Our Vision
The Information Architecture Conference (IAC) exists to promote learning, connection, and meaningful discourse about the intentional design of information environments.
For over two decades, IAC has brought together practitioners, educators, and thought leaders from around the world who shape the fields of information architecture, UX, content strategy, and design.
As a volunteer-led, community-driven event, we remain committed to:
- Being the preeminent global gathering for information architecture learning and conversation.
- Fostering inclusive, accessible, and safe spaces where diverse voices are heard and celebrated.
- Equipping practitioners at all career stages with tools, ideas, and connections that strengthen their work and expand the field.
We recognize that today’s political and professional landscapes are more complex than ever. Our vision is not static – it is evolving. We know that building equity, belonging, and resilience is ongoing work that requires the commitment of our entire community.
Our Goals
- Advance the field of information architecture by showcasing best practices, research, and emerging ideas.
- Create a conference for and by the IA community, where organizers, speakers, and volunteers are drawn from the community itself.
- Support practitioners at every stage of their career with resources, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
- Maintain continuity year over year through shared institutional memory, while ensuring that each event brings fresh voices, energy, and innovation.
Core Values
To Inform, Educate, and Inspire
We value the credibility, practicality, and creativity of ideas. Our program is designed to be thought-provoking, equipping professionals with actionable insights while inspiring the broader IA and UX community to advance the craft.
Be Professional and Accountable
IAC is volunteer-run, and we are proud of that. We value the judgement, time, and expertise of our chairs, advisors, and volunteers. We strive to deliver the best possible conference within the time, budget, and resources available. We serve our community with integrity, empathy, and humility.
Share early, Share often
Transparency is central to our work. We share ideas, processes, and progress openly so future volunteers can learn from and build upon them. Each session proposal receives constructive feedback from reviewers, and final program decisions are communicated with care.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
We are committed to inviting, welcoming, and empowering attendees, volunteers, speakers, and presenters of all ages, identities, abilities, backgrounds, and perspectives.
- We encourage this diversity across our community and acknowledge that inclusion is ongoing work.
- We actively work to support new and underrepresented voices through mentoring, coaching, and accessibility accommodations.
We want IAC to be a place where practitioners feel supported and encouraged – a space to find belonging, connect with peers, and carry this energy back to their workplaces and communities.
Progression Open to All
IAC provides pathways for growth and leadership.
- Affordable ticket options and scholarships reduce barriers to participation.
- Mentoring and feedback help newcomers develop their work and public speaking skills.
- Opportunities to present (from posters to plenary talks) allow practitioners to share their ideas and become recognized thought leaders.
We welcome participants to deepen their involvement – from attendee to speaker, to volunteer, to co-chair – strengthening both their own careers and the community.
Have Fun
Community matters. Maybe now more than ever. We believe in the power of serious learning mixed with light-hearted connection. From deep sessions to engaging social events, IAC is a place to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and recharge together.
Plan and Build for the Long Term
IAC is bold, adaptive, and forward-thinking. Each year’s team builds on the foundation of those before it, documenting insights and improving processes for future volunteers. This continuity ensures that while each IAC is distinct, the core voice, character, and values of the conference endure.
For more than two decades, IAC has been the gathering place for the information architecture community. Together, we will continue to expand, adapt, and evolve while staying true to our mission: to inform, inspire, and connect practitioners who shape the way humans experience information.