! 
understanding 
!information architecture 
Presented at Beyond The Edge 2014 by Dan Klyn
2
1998 
2002 
2006
2000 
2002
http://www.kickerstudio.com/2008/12/the-disciplines-of-user-experience/
7.1a Store Locator 
Search Results 
no 
no 
7.1b Store Locator 
Search - No Results 
10.0 Email Sign-Up 
yes 
7.0 Store Locator 
Search 
8.7 More In Stores 
no 
Valid Entry? Matched 
Location(s)? yes 
Valid Entry? 
yes 
10.0.1 Email Sign-Up 
Confirmation 
7.2 Store Detail
THE DESIGN OF 
LARGE SCALE 
WEBSITES 
Information Architecture for the WWWW, 1998 - 2006
ORGANIZING THE INFO 
IN THE WEBSITE 
“DOING THE NAVIGATION” 
Lots of people, 1998 - 2010
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY 
OF MEANING 
ACROSS CONTEXTS 
Jorge Arango, 2013
WHERE IS THE INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE?
KLYN’S MODEL® 
FOR UNDERSTANDING 
THE INFORMATION 
ARCHITECTURE " 
OF ANYTHING
Ontology! 
Particular meaning. 
! 
Taxonomy! 
Arrangement of the parts. 
! 
Choreography! 
Rules for interaction among the parts. 
!
ANY ARCHITECTURE MAY BE 
DESCRIBED AS A SITUATED 
ONTOLOGY 
- Me (Just Now)
Image pilfered from @inkblurt’s tweetstream
particularly 
^ 
A SITUATED ONTOLOGY 
“Fish In The World” 
“Fish To Certain Roman Catholics In A Particular Region”
WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY PANTS?
WHAT DO WE SAY WHEN WE MEAN UNDERWEAR?
ONTOLOGY: WHAT DO WE MEAN BY APP STORE?
…HOW ABOUT HERE?
First, the taking in of scattered particulars 
under one Idea, so that everyone 
understands what is being talked about. 
! 
Second, the separation of the Idea into 
parts, by dividing it at the joints, 
as nature directs, not breaking any limb 
in half as a bad carver might. 
! 
-- Plato, Phaedrus 
(Notes on the Synthesis of Form by C. Alexander)
Ontology! 
Particular meaning. 
! 
Taxonomy! 
Arrangement of the parts. 
! 
Choreography! 
Rules for interaction among the parts. 
!
The process or system of describing the way in 
which different living things are related 
by putting them in groups.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emperley3/204872172/in/photolist-7AJhEB-8bGXNF-j72mQ-j72pR/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewedistrict/23110406/
http://abbytheIA.com
TAXONOMY: ARRANGING MEANING IN CONTEXT
TAXONOMY: ARRANGING MEANING IN CONTEXT
ONTOLOGY / TAXONOMY TANGO 
INTEGRITY OF MEANING ACROSS CONTEXTS 
Labels 
Connections
TAXONOMY: ARRANGING MEANING ACROSS CONTEXTS
Ontology! 
Particular meaning. 
! 
Taxonomy! 
Arrangement of the parts. 
! 
Choreography! 
Rules for interaction among the parts. 
!
Ontology 
Arrangement 
of the parts. 
Particular 
meaning.! 
Rules for interaction 
among the 
parts.! Choreography
?

Understanding Information Architecture