The "Information Architecture" Community Has a Problem

August 06, 2003 | 3 Comments

I put Information Architecture in quotes because I’m not sure if that term is the correct one anymore. There are so many different names for what I consider Information Architecture that I’ve lost count. Information Design, Interaction Design, heck, just a week or so ago the Interaction Architects, who get no respect by the way, piped up.

I’m sure many out there will view all of these as separate professions and that is fine by me. There are just as many that see this fragmentation as a bad thing. I personally see these as separate disciplines but just find all the rest more confusing than anything and the pointless discussion over who does what, what its called and all the semantical differences therein annoying. For a group of people who share similar skill sets (regardless of job title), included in which are defining, naming, simplifying, semantics and organization there sure seems to be a problem with all of the above when it comes to nailing down what they actually do and what you call it.

In my opinion it’s not what you call it that will make it of value. Rather it’s the necessity, and quality, of the services provided by these folks that will get people to pay for it. Not marketing a job title. The “Web Producers” tried that and look where they are now. No one knows what the hell they do, they’re probably all Web Masters again.

Don’t get me wrong, Information Architecture and all of its related disciplines are very valuable both on the Web and off. I’ve done my part to try and educate my stakeholders and clients on the benefits of the discipline and practices of Information Architecture. I’ve been doing my best to keep involved with the IA community but it’s getting hard.

There signal to noise ratio right now is horrible. I can’t be bothered to read any of the once interesting e-mail I get from AIFIA and I’m frankly really turned off by all argument that goes on whenever someone wants to brand a different form of IA or coin a new term. I mean, who cares? I’d be most of the people writing the checks don’t. They call us all Web designers.

There are a few good resources out there. Boxes and Arrows and IA/, both of whom seem to choose to take an all inclusive track on these subjects (hint, hint), are going strong with great information. Digital Web and Evolt have some good resources on IA for more general Web professionals. But aside from that it seems like Information Architecture (et. all) is suffering from a serious identity crisis.

If IA and those who practice it can’t define themselves and agree on a common language for their disciplines, how can a client expect to benefit from those services. If they are as confused as I am, IA has a real problem. Again it’s about what you do — not what you call it.

I’d like to see more education, more marketing of skills and services, more case studies and best practices, and for cryin out loud more consistancy from the IA (and related) communities. While we’re at it I’d like to see less argument, less finger pointing, less elitism and less confusion as well.

But what do I know? I’m just a Web Designer.

Filed under: IA and Usability