IAC: Information Architecture conference

IAC: Information Architecture conference

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A staging site Reviewer

Meet Stacy Surla, Curator of Poster Night

Stacy Surla is Vice President of MetaMetrics Inc., a veteran-owned, family consultancy that provides UX and evaluation services in support of a democratic and open-market world. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland iSchool, was a twice-elected officer of the IA Institute, and is on the editorial board of the Journal of IA. She also pulls together Poster Night at IAC. Here are some words to introduce Stacy.

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

Too many to name! But becoming one with the IA community through karaoke is definitely one of my high points every year.

What made you decide to volunteer for IAC?

I was invited by Abby Covert to curate the Poster Session last year, and I found it a really fun, non-stressful, and high impact way to support the community. Apparently it’s now my ongoing gig.

What does the theme mean to you – what are you hoping to see, hear, sense or share in New Orleans?

I was raised in New Orleans during my very youngest years, and those experiences embedded a riotous abundance of semi-tropical sensation and memory into my being. I look forward to loud, crowded gatherings in high-ceilinged rooms, warm rain and the swish of rushing cars on shiny streets, and joining serious diners from all walks of life in eating amazing food in the lowest dive restaurants.

Where can people find you?

linkedin.com/in/stacysurla

Launching the IAC20 Scholarship Program

We’re pleased to announce the IAC20 Scholarship Program.

The IA Conference wants to make the Information Architecture Conference more accessible to people of diverse backgrounds.

The IA Conference Scholarship Program is actively recruiting and providing scholarships to students from backgrounds underrepresented at the IA Conference to assist them with attending the IA Conference and leadership positions within the IA community. Application deadline is February 21, 2020 at 5:00pm PST / 6:00pm MST / 8:00pm EST

2020 Scholarship Application is now open. Apply at scholarships@iainsitute.org

Find out more about the program on the IAC20 Scholarship Program page.

Meet MaShana Davis

MaShana (muh-shay-nuh) has been hugely helpful in both the curation of the conference and the scholarship program. Here are some words to introduce her:

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

CONTEXT and STRUCTURE–both very important concepts that are necessary for living in our society. Being able to turn someone’s grand ideas into a useful and usable product. Looking at the world with a different lens or eye.

What made you decide to volunteer for IAC?

Vanessa Foss! She just has a way of pulling you. No really, I’ve attended the IAC for many years now, and thought it was time for me to give back to the community that has given me so much—a great opportunity, invaluable resources, a wider network and community, access to experts, career advice, and so much knowledge.

What does the theme mean to you – what are you hoping to see, hear, sense or share in New Orleans?

IA is all about making sense of the world around us. Simplifying things and making them useful and usable within the context of our lives or moments within it. I’m hoping to gain a deeper understanding of how as a project manager I can help my team do their job better and to not just make cool digital products and spaces.

Where can people find you?

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashanadavis/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/alwaysmashana (really have to start using this thing…)

Meet Chiara Ogan

Chiara is helping to deliver the scholarship program for IAC20. As always, we want IAC to welcome new practitioners to the IA community. The IA Conference Scholarship is designed for students new to the field, and is open to individuals in the US as well as other countries. You can find out more in the Scholarship page. But first, meet Chiara.

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

Whenever I see a search interface that needs improvement or content that is begging to be structured I can’t help but get excited. So much of what IAs do is not sexy – it’s not overly visual with animations and wiz-bangs that draw the eye. But it’s so fundamentally important. I love when I can help a client understand the value and power in structuring their information.

There’s usually at least one person on the client team who’s eyes will light up when I start talking about controlled vocabularies and metadata schemas, which always feels great. I know I can help them take control of their information and do more with it.

What made you decide to volunteer for IAC?

The IA community are my peeps! I’ve found this community to be very supportive, caring, smart, and engaging. I always learn something and have interesting conversations with super awesome people. Some of those people have been friends for 20+ years now. I want to do my part to make sure that the IAC continues to be a place where people can come to learn, grow, have fun, and connect with their tribe. Volunteering is a great way to give back to a group that has given me so much.

What does the theme mean to you – what are you hoping to see, hear, sense or share in New Orleans?

To me, making sense of the world is fundamentally what IA is all about – helping to turn data and information into knowledge. It will be interesting to hear all the different interpretations in the various sessions and posters. Given that we will be in New Orleans, I’m definitely looking forward to sensing some great jazz and beignets.

Where can people find you?

I can usually in be found in San Francisco, covered in cat hair. I sometimes tweet at: https://twitter.com/chiaraogan and often post photos at https://www.instagram.com/chachicatt/.

Our closing keynote speaker is Christian Crumlish

We’re pleased to announce that our closing plenary speaker at IAC20 will be Christian Crumlish. Here co-chair Sandra Lloyd explains why we’re looking forward to hearing from Christian:

“I had the privilege of meeting Christian Crumlish when I assistant-taught the first-ever UX Design Immersive program at General Assembly in 2013. Christina Wodtke and Aynne Valencia brought in an all-star cast of guest speakers that year–including Christian. Although I was already familiar with his prowess as a speaker and author, I was bowled over by the thoughtful attention he brought to each student’s development, and how he made sure that they had opportunities after the course.

Christian has been there throughout the birth and development of information architecture as a leader, mentor, and an avid participant in our community. Not only does he talk the talk, but walks the walk as he continues to steer startups in usable and ethical directions, helping startups make sense of their customers and vice versa. He also has a lot of ukuleles which, thankfully, he knows how to play.

I’m excited to hear what Christian will have to say in April!”

Christian completes our lineup of keynote speakers, joining Abby Covert, Cassini Nasir, Mutale Nkonde and Regine Gilbert

Our ambition in curating the list of invited speakers at IAC20 was to build the foundation for a program of talented, creative, brilliant people to share their insights and experience. We wanted our keynotes to be a combination of established as well as emerging voices who have something to say on our theme of sense-making. We couldn’t be more proud of the lineup we’ve managed to assemble – and the main program is shaping up to be similarly strong. Over the next few weeks we’ll put the finishing touches to our program and continue to tell you about what we have planned.

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