Commitment to a Safe Environment
As we gather for this important conference, we celebrate the diversity of our profession and the wide range of perspectives that each of you brings. To ensure a positive and inclusive environment for everyone, all participants—including attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and staff—agree to follow the Code of Conduct in all conference-related spaces at the Information Architecture Conference (IAC). This includes official events, communication channels, and community interactions before, during, and after the conference. This applies to all interactions, including:
- In-person and virtual sessions
- In-person or virtual social events
- Communication on platforms like Discord, Bluesky, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn
We expect respectful and supportive behavior across all settings.
Respectful Behavior
- Be respectful of all participants. Understand and honor the boundaries of fellow attendees, speakers, volunteers, sponsors, and staff.
- Act as a community member. If you see someone feeling uncomfortable, step in or notify an IAC volunteer or staff member.
- Refrain from harassment, inappropriate behavior, or offensive speech. Harassment and inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to:
- Intimidation, peer pressure, stalking, or threats
- Recording people without consent
- Disruptions during talks
- Inappropriate language, jokes, or comments
- Use of discriminatory imagery
- Other conduct that could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting
Communication Guidelines
- Be sensitive to differing political views and any stresses our colleagues may be experiencing. Our profession thrives on collaboration and mutual respect, and we believe that maintaining a respectful dialogue is essential for productive discussions and meaningful connections.
- Respect others’ boundaries. If someone declines to engage with you, stop communicating with them unless invited later.
- Be respectful in all interactions. Sexualized content, offensive speech, or excessively vulgar language is not acceptable in any format, whether in person or in virtual spaces. Before posting memes or comments, consider whether they could be misinterpreted or deemed offensive.
Speaker Responsibilities
Speakers discussing sensitive topics (such as abuse, trauma, or mental health crises) must include appropriate warnings before sharing such content. They should also inform the IAC organizers in advance to ensure thoughtful handling of the subject matter.
Honesty and Transparency
- Do not misrepresent yourself or others. Use your real identity in virtual environments. If using a nickname, ensure that others can identify you clearly.
- Do not misrepresent others in posts, comments, or public messages.
Inclusivity
IAC is committed to inclusivity. We prohibit discrimination based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, level of experience, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, sexual identity and orientation, or any other personal characteristic.
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any harassing or inappropriate behavior must comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event, or making the environment hostile for any participants.
We expect all participants to follow these guidelines throughout IAC-related events and gatherings.
Reporting
If you experience or witness harassment or inappropriate behavior, contact a member of the IAC team as soon as possible. You can make a report either personally or anonymously.
Personal Report
You can make a personal report by:
- Contacting an IAC team member in person. IAC team members will be identified at the beginning of the conference. They will help connect you with safety personnel.
- Calling or texting +1-[phone number TBD]. This phone number will be continuously monitored for the duration of the event.
- Messaging an IAC team member labeled as “Staff,” “Co-Chairs,” or “Safety” through our designated online platforms.
- Emailing the IAC team at codeofconduct@theiaconference.com.
- Filing an IAC Safety Issue Report (Google Form).
When taking a personal report, our team will ensure you are safe and cannot be overheard. They may involve other event staff to ensure your report is managed properly. Once safe, we’ll ask you to tell us about what happened. This can be upsetting, but we’ll handle it as respectfully as possible, and you can bring someone to support you. You won’t be asked to confront anyone, and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
Our team will be happy to help you contact hotel/venue security, local law enforcement, local support services, provide escorts, or otherwise assist you to feel safe for the duration of the event.
Anonymous Report
You can submit an anonymous report via the IAC Safety Issue Report (Google Form).
We can’t follow up on an anonymous report with you directly, but we will fully investigate it and take whatever action is necessary to prevent a recurrence.
“Should I report it?”
If you answer “yes” to any of the following, please let us know.
- Do you feel unsafe or fear that someone else does?
- Do you have prior conduct-violating experience with members of our community that deters your participation in an event?
- Are you concerned about the appropriateness of language being used, views being expressed, or the materials being shared at any of our events or via our social media channels?
- Did you witness something that you are not sure is appropriate based on our code of conduct?
This Code of Conduct was last updated on March 9, 2025, and will continue to evolve as needed.