![[Screenshot 2024-06-21 at 4.13.27 PM.png]] From [[Information Architecture - For the Web and Beyond]], by [[Lou Rosenfeld]], [[Peter Morville]], and [[Jorge Arango]]. >“We use the concept of an “information ecology” composed of users, content, and context to address the complex dependencies that exist in these information environments. … The three circles illustrate the interdependent nature of users, content, and context within a complex, adaptive information ecology. > “In short, we need to understand the business goals behind the project and the resources available for design and implementation. We need to be aware of the nature and volume of content that exists today and how that might change a year from now, and we must learn about the needs and information-seeking behaviors of our major audiences. > “Good information architecture design is informed by all three areas, and all three are moving targets. Users can vary in their attitude, demographics, psychographics, tasks and information needs, information-seeking behaviors, and more. Content can vary in quality, currency, authority, popularity, strategic value, cost, and more. And organizational context can vary based on mission, vision, goals, organizational politics, organizational culture, degree of centralization or autonomy, and more. The particular mix of variables differs from one information environment to another, and within the same environment it varies over time.” That’s what makes information architecture so interesting, fun, frustrating, and hard to define. We are trying to give form and structure to things that are constantly shifting, like trying to create a sculpture out of water. [[Jason Hobbs]] updated this diagram in his keynote talk at the 2018 Information Architecture Summit. As he said, the goal of all this, the stuff in the center of this Venn Diagram is “meaning”. Ultimately, IAs are trying to convey meaning. ![[Screenshot 2024-06-21 at 4.18.26 PM.png]] --- **Relates to**: [[information architecture|IA]] [[The Information Architecture domain]], [[Information Architecture Common Set]]