Writing

My first book ‘How to Make Sense of Any Mess‘ demystified information architecture and is regarded as a must read for those working in design and technology. My second book, STUCK? Diagrams Help is a field guide for the trek from diagram novice to diagram nerd, it has already helped thousands of sensemakers to make more effective diagrams. This website has everything else I have written on information architecture, sensemaking, making sense of myself, and diagramming.

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Return on Investment

    The difference between good sensemaking and great sensemaking isn’t just about having the right answer. It’s about understanding what return you’re getting from the time, energy, and resources you put into making sense of complex problems. This article covers: What is Return on Investment in Sensemaking? Return on Investment (ROI) in sensemaking is the measurable…

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Arguing

    You know that moment when you have a brilliant idea for fixing something that’s clearly broken, but then you realize the hard part isn’t figuring out the solution—it’s getting everyone else to see it too? Welcome to the real work of sensemaking. The messy, human part where good ideas go to die unless you know…

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Taxonomies

    Let’s cut to the chase: taxonomy is one of those words that makes people’s eyes glaze over. But here’s the thing, you’re already doing it whether you know it or not. Every time you organize your photos into folders, sort your emails, or decide which drawer the kitchen scissors belong in, you’re creating a taxonomy….

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Metadata

    Metadata is everywhere. It’s the invisible backbone that makes our digital world work. Yet most people treat it like an afterthought—slapping on tags and labels without much care. That’s a mistake. Good metadata can transform chaos into clarity. Bad metadata makes everything harder to find, use, and understand. This article covers what metadata actually is,…

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Controlled Vocabularies

    At its core, a controlled vocabulary helps groups of people speak the same language, even when they come from different backgrounds or departments. It’s the difference between talking past each other and truly connecting.

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Stakeholders

    If I had a nickel for every time someone told me their information architecture project failed because “the stakeholders just didn’t get it,” I’d have enough money to buy everyone reading this a coffee. Here’s the truth that nobody tells you when you’re learning about IA: the best structure in the world won’t survive contact…

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Heuristics

    Picture this: You’re standing in front of a mess that needs making sense of. Maybe it’s a product that’s grown too complex, a process that’s gotten unwieldy, or a team that’s lost its way. You know something needs to change, but where do you even start? Enter heuristics – your trusty flashlight in the dark….

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Measurement

    How to measure what truly matters in IA work – from team dynamics to real organizational change. Skip the spreadsheet gymnastics and learn how to track impact that actually matters.

  • The Sensemaker’s Guide to Auditing

    A comprehensive guide to auditing information environments that combines practical instruction with strategic insights about power, politics, and process.

  • Information Architecture in Practice

    In 2025, I aim to collaboratively develop an Information Architecture curriculum through discussions, workshops, and shared learning experiences.

  • Incentive Architecture

    Incentive alignment is a key to effective management and leads to successful collaboration and project outcomes.

  • Hyperlink Hygiene

    Information architecture considerations and strategies for determining, maintaining, and redirecting hyperlinks.

  • IA for Marketing

    Examining eight reasons that marketing campaigns fail, and how being thoughtful about information architecture can help.

  • Sitemaps for Beginners

    Sitemaps are a core deliverable often associated with the practice of information architecture (IA). This article covers the basics.

  • Five Superpowers of Diagrams

    When are diagrams and diagramming our most helpful tool? And what superpowers do diagrams hold to help when we feel stuck?

  • Researching Diagrams

    An interview with taxonomist and librarian, Jenny Benevento, about the historical and cultural context of diagrams and diagramming.

  • Really…Any Mess?

    My advice for making sense of the four types of messes people told me about on World IA Day when I asked: “What is a mess you wish you could make sense of?”  

  • World IA Day Curious?

    The one in which I implore you to give either time or money to the World Information Architecture Day.

  • I choose me.

    The story of why I went in-house, what happened to make me leave and what’s next for me.

  • The IA Element of Everything

    Challenging the current state of the IA field to consider the ramifications of not standing up for our own label.

  • How to Set IA Up to Fail

    Understanding the right environment and support structures for information architecture practices to be successful

  • Change is Good

    Sometimes you have to step away from the comfortable and start something new.

  • Clarity in Mark Making

    Pondering the difference between the art part and the science part of information architecture

  • Information is made of people

    Information Architecture is more than understanding our mess and our users, but also our co-workers, clients, and partners.

  • Architects Everywhere

    The one where I try to convince each and every one of you that information architecture is a critical life skill that you already use in your work and play everyday

  • Let them go

    You can’t please everyone, it’s actually impossible. But sometimes we can’t help but be bogged down by opinions that don’t matter.

  • Just Critical Thinking

    The way we use language is important. The words we chose can change the way we feel about our work.

  • Goodbye, Confusion

    In the year that How to Make Sense of Any Mess has been on sale, I’ve been up to a lot of exciting things.

  • What we need is a barn raising.

    The IAI needs help, its library is lacking. We need to come together as a community to help bring this resource to its fullest potential.

  • Diagram Critique BINGO

    The one in which I create a game to get my students to critique each other’s diagrams

  • This is the work.

    The work isn’t just about the product, it’s also the process. The work you do, the questions you answer, and the problems you solve.

  • Prioritization is deciding.

    We never know what life will throw at us, so making key decisions up-front about how you will prioritize can save time down the road.

  • What’s Hard?

    We all have to ask hard questions about our work – being a teacher is no exception.

  • How I made sense of my mess

    IA is so much more than web navigation – information is everywhere! I just had to figure out how to talk about it.

  • EuroIA 2014 Keynote

    The following was delivered as the closing plenary address at the European Information Architecture Summit in Brussels, Belgium on September 27, 2014.  — I was asked here today to reflect on the past ten years of our practice in the field of information architecture. It is my opinion however that to only go back that far…

  • Selling Information Architecture

    We shouldn’t have to sell IA, but we need people to understand its importance and the importance of it being done correctly.

  • The Making of the IA Summit 2014

    As a committee chair for the 2014 IA Summit, I decided to give the conference a 15-year birthday present. A bunch of data about it’s growth!

  • Permission Granted

    I’ve been practicing as an IA for ten years. A whole decade! Here’s the story of my time in the IA world.

  • Frequently Asked IA Questions

    Information Architecture can be a complex idea to grasp, but there are a few questions that people always tend to ask.

  • On Terror

    Terror happens. But when it does, admitting what is real, getting a good night’s sleep and making new plans forward are tools that help.

  • Establish Interactions

    Breaking projects down into manageable tasks can make them feel less daunting. Here are some tips to help avoid procrastination.

  • On Taxonomy

    Having structure is important. It can help us see a clear path forward or organize our messiest thoughts.

  • What do we mean?

    We can’t make things that make sense to everyone, it’s impossible, but we can break down to establish an understandable meaning.

  • Confront Reality

    At some point, you have to move from thinking to doing, but this move can come with a lot of emotions that can create hesitation.

  • On Resolution

    The process of balancing resolution with fidelity is a dance every designer does as they move through their process.

  • On Fidelity

    We just can’t just focus on where we are in a project, we also have to remember where we are going.

  • The Doldrums between Why and What

    Clarity doesn’t always equal ease. Sometimes knowing and understanding your goals opens the flood gates of possibilities to reach those goals.

  • “Make Something”

    Communication is key, but if that communication doesn’t come across the way you intended your audience may be prepared for a different conversation.

  • Are you afraid of the light?

    It can be scary to step into a new space or take on a new challenge. There’s no way of knowing what will happen when you turn on the lights.

  • Teaching Information Architecture

    What does it mean to create and take on a brand new Information Architecture course? Well, a lot, but it’s incredibly exciting.

  • My IA Heuristics Journey

    A brief and simple introduction to systems thinking for those working in creative services and advertising.

  • Advice from the Void

    You can’t just wait for it to happen. Sometimes you have to create the opportunity for yourself.

  • Dear dream job, I quit.

    Sometimes to reach our goals we have to make huge changes, we have to take leaps and leave behind some comfort.

  • Design Systems, Not Stuff

    A brief and simple introduction to systems thinking for those working in creative services and advertising.

  • Designing my Portfolio

    Sharing the process of developing my own portfolio with a focus on lessons I have for others doing the same.

  • Design with, not for.

    Social media has opened a lot of doors, unexpectedly, it’s opened a door allowing advertisers and consumers to create together.

  • Do unto others’ data…

    We have to be respectful of consumer’s data. Everyone knows their data is being collected at every turn, but it should be handled better.

  • Dear Peter,

    The UX community is helpful by nature. It only makes sense that Advertisement and UX go hand-in-hand.

  • Talk About Expectations

    To break into “digital” brands can’t be blinded by the shiny new possibilities, they have to manage the expectations of their audiences first.

  • The new Ad process

    User Experience and Advertising might seem to some as opposite ends of a spectrum, but in this article I posit we are more alike than not and benefit from each other’s strengths.

  • Killing the Slash

    As a new manager building a team I share my thoughts on choosing a job title and the important of making a choice rather than not making one.

Topic

Agency IA Collaboration in IA Content and Meaning Controlled Vocabulary IA Community Intention and Goal Setting Language Life Update Mapping and Diagramming Navigation and Taxonomy New to IA SVA Teaching IA Worksheet World IA Day Keynotes

A book about information architecture for everybody.

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