The Informed Life

In this final episode, I reflect on things I learned by producing the show.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/12/29/episode-156-epilogue/Photo by Diego Jimenez on Unsplash.

Peter Morville is a pioneer of information architecture. He co-authored Information Architecture for the World-Wide Web, the classic O'Reilly “polar bear” book on the subject. In our previous conversation, I interviewed Peter about a big change in his life. In this interview, we turn the tables: he interviews me about a big change to this show.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/12/15/episode-155-peter-morville/

Peter Morville is a pioneer of information architecture. He co-authored Information Architecture for the World-Wide Web, the classic O'Reilly “polar bear” book on the subject. This is Peter's third appearance on the show. I asked him back because I wanted to learn about his decision to retire from IA consulting. This is the first of two conversations with Peter about navigating big changes.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/12/01/episode-154-peter-morville/

Joe Natoli is a renowned UX design consultant, advisor, and educator. Now, he's collaborated with Leah Buley on a new edition of her classic book, The User Experience Team of One. That is the subject of our conversation.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/11/17/episode-153-joe-natoli/

Andy Budd co-founded pioneering UX design agency Clearleft. After leading and growing that company, he became an advisor, VC, and coach. He's now written a book on how early stage startups can benefit from good design. That is the focus of our conversation.See full show notes:https://theinformed.life/2024/11/03/episode-152-andy-budd/

Karen McGrane describes herself as a “UX multi-hyphenate”: information architect, content strategist, technical communicator, accessibility advocate, and more. She's co-founder of Autogram, a content management and design system consultancy, and author of two classic books on content strategy. In this conversation, we focus on how AI might affect content management on the web.See full show notes:https://theinformed.life/2024/10/20/episode-151-karen-mcgrane/

Scott Berkun is the bestselling author of nine books on design, innovation, remote work, and more. His most recent book, Why Design Is Hard, is the second of a pair on why design makes a difference and how designers can best go about it. That is the focus of today's conversation.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/10/06/episode-150-scott-berkun/

Tamsen Webster describes herself as “part message designer, part English-to-English translator, and part magpie.” She is also a consultant and author who helps leaders enact large-scale change. Her latest book, Say What They Can't Unhear, explains how to drive lasting change through effective communication. That is the focus of our conversation.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/09/22/episode-149-tamsen-webster/

Dr. Luc Beaudoin is the co-founder and CEO of CogSci Apps, the developers of a brilliant Mac productivity tool called Hookmark. He is also an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University and author of two books on using cognitive science to improve productivity.In this conversation, we discuss the origins and philosophy of Hookmark, the concept of ubiquitous linking and how it improves productivity, the importance of deep focus for knowledge work, how to reduce friction in information management, how cognitive science can help you work more effectively, and the importance of deliberate practice for knowledge workers.Whether you're a student, academic, or professional, this conversation offers valuable tips and strategies for using this powerful tool to streamline your workflows and help with your focus.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/09/08/episode-148-luc-beaudoin/

Chris Risdon is a Senior Staff Designer at eBay. Chris describes himself as an interaction designer that tends to look through a service design lens. Alongside his co-author Patrick Quattlebaum, Chris wrote Orchestrating Experiences, which is an excellent guide to the practice of service design. In this conversation, we unpack service design: what it is, how it benefits organizations, and how it might be changing in light of new technologies like AI.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/08/25/episode-147-chris-risdon/

Jodi Forlizzi is the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Forlizzi has a distinguished career as a service designer, researcher, design leader, and academic. In this conversation, we discuss the changing role of design in the face of disruptive new technologies such as AI.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/08/11/episode-146-jodi-forlizzi/

Greg Petroff is a renowned executive design leader. He's built and led design teams for companies like GE, Google, Compass, and Cisco. In this conversation, we discuss the state of design and how designers can have more relevance in today's changing environment.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/07/28/episode-145-greg-petroff/

My guests today are Colin Eagan and Jeffrey MacIntyre. Although they work for different companies, Colin and Jeffrey share a common focus: how information technologies might offer more personalized experiences. They co-authored an article on the subject for A List Apart and Jeffrey gave an excellent presentation based on that material at this year's IA Conference, which led to this interview.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/07/14/episode-144-colin-eagan-jeffrey-macintyre/

Harry Max is an executive player coach with a long trajectory in Silicon Valley. Through his consultancy, he helps senior leaders and their teams realize their visions by zeroing in on pragmatic solutions to complex challenges. And on that note, Harry's written a new book, called Managing Priorities, that teaches leaders how to do just that.You can buy Harry's book from Rosenfeld Media. Use discount code INFORMED20 for 20% off until July 30, 2024.Disclaimer: I received a copy of Harry's book from Rosenfeld Media for review purposes.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/06/30/episode-143-harry-max/

Stéphanie Walter is a UX researcher and designer based in Luxembourg. She's prolific in sharing useful information via social media and her newsletter. Recently, she co-founded a new project, called Neurospicy, to bring more awareness to issues of neurodiversity in design. Neurospicy has evolved since we recorded this conversation, but as you'll hear, organic evolution is part of Stéphanie's approach.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/06/16/episode-142-stephanie-walter/

Rachel Price is a Principal Information Architect at Microsoft and teaches Information Architecture at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. She was a guest on The Informed Life in 2019, discussing the role of structure in improvisation. Today's conversation focuses on a subject that's on a lot of information architects' minds: how to responsibly design AI-powered systems.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/06/02/episode-141-rachel-price/

Emily Campbell is a design leader and advisor. She brings thoughtfulness and depth to producing business results through design and helping designers develop their careers as they fulfill that mission. Like me, Emily is deeply interested in AI. She's developing an emergent pattern language for working with AI, and that is the subject of our conversation.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/05/19/episode-140-emily-campbell/

Chris Aldrich has the most multi-disciplinary resume I've ever seen, with a background that includes biomedics, electrical engineering, entertainment, genetics, theoretical mathematics, and more. Chris describes himself as a modern-day cybernetician, and in this conversation we discuss cybernetics and communications, differences between oral and literary cultures, and indigenous traditions and mnemonics, among many other things.See full show notes at:https://theinformed.life/2024/05/05/episode-139-chris-aldrich/

Dave Gray describes himself as a possibilitarian. He focuses on helping people and teams realize their creative potential. Dave the author of several influential books, including Liminal Thinking and Gamestorming, which he co-authored with Sunni Brown and James Macanudo. He also founded the pioneering visual thinking company XPLANE. In this conversation, we discuss how to move beyond mental models that constrain us to open up new possibilities.Show notesDave GrayDave Gray - LinkedInThe Connected Company by Dave Gray and Thomas Vander WalGamestorming by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, and James MacanufoLiminal Thinking by Dave GrayRed Herring (magazine) - WikipediaXPLANATIONSXPLANEGreg Petroff - LinkedInDouglas Engelbart - WikipediaAndy MatuschakSchool of the PossibleSchool of the Possible Campfire CallsShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Nikki Anderson is an independent user research consultant, instructor, author, and speaker. Nikki uses her background in education and psychology to mentor people and organizations on the value of user research. And now, she's written a book to help them build up their research operations. That's the focus of our conversation today.Show notesNikki AndersonImpact: A complete guide to creating a user research practice at your organization by Nikki AndersonUser Research AcademyUser Research Academy SubstackHow To Run a Qualitative Usability Test by Nikki AndersonWrite Kick@ss User Research Goals by Nikki AndersonShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Michael Anton Dila describes himself as a “designer of conversation” and someone with a passion for starting things. Among the things he's started are ventures in online learning, co-working, and mobile technology. He's also held several leadership roles in an elite innovation unit in the U.S. Department of Defense. In this conversation, we discuss his latest initiative, Oslo for AI, which seeks to design better processes for governing artificial intelligence.Show notesMichael Anton DilaMichael Anton Dila - LinkedInOslo for AIU.S. Department of DefenseSystem 3OpenAIStone Soup - WikipediaStuart CandyOslo (film) - WikipediaOslo (play) - WikipediaThe Oslo Accords, 1993Inside OpenAI's Crisis Over the Future of Artificial Intelligence - NY TimesComputing Machinery and Intelligence by Alan Turing (1950) - PDFProjects by IFSarah GoldNew Design Patterns for AI by Sarah GoldShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Dave Elfving is an experience designer and educator. He spent eleven years at apple, where his last role was as Head of Interactive Strategy. These days, he's my colleague teaching interaction design at the California College of the Arts. He's also co-chairperson at Gray Area, a San Francisco-based nonprofit interdisciplinary cultural incubator. Gray Area is fostering fascinating work, and I wanted to discuss it with Dave.Show notesDave Elfving - LinkedInaught.ioGray AreaRafael Lozano-HemmerProjection mapping - WikipediaArduinoTouchDesignerMadMapperRaspberry PiShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Joey deVilla describes himself as an experienced, engaging, accordion-playing, golden-voiced developer advocate looking for a new role. He's had a long career in the technology space and writes about his experiences in two long-running blogs, The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the Twenty-First Century and Global Nerdy. Recently, Joey became one of the many people in tech who's lost their job in the last couple of years. That is the subject of our conversation today.Show notes

Elizabeth McGuane is a UX director at Shopify and the author of Design by Definition, a book about the impact of language in user experience. As you might imagine, that's a subject I'm keenly interested in, so I was excited to speak with Elizabeth about it.Show notesElizabeth McGuane - LinkedInElizabeth McGuane – MediumDesign by Definition by Elizabeth McGuaneShopifyIntercomEames chairsShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Pierluigi Dalla Rosa is an interaction designer at Humane, the makers of the AI Pin. But that isn't the focus of our conversation today. Instead, we discuss novel computer interfaces in general, and interactive environments in particular. This is a subject that's near to my heart, as it points to exciting possibilities for future digital experiences.Show notespierdr - Pier's websitePierluigi Dalla Rosa - LinkedInpier dr (@pierdr) - InstagramIxD Research (@ixdresearch) - InstagramHumaneCalifornia College of the ArtsJoshua Walton — Sensory.ccTramontanaEnrico Gueli (@ris8_allo_zen0) • Instagram photos and videosAn exploration in collective interfaces by Pierluigi Dalla Rosa et alDouglas EngelbartLoren and Rachel CarpenterMark WeiserMarshall McLuhanHot and cool media (McLuhan)DynamiclandWIRED 1.02: Gossip is Philosophy (Interview with Brian Eno)Apple Vision ProThe VoidMeow WolfShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Nathan Shedroff is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and educator. Like me, he teaches at the graduate interaction design program of the California College of the Arts. This conversation focuses on his new book, A Whole New Strategy, which teaches strategic thinking.Show notesNathan ShedroffDesign Strategy MBA - CCAA Whole New Strategy by Nathan ShedroffHenry MintzbergCharles EamesPorter's five forces analysisSWOT analysisDouble Diamond (design process model) Regis McKennaAdobe DirectorStephen CoveyShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

This episode is a compilation of conversations from 2023. It's not meant as a best-of collection, but an opportunity to highlight some themes that emerged during our conversations throughout the year. The episode is also an experiment, with the themes being curated partly by an AI.Cover photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash.Show notesEpisode 107: Michael Becker on Knowledge WorkEpisode 108: Carrie Hane on Content ModelsEpisode 110: Nicole van der Hoeven on ObsidianEpisode 111: Andy Fitzgerald on Structured ContentEpisode 112: Jerry Michalski on Jerry's BrainEpisode 114: Dan Russell on The Joy of SearchEpisode 115: Are Halland on The Core ModelEpisode 116: Bob Kasenchak on Music, part 1Episode 117: Bob Kasenchak on Music, part 2Episode 118: Maggie Appleton on Digital GardeningEpisode 119: Aidan Helfant on PKM for LearningEpisode 120: Alex Wright on InformaticaEpisode 121: Chiara Ogan on Personal LibrariesEpisode 122: Sönke Ahrens on Smart NotesEpisode 125: Karl Voit on Org ModeEpisode 126: Nate Davis on IA Sub-disciplinesShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Steve Portigal is an independent user research consultant. He is the author of Interviewing Users and Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries. Steve and I both have new books, so we thought it'd be fun to compare notes on writing non-fiction. In this, the second of two episodes on the subject, we focus on the process of writing. If you haven't done so already, listen to our previous conversation, which focused on our motivations.Show notesSteve PortigalSteve Portigal - LinkedInPortigal ConsultingInterviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights (2nd edition) by Steve PortigalDoorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries: User Research War Stories by Steve PortigalDuly Noted: Extend Your Mind Through Connected Notes by Jorge ArangoLiving in Information: Responsible Design for Digital Places by Jorge ArangoInformation Architecture for the Web and Beyond by Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville, and Jorge ArangoScrivenerTinderboxThe Informed Life episode 99: Mark Bernstein on TinderboxFreeform on the App StoreShitty First Drafts by Anne Lamott (PDF)Jack Kerouac - WikipediaThe Informed Life episode 2: Gretchen Anderson on WritingShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Steve Portigal is an independent user research consultant. He is the author of Interviewing Users and Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries. Steve was previously on the show last year, talking about research skills. This conversation is a bit different: both of us have written new books, and we thought it'd be fun to compare notes about the process. We decided to split our conversation into two parts. This episode focuses on the motivations for writing, and the second part will focus on processes.Show NotesSteve PortigalSteve Portigal - LinkedInPortigal ConsultingInterviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights (2nd edition) by Steve PortigalDoorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries: User Research War Stories by Steve PortigalThe Informed Life ep. 92 - Steve Portigal on Research SkillsLouis RosenfeldInformation Architecture for the Web and Beyond by Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville, and Jorge ArangoBloggerThe Informed Life ep. 118 — Maggie Appleton on Digital GardeningMaggie AppletonAbout Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design (4th edition) by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher NoesselWrite Useful Books by Rob FitzpatrickObsidianBuilding a Personal Knowledge Garden (Information Architecture Conference 2022 workshop)Show notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Audrey Crane is the Head of Growth at DesignMap, a product and strategy design firm. She's also the author of What CEOs Need to Know About Design, a book that helps leaders understand and tap into the power of design in their organizations. In this, Audrey's second appearance on the show, we focused on how organizations can ensure they're getting the best design work for their money.Show notesAudrey Crane - LinkedInDesignMapWhat CEOs Need to Know About Design by Audrey CraneBanish Shadow Design with These Proven Techniques – DesignMapThe Cost of Shadow Design Teams – DesignMapLevels of Organizational Design Readiness – DesignMapThe Informed Life episode 37: Audrey Crane on Design in OrganizationsDubberly Design OfficeHugh Dubberly - AIGA San FranciscoMarty Cagan - Silicon Valley Product GroupBen Horowitz - WikipediaDunning–Kruger effect - WikipediaPeter MerholzDesign maturity: Yesterday vs. today - Inside Design BlogLeah BuleyHey designers, they're gaslighting you. By Sara Wachter-Boettcher - Nice WorkJared Spool - WikipediaSalesforce Marketing CloudShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Nate Davis is an independent information architecture consultant and a longtime contributor to the global IA community. In this conversation, we discuss his ideas about IA sub-disciplines that influence the construction of digital user interfaces.Show notesNathaniel Davis - LinkedInMethodbrainFour Information Architecture Disciplines Every Team Should Consider When Building Digital User Interfaces by Nate DavisGPT-4 - WikipediaShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Karl Voit describes himself as “a life hacker trying to make deliberate decisions on every aspect of life.” Among these are the tools he uses to manage his personal information. In particular, Karl is an avid user of Org Mode in Emacs, which is the focus of this conversation.Show notespublic voit - Homepage of Karl VoitKarl Voit on Mastodon (@publicvoit@graz.social)Filofax - WikipediaFranklin Planner - WikipediaLaTeX - A document preparation systemEmacs - WikipediaEmacs Lisp - WikipediaOrg-mode - WikipediaDaring Fireball: MarkdownGitHubOrgzly - Notes & To-Do ListsSyncthingabo-abo/hydra: make Emacs bindings that stick aroundpublic voit — How to Use This Blog Efficientlynovoid/lazyblorg: Blogging with Org-mode for very lazy peopleShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Karl Fast is an independent scholar, information architect, and futurist. He's the co-author with Stephen Anderson of Figure It Out: Getting From Information to Understanding. Karl is one of the most avid readers I know, and in this conversation, we compare our reading practices. We discussed this subject in preparation for a personal knowledge management workshop we will teach later this year.Show notesKarl Fast - LinkedInThe Informed Life episode 69 - Karl Fast on Interactionism, part 1The Informed Life episode 70 — Karl Fast on Interactionism, part 2Be Useful — Arnold Schwarzenegger on 7 Tools for Life, Thinking Big, Building Resilience, Processing Grief, and More (#696) - The Blog of Author Tim FerrissWar and Peace - WikipediaObsidianGod, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning by Meghan O'GieblynOur Own Devices: How Technology Remakes Humanity by Edward TennerTo Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of DeathTo Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of DeathTo Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death by Mark O'ConnellThe Bodybuilders: Inside the Science of the Engineered Human by Adam PioreNo-dig gardening - WikipediaMise en place - WikipediaEverything in Its Place: The Power of Mise-En-Place to Organize Your Life, Work, and Mind by Dan CharnasReadwiseSlow Reading in a Hurried Age by David MikicsFight Club (1999) - IMDbBuild a Personal Knowledge Garden (Karl and Jorge's workshop)–  use discount code TILPKG before October 30, 2023 for 20% off the regular priceShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Jenae Cohn is the Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at UC Berkeley. Along with Michael Greer, Jenae recently published Design for Learning, a book about how to teach better using technology, and what online teachers and instructors can learn from UX designers.Show notesJenae CohnJenae Cohn, PhD - LinkedInDesign for Learning: User Experience in Online Teaching and Learning by Jenae Cohn and Michael GreerCenter for Teaching & Learning - UC BerkeleyCalifornia College of the ArtsLearning management system - WikipediaRichard Saul Wurman - WikipediaDisclosure: Rosenfeld Media provided a copy of Jenae's book for review.Show notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Sönke Ahrens is an independent researcher and coach. He is best known as the author of How to Take Smart Notes, a popular book on the zettelkasten method of note-taking. In this conversation, we discuss the role of notes in thinking and learning, with a focus on zettelkasten-inspired note-taking.Show notesSönke AhrensHow to Take Smart Notes by Sönke AhrensNiklas Luhmann - WikipediaBielefeld UniversityZettelkasten - WikipediaLuhmann's digitized zettelkastenPersonal wiki - WikipediaThe Informed Life episode 74: Annie Murphy Paul on The Extended MindShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Chiara Ogan is a former UX designer and information architect. She recently left that career to become a mental health therapist. Chiara's background is in library science, and in this conversation, we discuss how she organizes her personal book collection — which she just did in preparation for this major life change.Show notesChiara OganChiara (Berlingo Fox) Ogan - LinkedInInformation Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing Large-scale Web Sites by Louis Rosenfeld and Peter MorvilleBilly bookcasesAmbient Findability: What We Find Changes Who We Become by Peter MorvilleDewey Decimal Classification - WikipediaS. R. Ranganathan - WikipediaMornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt by David McCulloughShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Alex Wright is the Head of User Experience at Google News. He's also an author, and his most recent book, Informatica, is the second edition of Glut, his deep history of the information age. In this conversation, we discuss the history of information technologies and why learning about it matters to people who work in tech.Show notesAlex WrightAlex Wright (@alexgrantwright) / XAlex Wright - LinkedInInformatica: Mastering Information through the Ages by Alex WrightCataloging the World: Paul Otlet and the Birth of the Information Age by Alex WrightPaul Otlet - WikipediaS. R. Ranganathan - WikipediaCharles Ammi Cutter - WikipediaMelvil Dewey - WikipediaAnthony Panizzi - WikipediaUniversal Decimal Classification - WikipediaVannevar Bush - WikipediaThe Printing Press as an Agent of Change by Elizabeth Eisenstein bookThe Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook by Niall FergusonCarl Linnaeus - WikipediaGeorges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon - WikipediaBetamax - WikipediaWalkman - WikipediaApple II - WikipediaThe Futures Cone, use and history – The VoroscopeInstitute for the FutureClaude Shannon - WikipediaShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Aidan Helfant is a college student who's using personal knowledge management (PKM) to improve his learning. He's also sharing his methods and tools to help other college students succeed. In this conversation, we unpack Aidan's approach to note-taking for learning.Show notesAidan HelfantAidan Helfant - YouTubeAidan's newsletterAidan's blogAidan Helfant (@AidanHelfant) / TwitterAli AbdaalBuilding a Second BrainThe PARA Method: The Simple System for Organizing Your Digital Life in SecondsLinking Your ThinkingLeague of LegendsStardew Valley - WikipediaFinite and Infinite Games by James P. CarseCornell UniversityObsidianHow to Take Smart Notes by Sönke AhrensThinking Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanGoogle WorkspaceNotionTinderbox: The Tool For NotesShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Maggie Appleton is a product designer at Ought, an AI research lab that's working on ways to scale open-ended thinking with machine learning. She's also an advocate of sharing personal knowledge online. She publishes one of the best digital gardens I've seen, located at maggieappleton.com. In this conversation, we discuss the what, why, and how of digital gardening.Show notesMaggie AppletonMaggie Appleton on TwitterOught[Metaphors We Live](https://amzn.to/43q0eEj) By by George Lakoff and Mark JohnsonThe Expanding Dark Forest and Generative AI by Maggie AppletonGoffman's Theory of Performance of the SelfErving Goffman: The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life by Adam D. BarnhartClifford Geertz - BritannicaSubstackWork with the garage door up by Andy MatuschakNiklas Luhmann - WikipediaChatGPTNicole van der Hoeven on Obsidian – The Informed LifeObsidianHacker NewsShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Bob Kasenchak is a taxonomist and information architect at Factor. This is the second of two episodes with Bob that focus on what information architects can learn from music. The first conversation, which you can find in episode 116, focused on the structure of music itself. Today's conversation focuses on how we can make music more findable — but there are insights here for anyone working with any type of information, not just music.Show notesBob Kasenchak - LinkedInBob Kasenchak (@taxobob) - TwitterFactorGoogle ImagesShazam - Music Discovery, Charts & Song LyricsSalt-N-Pepa - WikipediaMaiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock album) - WikipediaPrince (musician) - WikipediaPeter Gabriel - WikipediaMusic Classical - AppleIDAGIOApple acquires classical music streaming service Primephonic - AppleGrammarlyShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Bob Kasenchak is a taxonomist and information architect at Factor. Bob's background is in music, and this conversation delves into what information architects can learn from studying music. We recorded two conversations on the subject: this one focuses on the structure of music itself, and the second covers how we can make music more findable. Look for that one in an upcoming episode.Show notesBob Kasenchak - LinkedInBob Kasenchak (@taxobob) - TwitterFactorSynapticaAccess InnovationsIAC: Information Architecture conferenceDuane DeglerGilles Deleuze - WikipediaFélix Guattari - WikipediaNew England ConservatorySonic Design: The Nature of Sound and Music by Robert Cogan and Pozzi Escot1/1 by Brian Eno (YouTube)Rick Beato - YouTubeWhat Makes This Song Great? Ep.61 VAN HALEN (#2) - YouTubeLudomusicology - WikipediaAbby CovertN7JSTORApple Music Classical appShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Are Halland has worked in digital product development, strategy, design, and communication for over a quarter of a century. During that time, he created the core model, a tool for designing websites and products that align business goals and user needs. He has now written a book about the core model, which is due to be published later this year. In this conversation, he explains what the core model is and how it can help us create more effective digital products.Show notesAre Halland - TwitterAre Halland - LinkedInThe Core ModelGerry McGovernPareto principle - Wikipedia Conceptual Models: Begin by Designing What to Design by Jeff Johnson and Austin HendersonDesigning Connected Content: Plan and Model Digital Products for Today and Tomorrow by Carrie Hane and Mike AthertonTelenor GroupEsperanto - WikipediaShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Dan Russell spent 17 years working at Google, with a significant part of that tenure as a Search Anthropologist: “someone who tries to understand how people search, what kinds of things they seek, and how their tools influence their search process.” Dan is the author of The Joy of Search, which is the focus of our conversation today.Show notesDan RussellThe Joy of Search: A Google Insider's Guide to Going Beyond the Basics by Dan RussellThe Library of CongressFelis silvestris catus - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre (Spanish)Sagrada Família - Wikipedia (Catalan)Howard Rheingold on Tools for Thought – The Informed LifeChatGPTGoogle BardBingscite: see how research has been citedShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Sheryl Cababa is the Chief Strategy Officer of Substantial, an experience design consultancy based in Seattle. She's the author of Closing the Loop, a new book about systems thinking in design. The book emphasizes the role designers can play as catalysts for social change, and that is the focus of our conversation.Show notesSheryl Cababa - LinkedInSheryl Cababa (@SherylCababa)SubstantialUniversity of Washington - Human Centered Design & EngineeringClosing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers by Sheryl CababaThinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella MeadowsThe Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter SengePeter ChecklandSystems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results, by David Peter StrohIceberg Model - Ecochallenge.orgWhat is the STEEP analysis? - FourWeekMBARevolution 1 by The BeatlesUXLx - User Experience LisbonEnterprise UX 2023Rosenfeld Media provided a review copy of Sheryl's book.Show notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Jerry Michalski helps organizations become more trustworthy by exploring their language, processes, and intentions. That's fascinating in itself — but I wanted to talk with him primarily because he curates an online resource called Jerry's Brain, a deep repository of interconnected thoughts. He's worked on Jerry's Brain for a quarter of a century, longer than any other such experiment I'm aware of. So, I wanted to find out why and how he does this.Show notesJerry MichalskiJerry's BrainTheBrainREX: The Relationship Economy ExpeditionOpen Global MindThe Big FungusRoam ResearchGraphvizKumuMarkdown - WikipediaThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanDEVONthinkTinderboxLinking Your Thinking by Nick MiloMemObsidianGitHubObsidian Git pluginGoogle DocsYou need a wikiJSON - WikipediaPreziShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Andy Fitzgerald is an information architecture and content strategy consultant. He works with mission-driven organizations to produce systems that communicate clearly, align business and user goals, and scale effectively. Our conversation today focuses on moving beyond the page as a metaphor for how information is delivered toward more flexible content structures.Show notesAndy Fitzgerald ConsultingAndy Fitzgerald, PhD - LinkedInLanguage + Meaning + User Experience ArchitectureDan KlynRichard Saul Wurman - WikipediaHeadless content management system - WikipediaTaxonomy Boot CampThe Intellectual Foundation of Information Organization by Elaine SvenoniusMozilla Developer Network Web DocsSchema.orgSKOS Simple Knowledge Organization SystemGroucho MarxEnd of Web Design by Jakob Nielsen (Jakob's Law)Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir EyalShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Nicole van der Hoeven is a Developer Advocate at Grafana Labs. She is also a communicator, sharing what she learns through her writing, conference presentations, and YouTube videos. The latter are what brought Nicole's work to my attention: she runs a YouTube channel focused on one of my favorite tools for thought, Obsidian. In this conversation, we focus on how Nicole uses Obsidian to “learn in public.”Show notesNicole van der HoevenNicole on MastodonNicole on YouTubepkm.socialGrafana labsObsidianPersonal knowledge management - WikipediaWork with the garage door upContinuous integration - WikipediaContinuous delivery - WikipediaScrintalRoam ResearchMarkdownGitHubTabletop role-playing game - WikipediaAndy PolaineAndy Polaine on Service Design – The Informed LifeWarbreaker by Brandon SandersonThe Martian by Andy WeirProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Hugh Dubberly is the founder of Dubberly Design Office, an interaction design studio based in San Francisco. Hugh has a long trajectory in the design world. Before opening his studio, he did pioneering work at leading tech companies like Apple and Netscape. He is also a thinker and teacher of uncommon depth and breadth. He's my colleague at the California College of the Arts, and I'm also lucky to call him a friend and mentor. I met with Hugh in his office to discuss his recent paper arguing against framing design as problem-solving, and that is the focus of this conversation.Show notesHugh Dubberly - AIGADubberly Design OfficeConceptual Models: Core to Good Design by Jeff Johnson and Austin HendersonBill Verplank - Interaction Design (YouTube)How Smart, Connected Products Are Transforming Competition by Michael PorterThe product service ecology: Using a systems approach in design by Jodi Forlizzi (PDF)MDes in Interaction Design - CCAAfter the Bauhaus, Before the Internet: A History of Graphic Design Pedagogy edited by Geoff KaplanWhy we should stop describing design as “problem solving” by Hugh DubberlyPatrick Whitney - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthDouble Diamond (design process model) - WikipediaHorst Rittel - WikipediaC. West Churchman - WikipediaWicked problem - WikipediaDesign Thinking by Peter G. RoweRussell L. Ackoff - WikipediaHerbert A. Simon - WikipediaThe Sciences of the Artificial - WikipediaAxis Thinking by Brian EnoThe MAYA Principle: Design for the Future, but Balance it with Your Users' Present - IxDFOverton window - WikipediaEnvironmental Design - University of Colorado BoulderUlm School of Design - WikipediaThe Infinite Conversation (AI-generated dialog between simulations of Werner Herzog and Slavoj Žižek)Show notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Carrie Hane is an evangelist at Sanity, a cloud-based content platform provider. Carrie is co-author of Designing Connected Content, which advocates for content modeling as part of the digital design process. This is also the subject of our conversation.A side note: Carrie is one of the keynote speakers at this year's information architecture conference, which takes place in New Orleans from March 28 - April 1. I'll be teaching an introductory IA workshop at the conference, so if you want to learn about IA and can get to the southern U.S. in late March, come see Carrie and me at the Conference. There's a link below.Show notesCarrie Hane - LinkedInCarrie Hane - TwitterDesigning Connected Content: Plan and Model Digital Products for Today and Tomorrow by Carrie Hane and Mike AthertonSanityInformation Architecture ConferenceTanzen Consulting blogContent Modeling: What It Is and How to Get Started – Content Modeling GuideSanity newsletterWhat is Lotus Notes? - Definition from TechopediaGartnerWhat does it mean for a database to be schemaless? - QuoraAndy FitzgeraldShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Michael Becker is the founder and CEO of Identity Praxis, a strategic advisory firm. He's also a prolific communicator, having produced dozens of YouTube videos explaining how to use advanced knowledge management tools. In this conversation, we discuss Michael's approach to knowledge work and how tools such as Tinderbox can help you think and work more effectively.Show notesMichael Becker - LinkedInMichael's PatreonMichael's YouTube channel@privacyshamanTinderboxTinderbox forumIdentity PraxisCal Poly PomonaNational UniversityAssociation of National AdvertisersMobile Ecosystem ForumThe Informed Life episode 99 - Mark Bernstein on TinderboxDEVONthinkZoteroObsidianRoam ResearchJekyllScrivenerMarkdownConrad GessnerVincent PlacciusNiklas LuhmannZettelkastenAndy MatuschakSteven JohnsonTheBrainTiago Forte's Second BrainPandocShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Léonie Watson is an accessibility engineer, W3C director, technology writer, and speaker. She's director at TetraLogical, a consultancy focused on accessibility for emerging and existing technologies. In this conversation, we focus on the role of accessibility in producing experiences that work better for everybody.Show notesLéonie WatsonLéonie Watson - LinkedInLéonie @tink@front-end.social (@LeonieWatson) / TwitterLéonie Watson (@tink@front-end.social) - Front-End SocialTetraLogicalBlog - TetraLogicalScreen reader - WikipediaShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links.