Makesensemess

An annual celebration of sensemaking.

Makesensemess is a day when we sensemakers celebrate the messes we have made sense of over the past year.

It also happens to be celebrated annually on the publication anniversary of How to Make Sense of Any Mess.

Each year, I give a short talk and coach a selected number of sensemakers to tell short stories of real messes. I have now coached 20 sensemakers through this process, some of whom were taking on their first public speaking assignment. I recruit Brave Sensemakers every September, and work with each individually in the 8 weeks leading up to the event.

Makesensemess began as a party for an author-led bookclub I put together to celebrate the 7th anniversary of How to Make Sense of Any Mess (and my decision to pursue writing full time.)

That year, 2021, three brave sensemakers joined me to share their messes. From societal shifts to deeply personal projects, their stories illuminated a common thread: the transformative power of information architecture to bring clarity to chaos.

In 2022, Makesensemess officially became an annual event, expanding with five brave sensemakers who shared diagrams that helped them navigate their own complex challenges. This year also marked the introduction of our first keynote speaker, Stephen Anderson, whose insights set a new standard for the event.

In 2023, Dave Gray joined as keynote speaker, inspiring us with his unique approach to sensemaking, and we added a closing keynote for Alfi Oloo, our first Sensemaker in Residence, who enriched the event with his thoughtful contributions and perspective on peership and personal development.

The 2024 event, themed Change Takes Time, featured Erin Malone as keynote speaker, emphasizing the importance of patience and persistence in navigating change. I worked with five brave sensemakers and Clair Rock, our 2024 Sensemaker in Residence, brought their unique insights, helping attendees explore how language changes over time.

This event has become a jewel in my (and hundreds of other nerds’) annual calendar.

To stay connected with my events with The Sensemakers Club and hear about future themes and lineups for Makesensemess, be sure to sign up for my monthly email updates.

First Friday of November. Save the Date. Tell your friends. Especially the nerdy ones.

p.s Sensemakers meet for a new peer-led discussion every weekday at The Sensemakers Club, including my information architecture office hours every first Friday. If you are looking for a community to grow in , check out what we are building.