Tag: IAD

  • Axioms of a Second Intellectual Culture in Information Architecture

    Here is the slide deck for my lightning talk at the 11th IA Academics & Practitioners Roundtable held today (14 April 2026) and convened at the IA Conference, Philadelphia, PA. The talk was titled (yup) Axioms of a Second Intellectual Culture in Information Architecture (0n ResearchGate).

    ABSTRACT:

    This presentation introduces a minimal set of axioms defining a second intellectual culture in Information Architecture (IA). In contrast to the dominant, LIS-derived model focused on bounded digital artefacts, this alternative framing positions IA as a real, world-shaping phenomenon that predates the web and operates across social, spatial, and institutional contexts. The proposed axioms articulate IA as meaning-operative, non-neutral, context-composing, multi-scalar, and intrinsically responsible. Rather than offering a unified theory or displacing existing practice, they function as orienting commitments that make explicit assumptions already shaping contemporary IA work. The aim is to support reflection, pedagogy, and disciplinary coherence under conditions of epistemic plurality, while opening critical questions of scope, consequence, and responsibility in the ongoing evolution of the field.


    Note 1. The axioms in this talk are destined for publication in a special issue of the Journal of IA addressing pedagogy in IA.

    Note 2. I originally raised the 1st Intellectual Culture / 2nd Intellectual Culture distinction in the article Footnotes to “Re: The Future of Information Architecture” – again in the Journal of IA.

  • World Building, Composition, and Praxis – Masterclass

    This masterclass introduces Information Architecture Design (IAD), a practice concerned with how meaning is composed across artefacts, systems, and concepts.

    Session 1 — World Building
    How reality is structured through meaning (a way to see meaning)
    Sessions 2–3 — Composition
    How meaning is intentionally configured (a way to design meaning)
    Session 4 — Design Praxis
    How this becomes design capability (a way to act with meaning)

    The format is live, studio-based, and discussion-led, with small cohorts.

    → Find out more:
    https://jh-01.com/iad-masterclass/

    → Register (Live Masterclass, with studio work):
    https://forms.gle/mAhFP5PjbKjqbNs86

    Cohorts are limited to 20 participants per region.

  • IA 4 AI // Thought Experiments / 01

    Earlier this month I asked ChapGPT:

    “Could information architectures [+] be used as localised ‘programming’ for LLM’s to improve their outputs? (e.g. to make your responses more consistent, layering and building up of conversations, better synthesis etc.)”

    [Some context: I’ve been trying to teach ChatGPT my Information Architecture Design framework for about the last 9 months. The aim is threefold: 1. Come to better understand these technologies by playing around with them, 2. By teaching it my IA theory, be forced to firm up the theory itself, and 3. Explore / experiment with potential applications of the two working together]

    It replied in a somewhat measured tone “Yes – in theory”, and then in its most upbeat voice, throwing all caution to the wind, it continued, “Let me break down how”

    I honestly can’t say if the response is profoundly insightful or total garbage, but either way, as an interactive thought experiment, I think there’s something to take out of it for anyone in our field.

    Have a look:

    www.jh-01.com/Downloads/IA_4_AI_Thought_Experiments_01.pdf

    (Some definitions, descriptions and further reading about my IA Design work are provided at the end of the document)