Information Architecture in Practice

12 Months of Community-Supported Learning with Abby Covert

Ready to transform how you work in 2025? Join a vibrant learning community solving the thorny problems of information architecture - like how to audit massive content libraries, design navigation that actually works, and get buy-in for better organizing systems. Each month, we dive deep into one focus area, building skills you can apply to your toughest information challenges.

Ways to Join

Start anytime. It's never too late.

Each month in 2025 centers on one focus area of information architecture. You'll work alongside Abby Covert to develop essential skills and practical approaches to organizing information.

Your learning path includes four connected experiences each month. Community discussions that explore real challenges, workshops that build concrete skills, resource guides that capture proven methods, and practice sessions where you apply what you learn.

This structured but flexible approach helps you tackle complex information problems with confidence. Rather than just discussing theory, you'll build skills you can apply to your work right away.

Includes:

Weekly Chat Discussions
Deep dive with Abby into specific challenges in our members-only chat channel.
Monthly Video Discussions
Join live conversations moderated by Abby exploring each topic with fellow practitioners.
Group Workshops Every Month
Participate in newly developed workshops incorporating community insights.
Growing Sensemaker's Handbook
Reference our collective discoveries and research in each focus area.

MAY'S FOCUS AREA

DIAGRAMMING & MODELING

Diagramming and modeling isn't just about making pretty pictures - it's about turning complex ideas into clear visual formats that anyone can understand. Before solving any problem, we need to map out what we're dealing with in a way everyone can see.

Think of it like creating a map of unfamiliar territory. Models work as shared reference points with different levels of detail and purpose. In information architecture that might mean creating - site maps, user flows, content models, and system interactions. Diagrams help you build understanding by showing how separate parts connect into a whole. When we use these tools to explain information systems, we must look beyond just the data to find meaningful patterns. What process needs to be simplified? Do team members grasp how everything fits together? Is the organization ready to see its structure in a new way? By learning to create effective visual tools, you'll develop solutions that actually make sense to everyone. These visual aids turn abstract concepts into concrete plans that help organizations and their customers navigate complexity.

January's Agenda

Approaches, Methods and Tools

Community Chat Discussion

Mondays in May

@ 12 PM Eastern

Join us every Monday in May to explore practical ways to enhance your visual thinking skills.

We'll share easy-to-learn techniques that work for both artists and non-artists alike, from basic sketching methods to simple diagramming approaches, and learn from each other's experiences about what helps clarify complex ideas and what falls flat.

Drawing it Out: Why Pictures Beat Words in System Design

Discussion Group

May 2 2025

@ 12 to 1 PM Eastern

When words fail, visuals speak volumes. Join this straightforward talk about how diagrams and sketches cut through confusion when designing systems. We'll look at real projects where switching from text to visuals solved problems faster and brought teams together. Come ready to share your own stories of when a simple drawing saved the day and cleared up misunderstandings that paragraphs of text couldn't fix.

The Sensemaker’s Guide to Diagramming & Modeling

Chapter Release

May 9, 2025

Available for FREE on abbycovert.com

Get a straightforward collection of visual tools that anyone can use—regardless of artistic ability.

This free guide walks you through simple techniques for turning abstract concepts into clear visuals, offers templates you can adapt to your needs, and provides real examples that show how basic drawings can solve complex problems.

Blueprint Basics: Making Models That Actually Help

Workshop

May 16, 2025

@ 12 to 2 PM Eastern

Stop creating diagrams that collect dust! This hands-on session teaches you how to build visual models teams actually use. You'll learn the nuts and bolts of effective system blueprints, practical ways to match your models to real problems, and methods to ensure your work becomes a go-to resource rather than forgotten documentation. Bring your current project challenges—you'll walk away with clear, useful blueprints your team can put to work immediately..

JUNE'S FOCUS AREA

CONTROLLING VOCABULARIES

Every information system lives or dies by how well you manage your terms. Success isn't just about organizing content - it's about understanding the words that help or confuse your users.

Think of it like setting the house rules before game night. Controlled vocabularies help everyone play by the same language rules—whether they’re writing content, coding interfaces, analyzing data, or using the system. In information architecture, this means deciding which words to use, which to avoid, and how to handle synonyms and edge cases. It’s less about being a language cop and more about being a translator across silos. Are marketing and product using the same terms? Does search understand what users type in? Are contributors inventing new terms that confuse things? By building shared language early, you reduce friction, cut down on errors, and make your system easier for everyone to navigate. It’s not just semantics—it’s how clarity scales.