Reframe IA: The Information Architecture of Meaning Making
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Transcript of 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
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE 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…
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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)
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
The complexity of
social realities
present
indeterminate or
wicked problems
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
Research conducted
to understand
complexity emerges
from a multi-
disciplinary
approach
and creates a mass
of data
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
Defining the problem defines the solution: the problem / solution ecology
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
Making sense of indeterminacy
through the understanding and articulation
of the problem / solution ecology
is the synthetic, compositional act 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
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?
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
WE RESEARCH
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
WE ORGANISE
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
AND IN THE PROCESS DEFINE THE SOLUTION
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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.
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
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
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
• 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
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTUREA ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE
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
JASON HOBBS & TERENCE FENN
THE INFORMATION ARCHITCTURE OF MEANING MAKING