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<div id="sxn-title"><h1>Information Architecture Institute > About Us</h1></div>
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<h2><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/">Events Calendar</a></h2>
<p>April 17, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/001419.php#001419">ASI 2013 Annual Conference</a></h3><br />
<p>April 18, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/001413.php#001413">TOGAF 9 and ArchiMate Foundation</a></h3><br />
<p>April 22, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/001423.php#001423">WebVisions Portland</a></h3><br />
<p>May 15, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/001395.php#001395">UX-LX: User Experience Lisbon</a></h3><br />
<p>May 16, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/001424.php#001424">TOGAF 9.1 and ArchiMate Foundation</a></h3><br />
<p>July 09, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/001420.php#001420">UXPA Conference DC 2013</a></h3><br />
<p>[<a href="http://iainstitute.org/calendar/">more events</a>]</p>
<h2><a href="http://iainstitute.org/news/">News</a></h2>
<p>April 13, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/news/001425.php#001425">2012 IA Institute Annual Report Released</a></h3><br />
<p>March 22, 2013<br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/news/001421.php#001421">IA Institute Newsletter #8.02 2013</a></h3><br />
<h3><a href="http://iainstitute.org/news/001418.php#001418">Announcing the 2013 Annual Members Meeting</a></h3><br />
<p>[<a href="http://iainstitute.org/news/">more news</a>]</p>
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<h1>About the Information Architecture Institute</h1>
<p>The Information Architecture Institute is a 501(c)6 professional organization, operated by a dedicated, multi-national group of people who are dedicated to promoting the concept, craft and community of information architecture.</p>
<p>We live in exciting times. As the information age rolls forward, our businesses, markets and societies are being transformed into adaptive, connected networks. The Internet of today only hints at the ubiquitous communication infrastructure of tomorrow. The construction of this brave new world requires a new kind of architecture, focused on digital structures of information and software rather than physical structures of bricks and mortar. As we spend more time working and playing in these shared information spaces, people will need and demand better search, navigation and collaboration systems. </p>
<p>Volunteering our own resources, we aspire to collaborate within our community and build bridges to related disciplines and organizations. We invite you to join us in advancing the state of information architecture through research, education, advocacy and community service.</p>
<p><strong>The IA Institute Framework</strong></p>
<p><img alt="Final framework" width="447" src="http://iainstitute.org/news/img/iai-postcard-recto.png" style="margin: 3em auto; align:center; display: block; width: 447;"></p>
<p>We aim to facilitate the following relationships and the people and groups they serve:</p>
<ul>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Mentors/Institutions and Apprentices/Students</b><br />
This is the relationship of induction, education, training and professional development. It is about bringing people into the practice of information architecture and strengthening their acumen.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Researchers and Practitioners</b><br />
This is the relationship of reconciling theory with practice. It is about getting important research out into the field, as well as getting feedback from the field about which research is important.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Project Teams and Volunteers</b><br />
This is the relationship of service. It is about providing the infrastructure for motivated people, whose time we recognize as valuable, to perform effectively and achieve results in the endeavours of the organization.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Vendors and Customers</b><br />
This is the relationship of commerce. It is about enabling our members to trade the products and services that make them more effective at the practice of information architecture.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Workers/Consultants and Employers/Clients</b><br />
This is the relationship of work. It is about connecting information architects with the projects and organizations that make their skills useful to the outside world.</li>
</ul>
<p>In addition to these mediating relationships, there are the relationships the Institute itself forges directly:</p>
<ul>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Business Decision-Makers</b><br />
This is the relationship of outreach. It is about explaining to business leaders the value of information architecture and how it fits into their organizations.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Other Organizations</b><br />
This is the relationship of alliance. It is about adding further definition to the Institute by situating it among a broader community of similar, but different organizations.</li>
</ul>
<p>Read our <a href="http://iainstitute.org/en/about/annual-report/annual_report_2010.php">Annual Report (2010)</a> (PDF) to find out what we accomplished in our eighth year of operation.</p>
<p>Read our latest <a href="http://iainstitute.org/minutes/">Meeting Minutes from the Board of Directors</a> for up to date news on the Institute's activity.</p>
<div class="col-a">
<h3>Spotlight on our <a href="/en/about/people/people.php">People</a></h3>
<p><strong>Chris Baum</strong></p>
<p>San Francisco, CA, USA</p>
<p><img src="http://iainstitute.org/en/img/election/2011-cbaum.jpg" alt="Chris Baum photo" style="border: none; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;"></p>
<p>My 14-year career in IA and UX Design would not be half of what it is without
the IA community and the IAI. While I am not the most active participant in the
online space, I am an active member of the community as a long-time mentor and
the Editor-in-Chief of Boxes & Arrows.</p>
<p>I am currently a freelance design consultant, after many years as Designer
and Product Manager for companies large and small. My projects ask me to act in
several capacities, from Senior UX Designer to Creative Lead to Mentor of
internal teams. In my work, I promote the wise use of technology through the
thoughtful design of systems and questioning the impetus to adopt ever more
tools.</p>
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<h3>Spotlight on our <a href="/en/about/partners.php">Partners</a></h3>
<p><a href="" onclick="window.open('http://iat.ubalt.edu/idia/')"><img src="/img/partners/infoarts_baltimore.gif" ALT="University of Baltimore" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>The <a href="" onclick="window.open('http://iat.ubalt.edu/idia/')">University of Baltimore School of Information Arts and Technologies</a> offers an M.S. in Interaction Design and Information Architecture. We are excited to be collaborating on the <a href="http://aifia.org/en/learn/education/ia_curriculum.php">Education Curriculum</a> initiative.</p>
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