining the problem defines the solution: the problem / solution ecology




Making sense of indeterminacy

through the understanding and articulation

of the problem / solution ecology

is the synthetic, compositional act of

meaning-making




So to recap…

1.A mass of data is created through research2.It is organised such that it can be understood3.And in so doing presents a solution

Hang on. That’s information architecture, isn’t it?




WE RESEARCH




WE ORGANISE




AND IN THE PROCESS DEFINE THE SOLUTION




But we don’t think of IA either as design or problem solving in this way because

• It's been defined as 'digital thing’

• It’s not positioned as a 'design' practice (rather

information or library science oriented)

• And we don't think of the typical briefs (business

ones) as being situated in social realities




Illusion 1

IA deliverables are wireframes, site maps, task flows, taxonomies, etc

No. The IA deliverable is the synthetic resolution of the problem / solution ecology

as expressed in deliverables which strive to describe it




Illusion 2

The design solution is a website, mobile app, etc.

No. The design solution is the resolution of the problem / solution ecology; the

design artifact is a website, mobile app, etc.






Illusion 3

IA derives its meaning (relevance, value, purpose) by delivering measurable value to businesses

No. The relevance, value and purpose of IA is in making sense of problem /

solution ecologies; that business value is derived from this is but one of many

potential consequences


IA has a whole lot more to offer the world than just site maps, wireframes and task flows.

• Our utility extends way beyond digital

channels; there is a broader value-

proposition

• We dumb down our value because we

struggle to explain it; explain it correctly and

the value will present itself




• Broaden the research frame and

assumptions about artifacts and IA becomes

a discipline, channel and product neutral form

of problem solving

• As in design thinking, from this position, IA

becomes a tool for innovation




Implications:

The thinking skills, methods and tools of IA should be positioned as important indeterminate problem solving tools

Because meaning is explicitly articulated (not hidden in the artifact) it should be debated at more critical levels




Implications:

Because meaning is explicitly articulated, design practice becomes self-reflective

Self-reflective design creates bridges between practice, theory and teaching vital for preparing students of design for the challenges of the world

