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IAC: Information Architecture conference

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Submit a proposal for IAC23

Posted on 2022-09-15 02:04
IAC23 - IAC23 and Submissions

Important note: the IAC23 workshop and talk proposal window has ended, however you can submit poster proposals until January 27, 2023. Learn more about poster presentations or…

Submit a Poster Proposal

The first step to becoming a session speaker at IAC is to write a proposal for the talk or workshop you would like to conduct. These short descriptions help our curation team understand the topics you are planning to share with the community and allow us to put together a dynamic and diverse program for conference attendees. (Posters submissions are managed through a similar, but separate process). We encourage submissions from all and look forward to hearing from the diverse communities working with and architecting information environments today.

What we look for

IAC23 will examine how our industry, organizations, institutions and personal work deal with change. Learn more about the IAC23 theme, Change & Resilience.

We appreciate submissions that fit the conference theme, and topics that will engage our community. Common topics from years past have included: 

  • Approaches for modeling large-scale information environments
  • Best (as well as ethical and socially responsible) practices for IA
  • Bridging academia research and real-world practice
  • Connecting information architecture with related fields and domains
  • IA at scale (from small engagements to the enterprise)
  • IA tenets (revisiting classic tenets and exploring new ones)
  • Relevant case studies

Deadlines

IAC23 workshop and session proposals were due by Sunday, October 30, 2022, AOE (UTC-12). UPDATE: Workshop and session proposals are now closed.

Poster session proposals are due by Friday, January 27, 2023, AOE (UTC-12).

Note: once again we are using START/SoftConf to manage proposal submissions (the application is not accessible – please contact us if you encounter issues). For your convenience, you can download this IAC23 Workshop & Session Proposal Form Template to use when composing your proposal(s); it matches the START/SoftConf form.

Proposal types

Curation for IAC involves two types of content – workshops and sessions. Workshops occur prior to the main conference and give you a chance to present over either a half or full day. Conference sessions are presentations of various lengths from short lightning talks to full 45 minute presentations, and include poster presentations.

Workshop and session submissions undergo a peer review process before final selections are made by the curation team. Poster submissions are reviewed and selected by the Poster Session director. All proposals, workshops, sessions, and posters, all fall under the auspices of the IAC Code of Conduct.

Workshops

  • Half day workshop: offer a four-hour time slot for participants to learn, practice, and grow.
  • Full day workshop: ideal for in depth topics and for allowing plenty of time for attendees to get hands on with a subject.

When developing half- or full-day workshops, be sure to factor in time for breaks. Also consider shareable materials which can be made available to attendees either before or after your session.

Workshop Benefits

Workshop facilitators enter into an equal partnership with the conference and share 50% of workshop income once it reaches the break even point. They also receive main conference registration at the lowest rate (approximately 40% off standard registration). 

UPDATE: Workshop proposals are now closed.

Sessions

  • 7-minute lightning talk: Ideal for a topical overview or summarizing a key facet of an idea. These talks spark conversation.
  • 20-minute session: Ideal for big ideas in a concise form, delve into a topic or explore the boundaries of emerging trends.
  • 45-minute session: Ideal for complex ideas that need extra examples or details to be understood, or for sessions with multiple presenters. Reframe material and ask deeper questions, explore a framework, or invite participation as part of a roundtable.

Session Benefits

Selected 7-minute lightning talk presenters receive a $100 discount off main conference registration.

Selected 20-minute and 45-minute session presenters receive:

  • Free main conference registration 
  • 1 complementary night at the conference hotel during the main conference
  • $150 per session

UPDATE: Workshop proposals are now closed.

Poster presentations

The Poster Session is a long time tradition at IAC. Posters are shared in a common space during an extended session. IAC attendees visit individual posters and chat with their creators. Posters and the Poster Session are great for getting to know the community, especially for first-time presenters. Assume that you’ll be giving repeated short introductions and also engaging in natural conversations about your topic.

Note: poster submissions are handled through a separate proposal form and curation process.

Poster Benefits

Selected poster presenters receive a $100 discount off the main conference registration.

Submit a Poster Proposal

Resources for writing a great proposal

The following is a tried and true list of external resources to help create a great proposal: