My research sits at the intersection of information architecture, design, and meaning-making, and is grounded in nearly three decades of professional practice across commercial, public, and cultural contexts. Its primary concern is the advancement of design as a mode of inquiry into how meaning is structured, stabilised, and made operative in the world.
This body of work contributes to the development of Information Architecture Design (IAD): an ontological framing of information architecture that understands design as the intentional composition of meaning across artefacts, systems, institutions, and broader social realities. The work emerges from a second intellectual culture within IA, one oriented toward meaning-making over sense-making, contrived ontology, and advancing an epistemological stance in which IA is understood as a bounded yet real and consequential condition of artificial assemblages in the world.
Across the broader body of my research, I engage themes of critical, reflective and reflexive practice; design ethics, and pedagogy; and transdisciplinary practice.
Sketch from the analysis conducted into solutioning for addiction. 2021.
The publications presented here span journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Together, they trace an evolving line of enquiry: from early concerns with user experience and design strategy, through to more recent work on meaning-making, contrived ontology, and the role of design in addressing complex societal challenges such as addiction. Across this trajectory, a consistent thread is the attempt to articulate a rigorous, design-led account of how worlds are made, maintained, and transformed through structured meaning.
I conduct the majority of my academic research through the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), within the Department of Multimedia. Prior to this, I was a Research Affiliate with the Visual Identities in Art and Design Research Centre (VIAD) at UJ.
I obtained my research-based Master of Arts in Design from FADA at UJ in 2021. My dissertation received an 86% grade and was awarded the Chancellors Medal for FADA for that year. Such medals are granted to one graduating masters or Phd student from each of the University’s nine faculties annually.
I was Chair of the Research Grants Committee for the IA Institute (2012–2013), and previously served as a member of the grants judging panel in 2008, 2009, and 2010. I was awarded IA Institute Research Grants in 2006 and 2011 (with Tegan Bristow and Terence Fenn, respectively).
Contextual enquiry for internet cafe research. Braamfontein. 2006.
Alongside formal academic outputs, I have also initiated and conducted a number of independent research projects. These include studies into internet cafés in Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the state and landscape of UX in South Africa, and addiction and addiction recovery in Johannesburg. These projects form an important part of the broader research programme, often grounding and informing the more formal theoretical work.
This research is developed in parallel with teaching and practice, forming part of an ongoing effort to establish Information Architecture not only as a professional discipline, but as a design-theoretic and world-building capability.
Research Profiles
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9MAtiAYAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jason-Hobbs?ev=hdr_xprf
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1869-5587
JOURNAL ARTICLES & BOOK CHAPTERS
Footnotes to “Re: The Future of Information Architecture”
Hobbs, J. | 2021
Journal of Information Architecture, 6(1)
Preserves and reflects on “Re: The Future of Information Architecture” (2019), documenting a moment of institutional dissolution while extending its conceptual argument. Introduces a distinction between two intellectual cultures within IA—one oriented toward sense-making and one toward meaning-making—and situates the field’s future trajectory across this divide.
↳ IA / Field Development / Intellectual Cultures / Historical Record
The Design of Socially Sustainable Ontologies
Hobbs, J. & Fenn, T. | 2019
Philosophy & Technology, 32, 745–767
Positions information architecture within Design as a means of structuring meaning across pervasive information environments. Introduces and frames the concept of “contrived ontology” as the intentional inscription of meaning into artefacts, services, and systems, and argues for its ethical visibility and accountability within the infosphere.
Note: First published articulation of the core compositional elements later formalised in IAD (Structural Logic, Semantic Formation, Contrived Ontology), following its earlier presentation at the 2018 IA Summit.
↳ IA / Ontology / Infosphere / Ethics
Nurturing Critical Citizen Designers: Applying Strategic Models for Reflective Practice
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2018
In Educating Citizen Designers in Southern Africa (E. Costandius & H. Botes, Eds.)
Applies strategic design models to support reflective and socially engaged design education
↳Critical Design Education / HCD / Strategy design
The Information Architecture of Meaning Making
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2014
In Reframing Information Architecture (A. Resmini, Ed.), Springer
Positions IA as a structural condition for meaning-making in design
↳IA / Design Thinking / Complexity / Synthetic Resolution
Bridging the Divide
Hobbs, J. | 2012
In Hotel Yeoville (T. Kurgan, Ed.), Fourthwall Books
Explores qualitative research with internet café users and the resulting Hotel Yeoville interface concepts
↳Hyperlocal / Diasporic / Social Systems
Maturing a Practice
Hobbs, J., Fenn, T., & Resmini, A. | 2011
Journal of Information Architecture, 2(1), 37–54
Critiques the development of IA as a discipline and positions practice-led research in its maturation
↳ IA / Discipline / PLR
From Practice to Discipline
Hobbs, J. | 2009
In On Making: Integrating Approaches to Practice-led Research in Art and Design (L. Farber, Ed.), University of Johannesburg
Traces the emergence of IA from practice into a formalised design discipline
↳ IA / Design Research
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Design Fiction Graphic Narratives: Designing with Rather Than for Experiences
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2024
In Cumulus Conference Proceedings, Budapest
Explores design fiction as a method for engaging with experiential futures
↳ Design Research / Speculative Design
Realising Discourse: A Strategic Design Solution to the Problem of Addiction
Hobbs, J. | 2021
In Cumulus Conference Proceedings, Rome
Contribution: Introduces “realising discourse” as a design mechanism for addressing complex social problems
Focus: IA / Addiction / Strategy
Experience-led Design Strategy
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2017
In Design Management Academy Conference
Contribution: Develops experience as a central driver in design strategy
Focus: Strategy / UX
Conceiving and Applying Relationship Models for Design Strategy
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2017
In ICORD Conference
Contribution: Introduces relationship models as tools for structuring and resolving complex design challenges
Focus: Strategy / Systems
The Firma Model: A Meta-Framework for Design Research, Strategy and Critique
Hobbs, J. & Fenn, T. | 2015
In Cumulus Conference, Milan
Contribution: Establishes a meta-framework for addressing complex societal problems through design
Focus: Strategy / Systems / Design Research
Wicked Ethics in Design
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2015
In DEFSA Conference
Contribution: Examines ethical considerations as embedded conditions within design practice
Focus: Ethics / Design
The Firma Model: A Tool for Resolving Complex Societal Problems
Hobbs, J. & Fenn, T. | 2015
In DEFSA Conference
Contribution: Applies the Firma Model to real-world systemic challenges
Focus: Strategy / Systems
The User Experience Landscape of South Africa
Pretorius, M., Hobbs, J., & Fenn, T. | 2015
In SAICSIT Conference Proceedings
Contribution: Maps the UX field in South Africa across practice and maturity
Focus: UX / Industry
Navigating Indeterminacy Through the Application of User Journeys
Hobbs, J. & Fenn, T. | 2013
In Design Development Research Conference
Contribution: Uses journey design to structure complex and uncertain problem spaces
Focus: UX / Systems
Applying User Journey Design to Resolve Complex Design Problems
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2013
In GIDEC Conference
Contribution: Demonstrates journey design as a tool for resolving systemic design challenges
Focus: UX / Strategy
Preparing Undergraduate Design Students for Complexity: A Case Study of the Johannesburg Art Gallery Project
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2013
In GIDEC Conference
Contribution: Applies real-world projects to teaching complexity in design education
Focus: Education / Design Thinking
The Information Architecture of Transdisciplinary Design Practice: Rethinking Nathan Shedroff’s Continuum of Understanding
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2012
In Design Development Research Conference
Contribution: Extends IA into transdisciplinary design and conceptual modelling
Focus: IA / Design Research
A Role for Information Architecture in Design Education: Developing Innovation Through Structured Thinking
Hobbs, J. & Fenn, T. | 2011
In DEFSA Conference
Contribution: Explores structured thinking as a basis for innovation in design education
Focus: IA / Education
A Role for Information Architecture in Design Education: Conceptualising Indeterminate Problems in Design Thinking
Fenn, T. & Hobbs, J. | 2011
In DEFSA Conference
Contribution: Positions IA as a tool for engaging with indeterminate design problems
Focus: IA / Education