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We believe information architecture matters

As users of information, we are overwhelmed. Bombarded. Glutted. We're downright annoyed. We are looking to find our way through information.

As information architects, we act. We think like user advocates. We focus on user accomplishment. We help clients and students structure information cognitively and graphically to achieve their purposes. We teach possibility.

What is possibility?

Possibility is performance. We believe you can visit a Web or Intranet site, find the information you need, and get on with the rest of your life. We believe information can be structured so you can do something with it.

Possibility is presentation. We believe it's possible to present technical information so users can see the structure, make sense of documents, and act on them. We believe that not only can merged text and graphics grab attention, but also improve understanding.

Possibility is understanding. We believe it's possible to dig deeply into information and understand its purpose and its meaning. We believe it's possible to envision complex information. As teachers, we believe we can share the breadth of information architecture so that others can take it and use it.

Possibility is action. We believe it makes no sense to say, "we've always done it this way." We recognize that our organizations are constrained by people and politics. But we believe the question, "what do users want to do with the information?" can help us find new solutions to make information clearer and more understandable.