Welcome to the September edition of the DIA Design Guild Newsletter! As the leaves start falling and the days grow cooler, we’re reminded of the beauty this season brings—a time for new beginnings and wrapping up what’s been in the works.

As we soak in the beautiful weather and watch the leaves turn, it’s a great moment to set our sights on completing 2024 on a high note. Whether you’re making that final push to wrap up personal projects, starting to draft your year-end reflections, or simply enjoying this beautiful weather while planning for what’s ahead, this season invites us to balance productivity with a little seasonal joy.

Here’s to embracing the fall with both purpose and pleasure!

~ Nehar Sultana, DIA Design Guild Apprentice

#1: DIA Updates

DIA has been taking the summer nice and slow. We are enjoying time with loved ones and taking the time to travel and rest. The Book Club is on a hiatus and the Game Club is on a summer break. Stay tuned for updates!

#2: Design Resources

If you want to develop your design skills, as always, feel free to check out our list of design resources. Julia has managed the Design Education Resources database since 2022. Currently, there are over 380 resources! See the full list. 

• Learn about auditing websites for accessibility from the perspective of an Accessibility Designer: Auditing Websites for Accessibility (with Anna E. Cook) | Some Antics
• A List Apart explores web content's design, development, and meaning, with a special focus on web standards and best practices. Explore different topics including code, content, design, UX, etc.: https://alistapart.com/ 
• Check out templates for the UX acronym decoder, stakeholder kickoff questions, and more from the Curiosity Tank: https://www.curiositytank.com/resources
• Have some donuts and listen to Steve Portigal’s user research focused podcast, “Dollars to Donuts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dollars-to-donuts/id956673263 

#3: World IA Cafe

Our August event has been rescheduled for October, and we are adding more events all the time. Feel free to join to get more insight on how information architecture can level up your work practice. 

Thursday, October 3 with Xander Roozen: "A dark matter of context"

One of the most acclaimed German Netflix original series is Dark, a captivating science fiction thriller centred around time travel and a cryptic small town. In this case study, Xander Roozen analyzes the renowned streaming service and its content through the lens of information architecture. 

Register

Thursday, October 17th with Lisa Dance: “How Information Architecture Makes or Breaks Customer Experiences?” ​

Self-serve activities are a big part of companies' continuing digital transformation efforts. Information architecture can make it easy or difficult for customers to complete increasingly complex activities and transactions successfully.

Register

Interested in sharing your IA experience?

World IA Cafe is looking for people to speak on their experiences with practical methods, tools, and processes or case study analysis to show information architecture in action.

Propose a talk

To keep up with future events, make sure to subscribe to the World IA Cafe on Luma.

#4: World IA Day 

World Information Architecture Day is the one day of the year when people come together to talk about information architecture. Speakers share knowledge and ideas that impact UX, architecture, and wayfinding, from design to development. Events are put together by local organizers. 

Want to work with DIA?

Projects allow our apprentices to work on real-world projects, partner with clients and their stakeholders on their needs and goals, and provide a space for them to learn about the intricacies of understanding how to balance information, needs, and intentions. 

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