IAC: Information Architecture conference

IAC: Information Architecture conference

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Meet the IAC21 Diversity Student Scholars

Please welcome this year’s Diversity Student Scholars! IAC Scholars share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected.  The Scholarship Program has three primary purposes:

  • To nurture and sustain the professional development of the scholars,
  • To establish a network of scholars over time who become mentors to other promising newcomers, and
  • To support the information architecture and user experience design communities.

The IAC Scholarship Program is sponsored by organizations like:

  • Rosenfeld Media
  • Balsamiq
  • Three Cats Studio

People of the IA community who have made donations include:

Valentyna Akulova
Dani Armengol
Marcia Bates
Anita Cheng
Erica DeJoannis
Clayton Dewey
Karl Fast
Chad Garrett
Dan Gleason
Rebecca Harper
Rosie Hay
Jordan Higgins
Noah Iliinsky
Shannon Janus


Amy Jiménez Márquez
Joslyn Layne
Dalia R. Levine
Andrea Liede-Sevsek
Karen T. Lin
Erin Malone
Lilach Manheim
Stuart Maxwell
Catherine Mills
Kimberly Morrow
Tig Newman
Fabricio Novak
Shoji Ohashi
Jeffrey Pass
Renoir Pope

Rachel Price
Michael Priestley
Lisa Remlinger
Jose Rojas
Andrea Rosenbusch
Tania Schlatter
Jennifer Shirey
Samuel Sipes
Carol Smith
Alastair Somerville
Larry Swanson
Amber Swope
Tracy Taylor
Danielle Vargas
Ivan Wilson

Alice Chung
I am thrilled and grateful to attend IAC21. Prior to starting my MLIS graduate program, I had no idea this field existed. I am very interested in improving information access in a business setting. I am also excited to learn how professionals translate information architecture theory into practice, and gain insight into the ways that taxonomy and knowledge management may be utilized in their work. Furthermore, I am curious about the types of employment opportunities available, and the skills necessary to fill those roles.

Celia Diaz
My name Celia was given to me from my grandmother; giving me the opportunity to continue a legacy. Growing up as a young Latin daughter instilled many stereotypes a girl must follow, getting a degree not one of them. My parents spent zero effort in my academia, and I learned at a young age, through my own efforts the value of education. My interest revolves around creativity and inclusion. I want my designs to be noticed by the global impact they make. I want to work on diversifying the designer’s perspective when they design for human computer interaction. In this field there are not many individuals from my ethnic background that can provide a personal perspective into the field.

Raga Kavari
I am eager to attend this year’s conference because there is so much that I have yet to learn. I am particularly interested in learning more about creating accessible user experiences for people of all backgrounds. I am excited to have the opportunity to interact with and learn from the network of scholars that I will get to hear from during IAC21.

Priyanka Kumari
Learning about IA

Jennifer McKnight
Information is like candy; I love candy. I also love sharing my candy, because it might make others happy as well. Nowadays, we have plenty of candy; we need to get better at sharing it.  For me, information architecture equates to making people happy. The world needs more “happy”, and I am excited to learn the science behind it.

Kunnath Rahul
I am excited about the talks and workshops in agenda of IAC21. Excited to join the event.

Linda Ramirez
Linda is a born “UXer.” While working in content marketing, she found herself thinking there was more to understanding the customers’ needs and delivering solutions designed for “everyone.” As any curious UXer will do, she took the initiative to find out what. Through connections made at the Orange County (CA) UX Meetup, Linda began to shift her focus and her skills toward UX research and design. The Covid shutdowns slowed her transition, but did not deter Linda, as she continued to take on freelance projects and a couple of pro-bono gigs for non-profits to build her skills. She presently is in a hybrid content marketing and user research role with the intent to transition full-time to UX with a content and IA focus soon.

Mohamed El Sobkey
I am student in the computer science and engineering department at the Faculty of Electronic Engineering at the University of Menofia. Interested mainly in artificial intelligence and focused on Machine learning specially Deep learning. Organized and detail-oriented, work well under pressure and deadlines. Enjoy working with a variety of people, and have a great attitude. looking for a creative, challenging, growth-oriented position. I have the ability to learn many things in a short time. Also, interested in technological trends as Cyber Security, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Digital Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, focused on cybersecurity, especially ethical hacking and penetration testing. I am an ICT HCIA-Associate certified. I am looking forward to future co-operation. best regards to all. 

Sofiia Sveshnikova
I am excited to attend the IAC21 to learn and grow, hmm sounds boring. Okay, let me rephrase…I am excited to be here to become a sponge, almost like “square pants” and to be soaking knowledge and advice from speakers and people on the conference from our online space. I want to become a UX designer and I believe this is the right place to sharpen my potential and to gain tools and tricks on how to use it the best. Happy to be here!

Tiffany Tesoro
I feel so grateful to be selected as an IAC21 Scholar! It’s important now more than ever to nurture an intersectional perspective when it comes to digital spaces and IAC21 is a great place to continue that growth. I’m excited to develop my understanding of emerging technology applications and implications as well as connect with others in the IA community.

Elizabeth Gould
Elizabeth is a User Experience Designer and aspiring Information Architect who won’t back down from an unsolved problem. Her career began 13 years ago at Kent State University Libraries in a fast-paced and ever changing work environment. Elizabeth simultaneously managed three different departments while enrolled in graduate school. Her work is focused on University Libraries’ end-user needs and optimizing organizational workflows.

As well as Priyanka Sanghavi and Grecia Pichardo.

The Information Architecture of a Student Co-Chair

Reflecting on the past year is mind-blowing to say the least. It was almost a year ago now that I was announced as the first student liaison for the 2021 IA conference. My photo on the website has stayed the same, but a lot has changed. My title has transitioned to Student Co-Chair, and I have worked tirelessly to live up to that name by engaging students as speakers, volunteers, and attendees, and by co-leading the sponsorship initiative. I was commended recently for doing the work of a Co-Chair, not just a Student Co-Chair, and it reminded me of my purpose in this role. I designed this position to be a teaching opportunity, not just a learning one.

As IA professionals, you understand the power and responsibility of language, and I hope to explain what the student co-chair label means to me. I talked with Cassini Nazir a few months ago and explained my struggle with the best title for this position, Co-Chair or Student Co-Chair. I see the label of “student” as my greatest strength, but many see it as a limitation or as an indication of lack of experience. It’s true. I don’t have much experience as an IA professional. But that is not my role. I have 17 years of experience in my field. I have been a student since I was 5 years old. I don’t say “…or whatever the kids are calling it these days,” because I know what we are calling it. I understand what students will read and what they won’t. Trust me, many won’t have clicked this link 🙂

I have 17 years of experience in my field. I have been a student since I was 5 years old.

Claire Morville

My hope for this position was to demonstrate the benefits of engaging students as leaders in the IA community. What I lack in experience, I make up for by adding a different perspective. And that’s not to say I don’t feel out of place sometimes. I am excited to learn more about imposter syndrome at the workshop in April, because that is what I experience all the time. But discomfort is a small price to pay for making the position of Student Co-Chair permanent, and for reframing “student” from weakness to strength.

In an interview for the University of Maryland iSchool quarterly, I was asked, “What was the best advice you received in your time at the iSchool?” I answered, “I learned to ask for help.” In that spirit, I am here to ask for your help finding the next Student Co-Chair. 

We need a Student Co-Chair

  • who believes in this community and has the strength to argue that students’ voices are as important as practitioners; 
  • someone who will fight for an opening keynote younger than themselves; 
  • someone who will contribute to the co-chair team, not only as a mentee but as an equal or even a mentor. 

I have made wonderful connections with many of you in the IA community, and I know that whoever fills this role next will be lucky to learn from all of you. But please keep an open mind and listen to what they have to say as well.

To suggest someone (or yourself) for IAC22 Student Co-Chair, please email info@theiaconference.com.

The Reluctant Information Architect: Claire Morville

Why did you get into Information Architecture?

I didn’t get a choice. I was born into IA. My first words were taxonomy and wireframe. My first pet was a polar bear. Okay, I’m joking, but as you’ve probably guessed, my dad is Peter Morville.

What you may not know is that I’ve spent most of my life avoiding information architecture. During my childhood, IA was that annoying, ever-present dinner topic that prevented me from talking about volleyball, friends, and the fun things in life. As a teenager, I refused to be interested in anything my dad did for work. I was the daughter who wanted to do anything but follow in her father’s footsteps. I needed to find my own path, so I went away to college to study computer science.

But that wasn’t the right fit, so when I stumbled upon an undergraduate major at the University of Maryland iSchool that integrated technology and design, I was thrilled. I called my dad to tell him about this new field I’d discovered. He said “Claire, that’s great, but you do realize this is that stuff you’ve ignored all your life? This is what I do.”

I was crushed. But, as much as I wanted to resist, I knew it was the right path. I love organizing, structuring, planning, and designing. So that’s how I became a reluctant IA.

How did you become a co-chair of the IA cConference?

In 2019, I volunteered with the DCUX Conference, where I met Vanessa Foss. We discussed low student engagement in professional conferences such as IAC, and I suggested she create the new position of student co-chair. I argued student engagement won’t happen without student leadership. One thing led to another, and here I am.

What do you do as a co-chair?

I’m grateful for my fellow co-chairs (Grace Lau, Teresa Nguyen, Cassini Nazir) because together with Kunverj and our amazing volunteers, we are responsible for planning and delivering the conference. It’s a huge amount of work.

One task that’s fun is choosing keynote speakers. I’m proud to have identified and invited Rebekah Bruesehoff to be our opening keynote. At first glance, she has little to do with IA. But, when you consider the consequences of classification, who is better to speak to its dangers than a transgender youth activist who’s also a Marvel superhero?

What’s been your funniest moment in IA, so far?

The co-chairs and curation team were reviewing workshops for the event, and the word “ontology” appeared several times. Everyone but me seemed to know what it meant, so I swallowed my pride and asked. Instead of an explanation, I was met with blank stares. After an eternity, someone said “I know what it means, but I can’t explain it.”

All of a sudden, everyone grabbed their “polar bear books.” They didn’t even have to leave their chairs. They all had it on the desk next to them. I couldn’t decide if I should laugh or cry. Sometimes it seems impossible to escape my dad even after moving hundreds of miles away to college. Of course, the moment became even funnier when we found the polar bear book doesn’t even define “ontology.”

What’s next for you?

Upon graduation in May, I hope to start my career at the intersection of user experience and crisis management. I’m currently working at the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab at Indiana University where I have become aware of all sorts of opportunities to apply UX methods to improve disaster planning and emergency management. I may be a reluctant IA, but when it comes to using IA to help people survive and thrive, I’m all in.

Where can people find you?I’m on Twitter (@morvilleclaire) and LinkedIn and can’t wait to meet you at IAC!

Meet Your IAC21 Co-Chairs

As we collectively emerge from 2020, we pause to introduce you to the team behind the planning and coordination for IAC21: 

  • Grace Lau
  • Teresa Nguyen
  • Claire Morville
  • Cassini Nazir 

We are honored to carry forward the rich legacy. IAC has endured for 22 years thanks to the effort and dedication of a smart and dedicated community. Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing a “Meet the Co-Chairs” series so you can get to know us better. 

No conference would happen if it were just made of chairs. We are thankful to the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make the conference possible. Thank you for your support: 

Matt Arnold, Alesha Arp, Mykle Brossette, Ken Caldwell, Anita Cheng, MaShana Davis, Vinish Garg, Michael Hardy, Jennifer Jefferson, Agnes Kiss, Sandra Lloyd, Bibiana Nunes, Chiara Ogan, Jeff Pass, Adam Polansky, Dan Ramsden, Nathan Rogers, Shana Shields, Amy Silvers, Kyle Soucy, Sup Suh, Stacy Surla, and Noreen Whysel. 

There’s still time to register for IAC21. We hope you can join! 

—IAC21 Chairs

Meet the team – Joe Sokohl

Joe is a long-time UXer – from tech writing in the mid-’90s to HCI in the late ’90s into IA and IxD through today. Currently he’s a senior UX designer at Fahrenheit-212, a Capgemini company. He’s known as an avid motorcyclist, having ridden to conferences in Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore and Charleston. He’s been a regular face and a regular contributor to the IA Conference for many years. Here we ask him the same few questions we’ve asked all the team.

What’s been your favourite moment as an IA (so far)?

So, so many–having been to all but Portland and Austin, I have incredible memories of this conference. Probably the favorite moments include subbing on karaoke hosting with Dahlia, stepping in when the conference visited Miami to do an ad hoc preso on motorcycles & UX, and all the hallway convos.

What made you decide to volunteer for IAC?

This community and this conference remain critical to my sense of self and well being–honestly! This year I decided to help out however I could, focusing on the experience around the sessions.

What does the theme mean to you – what are you hoping to see, hear, sense or share during IAC20?

Sense-making and place-making remain critical to me as I focus on productivity apps–the places where people spend so much of their digital time.

Where can people find you?

joe.sokohl@fahrenheit-212.com professionally. On Twitter at @RegJoeConsults or @MotoUX (form the interesction of “the UX of motorcycling” and “UXers who motorcycle”)

Sponsor IAC

Thanks to last year’s sponsors!