How to Make Sense of Any Mess: Information Architecture for Everybody

A well-defined goal has the following elements: Intent: What are the specific results you want to see for your efforts? Baseline: What points of reference can you use to compare your progress with where you are today? Progress: How will you measure movement towards or away from your goal?

control your vocabulary:

Understand ontology.

good starting point in exploring ontology is to bring everyone together to make a list of terms and concepts. Ask each person to share: One term that they wish they knew more about One term that they wish others understood better Go through each term as a group and use this as a forum for educating each other on what you know about language and con

No matter what you're making, your users will find spaces between places. They bring their own context and channels with them, and they show you where you should go next. Find areas in flux and shine a light on them.

When you're cleaning up a big mess, assess the spaces between places as well as the places themselves.

What are you making?

Change takes time. Start by choosing a direction to go toward. If you take one step in that direction each day, you'll get to the finish line in due time.

Try diagramming.