[Sigia-l] Classification is an essential skill

[Derek R]

In response to Gerry:

>| To classify (categorize) is an essential
>| skill of the information architect

Of course classification is an essential skill. One must understand,
however, *how* a skill is 'evenly applied' to avoid having it become a
crutch.


>| I've been designing websites since
>| 1994

Gerry, even if you've been 'all around the world,' and arrogantly
presume yourself an expert in 'everybody,' you must understand any
communication involving users/people is only *contingently* valid.
Nothing can be written in stone.


>| I run classification workshops all over the world
>|  [...]
>| It is my experience that a classification set 
>| can be derived that will be accepted by a 
>| large number of people

An Information Architect would be wise not to lose sight of
*indexicality* -- that people make sense of a remark, sign, or
particular 'category' by reference to the context in which it occurs
('difference' as formation agent). 

The point here is that you can't just 'hand-down-the-law' like some
'senior' authority and have it accepted by all. One must guard against
totalitarianism.

With this in mind -- I know there is a tendency for marketers selling
'packaged' solutions to be *fixated* in such a way that they ignore the
'overall' developing play. A marketer's behavior can often become so
*fixed* on the 'sale' that they are incapable of accommodating new facts
which would interfere with their 'pitch.' Marketers/salespersons only
know what they are peddling.

Nothing in Information Architecture should be routine enough to be
regulated to treadmill-presentations by self-proclaimed 'experts.' 



>| I simply do not agree with the view
>| that everyone has a completely different
>| view of the world

You'd have to be a maniac to believe that, Gerry. 

Information Architects must not become over-zealous (for instance, in
use of categorization) and take the user/person *for-granted.* 

All is attention. People deploy their *own* common-sense categories to
make sense of their world. Each individual has their *own* 'form of
life:'

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these? He who
brings out the starry host one-by-one, and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is
missing." -- Isaiah (40:26)



>| It would be nice if we could move 
>| beyond this ground-level debate

I think it's important to expose 'background assumptions' that have been
accepted as reality, without attention, for a long time. Innovation can
only occur through *attention* -- otherwise there is stagnation and
marketing of singular ideas.