World Information Architecture Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 84-3158026) registered in the state of Florida, United States
Local organizers plan for months to organize an event based on our global theme that can be as simple as an informal gathering or as large as a conference. Each event is unique and centered around bringing value to the community and awareness to the practice of information architecture.
World Information Architecture Day is a one-day annual celebration held in dozens of locations across the world. We are a community of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts who share the common goal of teaching, learning, and shaping the future of information architecture. Because of the ubiquitous nature of information, we see information architecture is not just practiced by specialists. Instead, information is architected by people holding all sorts of titles, coming from all walks of life.
Each year, a new theme is selected, new locations are added, and our community continues to grow as more people from all over the world join this truly global celebration of information architecture.
Organizing a World IA Day Event
‘Whether you have 10 people in a coffee shop or 300 in a theater, your goal is the same; provide a place and time to discuss and learn about information architecture.’
World IA Day has been a very successful event in our area for many years. I frequently get questions as to when the next year's event will take place and when the call for speakers will go out.
It's something I brought to Poland, I like doing it, it's needed and it's my official task now. ;)
Experience is great in preparing a conference and in organizing, communicating with people interested in IA
IA is more important than ever, yet it seems to be disappearing as a job title and function. So I'm just hoping to raise some awareness around the practice.
We would like to continue to build a community and local presence of content creators, designers, practitioners, and enthusiasts in the similar field here in Cebu.
I enjoy the sense of community and building the local community here in Barcelona, raising awareness about IA and helping various people have the opportunity to present about what they know and their work. I also learn a lot in organising for this event each year and it grows my leadership skills.
Promote good practices, connect people again (after this confusing period) - increase the sense of belonging to a enthusiastic local community and allow professionals, practitioners and students share knowledge for the ultimate goal to develop an emerging market and build lasting relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be a local organizer?
Each World IA Day celebration is hosted by one or more individuals. You will represent your location by leading a team and organizing the celebration.
Local organizers are in charge of all the details for the local celebration such as:
Securing a venue for the celebration. It could be a conference hall, an educational institution, or a coffee shop.
Curating presentations or other content that promote an understanding of IA preferably in the context of our selected global theme.
Funding the celebration. We encourage events of all sizes, shapes and forms. From small informal gatherings to large conference style events, it is up to you and what you feel will work in your community.
Leading a local team (including a photographer and videographer).
Marketing the celebration to your community.
Maintaining open communication and a participatory spirit with the WIAD Global Team.
What is the time commitment?
It depends on the size of your celebration and how you structure your team. Some locations with larger celebrations spend on average about 40 hours per month. Other locations hold small gatherings which equate to 5 hours per month in planning.
The commitment runs from July to March and in most cases we offer local organizers the opportunity to renew their commitment each year.
What qualities do you look for in an event organizer?
We are a community of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts who share the common goal of teaching, learning, and shaping the future of Information Architecture. We do this out of passion and not for financial gain. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply.
Team building
You may be the lead organizer for your WIAD event, but we highly recommend that you recruit a co-organizer and or a dynamic team of decision-makers to help you. World IA Day is a community event where building communities, empowering leaders, and growing together have been our driving principles since the beginning. Having a co-organizer or team will strengthen your application.
Is the application accepted on a first come, first serve basis?
Not necessarily. Each location has to reapply annually and we value the relationships we have built along the way. If more than one individual applies for the same location, we encourage collaboration but reserve the right to select organizers based on their existing contributions to the community at large.
Each location must have a unique organizer. We do not permit one person to run multiple celebrations.
My location is small. Can I still apply?
Of course! If your location is small, rural, a smaller town or a less populous region, we would love to have you apply.
Celebrations of any size are welcome. You may want to check last year's locations to see if there was a celebration nearby.
Can there be more than one event per location?
No. We encourage members of the community who have a shared interest in bringing World IA Day to their location to work together collaboratively.
Ask yourself whether another celebration in your region would cause competition for resources and attendees.
After I apply, how soon should I expect to hear from you?
We accept location applications on a rolling basis. We expect to notify accepted location organizers within 2 weeks after submission.
Are events always free?
We encourage our celebrations to remain free and open to anyone that can attend. However, because of the global nature of World IA Day, we understand there may be different needs within each community and are open to locations asking for a reasonable fee from attendees to help cover the expense of their celebration.
Charging a ticket for admission?
Admission must always be affordable to all and the funds should go towards operating costs. The idea of World IA Day is to be sustainable, which is a different goal than to be profitable.
If your celebration takes in more money than it cost to put on, the expectation is that "overage" goes back to the World IA Day Grant Fund to help support next year's celebrations.
What support should I expect as a local organizer?
World IA Day is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. We are here for you and have structured our Global Team to help support locations around the world.
Each of our locations receives resources (e.g. brand assets, slides templates, sample marketing materials, a location page on our website, an email address etc.), guidelines and learnings from other locations, and access to an internal message board used by all location organizers worldwide.
Can I reach out to potential sponsors, venues or speakers before applying?
Yes. Committed sponsors, venues, and speakers will strengthen your application. However, our expectation is that you are clear, explaining that you do not officially represent World IA Day and are applying to host a celebration in your location.
‘Whether you have 10 people in a coffee shop or 300 in a theater, your goal is the same; provide a place and time to discuss and learn about information architecture.’
—Abby Covert, Co-founder of World IA Day
World IA Day has been a very successful event in our area for many years. I frequently get questions as to when the next year's event will take place and when the call for speakers will go out.
—Carrianne Tuckley, WIAD22 Akron (formerly Kent)
It's something I brought to Poland, I like doing it, it's needed and it's my official task now. ;)
