Come join us at the 2025 IA Conference this year! We’re in Philly with workshops from April 29-30, followed by the main conference from May 1-3. This year, an amazing team of volunteers has been working hard to make IAC25 something truly special. Whether you're deep into information architecture or just dabble in it, there’s something here for you.

Full disclosure: I’m one of the co-chairs for IAC25, so this might be slightly biased. But long before I took on this role, I was just an attendee who loved this conference (as I mentioned in UX IRL Ep. 48 and Ep. 49 😉).

What is the IA Conference?

The IA Conference (or IAC) has been the go-to event for information architects, UX practitioners, content strategists, and user researchers since 2000. It’s a conference that gets delightfully nerdy, but don’t let that intimidate you. The community is welcoming, the conversations are thought-provoking, and the connections you make can last a lifetime.

A packed auditorium of attendees from IAC24
A Q&A session from a sold out IAC24 (photo courtesy of IAC)

Why Attend IAC25?

If you’ve never been to IAC before, it can be hard to understand what makes it special. Here are some of the top reasons to join us this year:

❤️ 1. A safe space for gathering

IAC25 is one of the few in-person conferences left in IA, UX, and content space. As the tech landscape evolves and 2025 brings continuous, jarring change, sometimes it’s just nice to connect with people who get you. Being with your people can recharge and nourish your soul so you can navigate life’s challenges.

Three smiling volunteers posing for a fun photo
Happy volunteers from IAC24 (photo courtesy of IAC)

🤝 2. First-time attendees are welcome here

Walking into a conference where you don’t know anyone can feel overwhelming, but IAC25 makes it easier. We host a first-timer orientation the night before the main conference to help you get your bearings and meet other newcomers. You can also join a first-timers’ dinner, where small groups go out to eat with an experienced IAC attendee as a host.

When I attended my first IAC, I didn’t know what to expect. But that orientation and dinner made all the difference—I left with new friends with whom I kept in touch throughout the event and long after. If you're worried about feeling lost, trust me, you won’t be.

💡 3. Talks that challenge and inspire

Our theme for this year explores how IA is the bridge between humans and technology. While the rapid advances in technology provide us with convenience, we also want to ensure that we’re not losing sight of our intrinsic human needs. We have several talks that aim to share practices, explore ideas, and inspire us to find ways to ensure we don’t lose the “human” part of human-centered design.

Poster Night is an evening showcase featuring projects from community members. Think science fair vibes with a focus on information architecture and UX. Our community is always up to some amazing things, and it's always fun to nerd out about their work.

Andrew and I in front of our posters at Poster Night during IA Summit 2016
Here's a throw back to IA Summit 2016 when my friend Andrew and I presented at poster night. The overachiever in me made two posters.

🤩 4. Workshops to level up our skills

We have an amazing lineup of workshops this year! I literally wish I could attend all of them. These workshops are very practical opportunities to level up on AI, knowledge graphs, and information architecture. They’re taught by seasoned practitioners like Dan Brown, Carrie Hane, and Jorge Arango.

The one workshop I’m most excited about is David Dylan Thomas’s on Inclusive Design: Creating a Bias-Informed Practice. With so many places ending or deleting any existence of inclusive spaces, this workshop is more relevant than ever. We don’t need a DEI program to ensure there’s equity and inclusivity in the work we do. This workshop provides a foundation for understanding bias and the tools to mitigate and ensure inclusive work. You can even use these skills to have productive conversations outside of work. 

With so many places ending or deleting any existence of inclusive spaces, the Inclusive Design: Creating a Biased-Informed Practice workshop is more relevant than ever.

🙌 5. Career growth opportunities

IAC25 isn’t just about talks and best practices—it’s also a great opportunity for career growth. The Career Center offers 1-on-1 mentoring sessions where you can get advice, feedback on your resume or portfolio, or just talk through your next steps. Need a fresh headshot? We’ve got a photo station for that.

We’re also hosting lunch discussions on a variety of topics, including some about career growth, so you can connect with people who’ve been there. Plus, attendees get access to our Discord server, where you can chat about open roles (or post one if you’re hiring!).

😄 6. Social events that go beyond the sessions

Some of the best moments at IAC happen outside of the scheduled talks. (Let’s be real, half the magic of conferences is in the side conversations and unexpected connections.) Whether you want structured activities or casual hangouts, there’s something for everyone. We’ll have the usual board games and karaoke activities. And we’re planning design jams to help Philly causes. For the early birds, we’ll have a morning walk/run through the city. Our local liaison has curated a guide for all things Philly to help you explore on your own or with others.

People around a table playing a card game at game night
Game night last year involved playing intense rounds of Spaceteam!

What attendees loved about IAC

Still not sure if IAC is worth attending? Don’t just take my word for it—here’s what past attendees had to say about last year’s conference.

Dan also wrote a recap about IAC24, which you can read on LinkedIn.

Will I see you there?

I hope so! Come say hello if you join us in Philly. Compared to other conferences, it’s an inexpensive $585 for three days of amazing talks and experiences. We offer discounted rates for students and unemployed practitioners ($385). To register or learn more, visit the IA Conference site.