KEITH INSTONE
Closing the Research-Practice Gap
NOW IS THE TIME
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 2 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Samantha's Topic of the Week: IA Gaps in UX Books
Rex Hartson...Professor...Computer Science...
HCI... usability engineering
Pardha Pyla...Senior Interaction Designer...
researcher...software engineering...Computer
Engineering and Computer Science
“We are not aware of any other book, research
or applied, that has the extensive coverage that
we have of user experience specifications, used
to set operational goals for user experience,
including usability.”
“No other HCI product and process book has
the ready-to-use supplementary materials that
offer such a low barrier for new instructors to
pick up this material and teach a UE/UX course
like a pro.”
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 3 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
The Gap Between Researchers (Academia) & Practitioners
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 4 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Very hard for 1 person to be on both sides of the chasm
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 5 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
There is also a Theory & Practice Gap
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 6 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Researchers & Practitioners are not hanging out together
IA Summit ASIS&T Annual Meeting
Attendees Attendees
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 7 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
What is “IA research”? Who cares, since we are making $?
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 8 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Research “Moon” and Earthquake-ridden Practice “Earth”
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 9 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Those poor Students are forced to Bridge the Gap
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 10 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Not unique to IA: UX, too. And Research/Industry overall
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 11 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Do it as part of the Reframing IA process
Technological, economic, social, and cultural
elements of change have thoroughly
transformed the scenario in which information
architecture operated in the late 1990s, and a
reframing is necessary to move the
conversation forward, consolidate intuitions
into discipline, and help establish a common
language and grammar for both practice and
research in the field.
to identify new directions of research which might advance
both the theory and practice of information architecture
to continue bridging research and practice in the field of
information architecture
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 12 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Opportunity to “do it right” for long-term value
How to close the gap
(not just bridge it)?
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 13 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
I care more about the Process of Reframing (than the frames)
Writing papers
+ Talking (amongst ourselves)
+ NOTHING ELSE
= FAIL
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 14 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Treat Reframing IA as a “Design Problem”
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE

Slide 15 Keith Instone: Closing the Research-Practice Gap
Approach it as an “Organizational Change” challenge
REFRAMING INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
A ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP AT THE IA SUMMIT 2013 - BALTIMORE