Dan Klyn

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Check out Dan’s blog as he works on the biography of Richard Saul Wurman →

IA Theory ↓

Featured

Explaining Information Architecture

In this four-minute video, Explaining IA, Dan Klyn gives a brief history of the field of Information Architecture beginning with Richard Saul Wurman.

A $10 Differentiation Between Architecture and Design

Your project is a cloth. Architecture makes cuts. Design makes the resulting pieces the best ones possible, solving problems toward a goal.

Teaching IA by Learning about Architecture

Dan Klyn is a practicing information architect, and teaches Information Architecture (IA) at the University of Michigan's School of Information.

Information-Architecture-with-scrabble-tiles-300x169.jpg

Information Architecture and Interaction Design

Part of a conversation between Dan Klyn and Matt Nish-Lapidus about how information architecture and interaction design are inseparable and inter-essential.

IA Practice ↓

Featured

The Three Laws of Good Roadmapping

The idea of a road map is pretty fuzzy. People typically see them as a project plan or a project charter, but we see them a little differently. For us, road maps are a tool that defines “what we are building, in what order, and what we need to build it”.

Roman map scroll with detail of the journey start.jpg

Three Guidelines For Making Useful Taxonomies

A truly good taxonomy DOES THINGS and is needed to DO THINGS. In other words, most taxonomies should be created for practical, specific use, like finding a book, describing a series of technical standards, or organizing an e-commerce clothing store.

We're going to share the three major steps for making useful taxonomies that help us map out the world. They are:

Be Necessary and Sufficient
Have a Purpose
Plan for Change.

Reimagining Collaboration: A Playful Approach to Facilitating our In/Tension Workshop

In our recent experiment with our In/Tension Modeling workshop, TUG introduced an innovative approach by incorporating toy wooden blocks, transforming the traditional alignment sessions into more engaging and interactive experiences. This method significantly increased participation and enriched discussions, allowing stakeholders to visualize strategic tensions and outcomes more effectively. The experiment underscores the importance of integrating fun and playful elements into workshops to foster creativity, collaboration, and a deeper understanding among participants, offering valuable insights to enhance any workshop session.

Applying a Service Design Lens to Information Architecture Practice

Travis delves into the integration of Service Design principles into Information Architecture practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding organizational needs and overcoming departmental barriers. Service Blueprints emerge as a pivotal tool, expanding on customer journey flows to include organizational actions, both visible and behind-the-scenes. However, the article also raises concerns about the potential misuse of such blueprints as mere buzzwords without grasping their true essence. Drawing inspiration from Lou Downe's "Good Services," the piece underscores the significance of clear intent, user-centric design principles, and the need for sustainable governance. The overarching message is the continuous evolution and adaptability of service design, emphasizing collaboration, feedback, and preparedness for inevitable service failures.

Dan Klyn is co-founder of The Understanding Group, teaches information architecture at the University of Michigan School of Information, and has been a member of the scientific advisory board and teaching faculty of Building Beauty since its founding in 2017.

Dan teaches courses and workshops in-person and over Zoom, and his research is focused on something he calls “the spatiality of meaning.” Klyn’s work has been published most recently in the edited volumes Advances in Information Architecture (2021) and Reframing Information Architecture (2013).

In April 2018, he completed a two-year term as President of the of The Information Architecture Institute.

For Dan’s most recent addition to TUG, check out the Intro to Information Architecture course.

Before COVID-19, Klyn flew around all over the place to do client work, and to give presentations at conferences. Wherever he goes, he studies the built environment for evidence of good fit, and likes to take pictures.

Dan Klyn

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