“The Inviting Dark: Thinking About Information Architecture In Physical Space”

Session Summary

As information architects, we face an exciting unknown as our work transitions from mostly digital environments to spaces that weave digital information into physical space. Is this new domain that unknown? What lessons can we learn from retail, housing complexes, malls, gardens, museums, and theme parks? Whether you work on internet of things projects or more holistic service design, this session will look at concrete takeaways and big picture concepts where you can draw inspiration as you forge boldly forward.

Session Takeaways

• Circulation of people matters in physical space (unlike digital space), because physical space has a capacity. Museums, gardens, retail, and themeparks have layouts and psychological techniques to encourage movement through space.
• Consider transitions in your information architecture and inventories—transitions between devices, between people and devices, and between contexts, whether places, privacy levels, tasks, and so on. Being seamful in your transitions between contexts helps people be more productive at what they intend to do in your space.
• Humans have more than five senses, and we can curate stimuli for other senses to enhance the experience while increasing accessibility.

Jason Alderman – @justsomeguy

Jason Alderman is an experience designer (and jack-of-all-trades) at Cloud Chamber, working on tremendously fun interactive technology projects with the 17 museums of Balboa Park, in collaboration with the Balboa Park Online Collaborative.