we  are  all  leonardo  now

summit  di  archite1ura  dell’informazione  2011

chris&an  crumlish

@mediajunkie  |  AOL

you  may  think  I  am  talking  about  this  guy

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  we  could  definitely  have  fun  with  that

and  I  also  could  have  meant  this  guy

and  I  also  could  have  meant  this  guy

and  I  also  could  have  meant  this  guy

and  I  also  could  have  meant  this  guy

not that leonardo either

actually  I  mean  this  guy

but  not...

but  not...

but  not...

but  not...

but  not...

but  this  guy,  the  architect  of  dreams

this  is  not  a  metaphor

this  is  not  a  metaphor

this  is  not  a  metaphor

this  is  not  a  metaphor

this  is  not  a  metaphor

this  is  not  a  metaphor

it’s  ok  to  learn  from  movies,  stories,  science  ficFon

it’s  ok  to  learn  from  movies,  stories,  science  ficFon

it’s  ok  to  learn  from  movies,  stories,  science  ficFon

it’s  ok  to  learn  from  movies,  stories,  science  ficFon

it’s  ok  to  learn  from  movies,  stories,  science  ficFon

what  does  he  do?he  designs  imaginary  landscapes  with  structures  and  puzzles  and  rules  that  uFlize  our  exisFng  mental  constructs  to  do  with  Fme,  space,  place,  idenFty,  and  so  on,  but  he  is  also  able  to  break  those  rules  in  "magical"  ways

those  endless  stairs,  how  do  they  work?

those  endless  stairs,  how  do  they  work?

those  endless  stairs,  how  do  they  work?

btw,  the  architect  meme  is  popular

btw,  the  architect  meme  is  popular

btw,  the  architect  meme  is  popular

btw,  the  architect  meme  is  popular

btw,  the  architect  meme  is  popular

flashback

what does an information architect do?

1. maps meaning

wurman  does  it

wurman  does  it

wurman  does  it

da  vinci  did  it

da  vinci  did  it

da  vinci  did  it

da  vinci  did  it

da  vinci  did  it

da  vinci  did  it

or...  data  viz,  vizthink,  info  design

Photo by jhritz

trying  to  explain  incepFon

trying  to  explain  incepFon

trying  to  explain  incepFon

trying  to  explain  incepFon

trying  to  explain  incepFon

me,  I  do  this

me,  I  do  this

me,  I  do  this

me,  I  do  this

2. organizes information

“classic”  web  IAorganizaFonal  schemes  (including  but  not  limited  to  navigaFon)

yes,  wireframes  and  sitemaps

MAYA’s  concept  of  the  middle  layer  between  interacFon  and  data

technical,  digital,  soQware  involved

“classic”  web  IAorganizaFonal  schemes  (including  but  not  limited  to  navigaFon)

yes,  wireframes  and  sitemaps

MAYA’s  concept  of  the  middle  layer  between  interacFon  and  data

technical,  digital,  soQware  involved

the  social  pa1erns  taxonomy

the  social  pa1erns  taxonomy

the  social  pa1erns  taxonomy

I  do  a  lot  of  this  too,  and  have  done  since  the  web

I  do  a  lot  of  this  too,  and  have  done  since  the  web

I  do  a  lot  of  this  too,  and  have  done  since  the  web

I  do  a  lot  of  this  too,  and  have  done  since  the  web

I  do  a  lot  of  this  too,  and  have  done  since  the  web

I  do  a  lot  of  this  too,  and  have  done  since  the  web

3. designs multidimensional hyperconnected conceptual spaces

call  it  pervasive  IA  if  you  likecross-‐channel  

“real”  (built)  architecture  &  wayfinding

rule  making

game  design

space  as  metaphor,  mental  construct,  

and  means  of  understanding  the  world

call  it  pervasive  IA  if  you  likecross-‐channel  

“real”  (built)  architecture  &  wayfinding

rule  making

game  design

space  as  metaphor,  mental  construct,  

and  means  of  understanding  the  world

this  is  how  you  use  the  social  design  pa1erns  set  of  rules  for  designing  social  spaces

much  like  an  architect  or  urban  planner

people  finish  the  job  (if  you’re  good)

christopher  alexander

isn’t  this  what  they  are  doing  in  incepFon?

that  word  “meaning”  againRecently,  I  was  invited  to  work  on  Patch’s  social  strategy.

I  wanted  to  know  what  the  social  objects  were...

but  first  I  asked:

What  is  Patch  for?  

What  does  it  do?

What  is  its  point?

What  does  it  mean  to  people?  

What  does  it  say?

are these three ideas of information architecture really different?

I  don’t  think  so...

but  what  do  you  think?

thank  you