Information architecture is more than wireframes. But we’re confined by the mindset that thinks IA is a box to check off on a project plan. A language of critique is going to help change this discourse. So what’s a language of critique for IA? And what’s wrong with whatever we’re using now?

1. THE GOOD,
THE BAD, AND
THE UGLY
a language of critique for
information architecture
Stacy Merrill Surla
@stacysurla
#UXDC2015

2. flickr.com/photos/286781189@N02

3. Practical
problems
Solutions to
problems
Scientific
problems
Practice
Science
Theories and
models
Philosophical
questions
Epistemology Paradigms
SOLUTIONSTHEORIESPARADIGMS
The M3 diagram

4. flickr.com/photos/thomashawk

5. SOLUTIONS
Practical problems Practice
Solutions to
problems
Scientific problems Science
Theories and
models
THEORIES
Philosophical
questions
Epistemology Paradigms
PARADIGMS
flickr.com/photos/peteker

6. flickr.com/photos/65924740@N00

7. SOLUTIONS
Practical problems Practice
Solutions to
problems
Scientific problems Science
Theories and
models
THEORIES
Philosophical
questions
Epistemology Paradigms
PARADIGMS
flickr.com/photos/mirasha

8. flickr.com/photos/thomas hawk

9. Stacy Surla

10. World Bank

11. Ewan McIntosh

12. flickr.com/photos/noodlefish

13. flickr.com/photos/ovi90

14. César Viteri Ramirez

15. Stephen Poff

16. compare new “ugly” to old
“beautiful”
flickr.com/photos/nevilleslens

17. flickr.com/photos/paarchives

18. Interactive exercise
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BGS5NY
W

19. Results
https://www.surveymonkey.com/analyze

20. Join the conversation
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Reframe
-IA-494524

21. References
Lacerda, Flavia and Mamede Lima-Marques, Information Architecture as a
Discipline — A Methodological Approach, in Reframing Information
Architecture, Springer International Publishing, 2014
Morricone, Ennio, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Ukulele Orchestra
of Great Britain
Resmini, Andrea, Reframing Information Architecture, ibid.
van Gigch, John P., System Design, Modeling and Metamodeling, Plenom
Press, 1991

22. Stacy Merrill Surla
stacy.surla@icfi.com
THANKS!
linkedin.com/groups/Reframe-IA-494524