Information Architecture Institute > About Us - Information Architecture Institute

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## Events Calendar

April 17, 2013

### ASI 2013 Annual Conference

April 18, 2013

### TOGAF 9 and ArchiMate Foundation

April 22, 2013

### WebVisions Portland

May 15, 2013

### UX-LX: User Experience Lisbon

May 16, 2013

### TOGAF 9.1 and ArchiMate Foundation

July 09, 2013

### UXPA Conference DC 2013

[more events]

## News

April 13, 2013

### 2012 IA Institute Annual Report Released

March 22, 2013

### IA Institute Newsletter #8.02 2013

### Announcing the 2013 Annual Members Meeting

[more news]

# 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

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

Chris Baum

San Francisco, CA, USA

My 14-year career in IA and UX Design would not be half of what it is without the IA community and the IAI. While I am not the most active participant in the online space, I am an active member of the community as a long-time mentor and the Editor-in-Chief of Boxes & Arrows.

I am currently a freelance design consultant, after many years as Designer and Product Manager for companies large and small. My projects ask me to act in several capacities, from Senior UX Designer to Creative Lead to Mentor of internal teams. In my work, I promote the wise use of technology through the thoughtful design of systems and questioning the impetus to adopt ever more tools.

### Spotlight on our Partners

The University of Baltimore School of Information Arts and Technologies offers an M.S. in Interaction Design and Information Architecture. We are excited to be collaborating on the Education Curriculum initiative.