Ubiquitous Information Architecture & Gamestorming

Ubiquitous Information Architecture

While the world waits for Web 3.0 and The Singularity, the real action has already begun. Itʼs called the intertwingularity. Itʼs an era at the crossroads of ubiquitous computing and the Internet, a place where information blurs the boundaries between products and services to enable multi-channel, cross-platform, trans-media, physico-digital user experiences.

The intertwingularity also presents an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine information architecture. Never before have we been able to employ such a powerful combination of networks, devices, and sensors to create and share knowledge within and without the enterprise. This is the complex reality that todayʼs executives and entrepreneurs must navigate. And, while the archetypal ecologies of iTunes and Nike+ offer some insight, weʼre mostly exploring uncharted waters.

Thatʼs why we need to draw maps. A map is a powerful tool for navigating and understanding physical, digital, intellectual, and social space. It helps us to look, see, imagine, and show. In this session, weʼll explore how experience maps and “IA thinking” can improve the process and product of information architecture, knowledge management, and user experience design.

Gamestorming

As our systems grow more complex, design is changing from a solo activity to a team sport where designers, partners, and users work together to co-create experiences. This participatory design requires new skills and practices. How can you engage more people – including non-designers – in the process, without losing the creative culture and energy essential to success?

Gamestorming applies game thinking and game mechanics to these business and design challenges. It's a holistic and collaborative approach that will help teams combine design practices like sketching, sorting, prototyping, and role-playing to gain meaningful insights and outcomes.

In this panel, Gamestorming co-authors Dave Gray, James Macanufo and Sunni Brown will share insights from their new book, and engage in a conversation with Peter Morville about how Gamestorming can address the cross-media challenges of ubiquitous information architecture.

Following this panel conversation, they will facilitate break-out sessions in which participants will work together using methods like sketching and bodystorming to explore ideas for visualizing and mapping complex, blended (offline/online) products and services.