Mark your calendars! World Information Architecture (IA) Day 2021 returns for the tenth year on February 27, 2021 for a one-day celebration.
With the COVID pandemic, this year’s events have gone virtual.
Which means you can participate in World IA Day events around the world.
What a great opportunity to learn about information architecture!
As of today, February 8, 2021, 45 World IA Day 2021 events are planned around the world in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Locally, an Ann Arbor event will be held Saturday, February 27, 2021.
Organized by School of Information students at the University of Michigan, details for World IA Day Ann Arbor will be published soon.
This year’s theme: Curiosity.
What is World IA Day?
Launched in 2012, the first World IA Day was held in 14 cities around the world in celebration of the 14th anniversary of the polar bear book, Information Architecture for the World Wide Web.
Originally organized as part of the Information Architecture Institute, World IA Day is now a nonprofit organization focused on providing
the foundation for learning about information architecture
which involves organizing, structuring, and labeling information in a useful manner for everyone.
On World IA Day, local organizers host events focused on learning, sharing, and discussing information architecture.
The event is inclusive.
Everyone is invited, not only people who design, develop, architect, or manage information.
I was thrilled to attend the first World IA Day in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2021.
More than 150 people attended, including designers, developers, information architects, content strategists, and community members.
Personally, I love that World IA Days are locally produced, with an invitation for the community to participate, beyond the business and design people who typically attend these events.
The conversations are open.
In the more than a dozen World IA Day events I’ve attended in person and virtually over the past 10 years, I’ve enjoyed the learning, teaching, and sharing aspect of the events.
Register for an Event
World IA Day 2021 events range from talks to workshops to panel discussions as well as networking, all virtual.
In some cities, volunteers are still needed to help plan the event. If you’re interested, volunteer!
Most World IA Day 2021 events are free, but not all. Some events require online registration.
I’ve registered for the World IA Day Bristol event, which features a panel discussion, lightning talks, and virtual networking.
Once World IA Day Ann Arbor publishes their info, I plan to attend their event as well (since it’s an evening event).
Wrapping Up
I hope you’ll join others on Saturday, February 27, 2021 for World IA Day 2021.
With the number of virtual events around the world, you have a great opportunity to learn how information architecture is fundamental to the work we do in design, technology, architecture, and business.
