2026 World Information Architecture Day LA Conference
World IA Day LA 2026 — Design for Meaning. A one-day conference for people who organize information and help others navigate complexity. March 7, Pasadena.
Who should come?
This event is for information architects, UX professionals, designers, developers, product managers, content strategists, content designers, UX writers, technical writers, educators, students
—and anyone who cares about how information is organized and shared.
What to expect?
A one-day in-person conference in Los Angeles providing an awesome lineup, workshop activities, network sessions, and the newest research findings with leading industry experts, exploring the future of information architecture and user experience.
2026 Theme: Design for Meaning
We design to discover and shape meaning.
The act of designing itself—wrestling with complexity, finding patterns, making decisions—is how we make sense of the world.
The things we design help people find meaning in chaos.
Whether it’s a form, a map, or a search system, we help people navigate uncertainty and understand what matters.
We design as a way of life, one that gives us meaning.
This work matters. Organizing information and shaping experiences gives purpose to our own lives.
Schedule
9:00a - Check-in, Coffee & Mingling
Coffee and breakfast snacks while you check in. We'll introduce some networking puzzles to carry with you through the day.
10:00a - Welcome and Orientation
We'll kick things off, set the tone for the day, and point you toward the essentials.
10:10a - The Architecture of Understanding
Richard Aragon takes us through how humans organize information, from grocery stores to emergency alerts, and what happens when no one's thinking about structure.
10:50a - Naming, Structure, and Meaning in Design Systems
John Lee explores how the names we choose for tokens, components, and classes become a shared language across teams, and why those choices shape everything that gets built on top of them.
(short break)
11:35a - AI Folksonomy Workshop
Chris R. Becker leads a hands-on session on adding clarity to AI, instead of just slapping it on everything.
12:30p - Lunch & Networking
Lunch is provided by Lucky Boy, a Pasadena institution since 1961. Think burgers, tacos, and vegetarian options. Please feel free to take your food to the wonderful roof garden or any of the spaces around campus.
1:30p - Art Center Student Showcase
Todd Masilko introduces Art Center's Interaction Design program, then Keller Wang and Leo Song walk us through student projects, including AI-driven healthcare interventions and next-gen interfaces for autonomous systems.
2:20p - Making Meaning: A Call for Slow Ethical Design
Justyna Berzowska makes the case for slowing down, and shows us what gets lost when we don't take time to understand the problem before designing.
3:00p - Taxonomy in Service of Experience
Wesley Chou walks us through real projects and the different approaches to organizing collections, showing how taxonomy decisions shape the way people explore.
3:40p - Closing Remarks
6:00p - After party?
Location: Hawg Heaven, 119 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena
The day ends, but the conversations don't have to. Join us at Hawg Heaven BBQ & Gastropub for a casual wind-down. They've got barbecue, Mexican food, and drinks.
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Not in LA? Don't worry. World IA Day is an annual global event hosting in 20+ cities world wide. Check out the location near you!
Additional Information
Code of Conduct
World Information Architecture Association is dedicated to the empowerment of local leaders. Our celebrations inspire the global growth of information architecture as a community of practice. We are dedicated to bringing a diversity of thoughts and thinkers. Volunteers are working hard to bring this amazing celebration to locations all over the world. Our community is growing rapidly, with an estimated 4000+ attendees participating in a growing number of locations worldwide. As a volunteer-led organization, we rely on the active participation of our community, which can only happen if everyone attending World IA Day feels safe and respected. By attending World IA Day, you agree to WIAA's Code of Conduct.
Terms and Conditions
I authorize the World Information Architecture Association (WIAA), its organizers, representatives and suppliers to use, edit, reproduce, publish, transmit or distribute photographs, video footage and audio recordings of me captured/recorded during this event, in any and all publications, technological platforms or media of any kind whatsoever, including any social media or other media that may exist in the future. I, furthermore, agree to give this consent without expectation of payment, nor is there any time limit or geographic limitation as to where the above material may be released. I hereby waive any recourse, claim, action and damages of any kind whatsoever against WIAA, its successors and assigns, and where applicable, its employees, management and authorized representatives, arising from or incurred as a result of, whether directly or indirectly, an act covered by the scope of this agreement.