first principals (was Re: [Sigia-l] moving beyond first principles: how?

[Christina Wodtke]

Here is a straw man for you

1. Information Architecture is primarily concerned with Information
Retrieval.
2. Information Architecture cannot be done effectively without and
understanding of business and user needs.
3. Just because you are an information architect doesn't mean everything you
do is information architecture.
4. Just because you aren't an information architect doesn't mean what you
are doing isn't information architecture.
5. Every site, moreover every digital content collection has an information
architecture. It's possible non-digital and non-content spaces may also have
one.
6. There is no such thing as a classification inherent in the content--
classification comes form context, including culture.
7. There is no such thing as an unbiased IA. But we have to try anyhow.
8. Information wants to be free, but people like to be paid.
9. A profession that values naming and labeling will continually have
semantic arguments.
10. IA's parents include Lou Rosenfeld, Peter Morville, Clement Mok, Edward
Tufte, Drew Miller, and Richard Saul Wurman. You have to read the polar
bear, and preferably the 2nd edition.
11. You have to value search and browse and their relationship, and moreover
be able to design for that relationship.
12. There is always more than one way to organize a group of anything, but
there is always one best way given a unique content set, unique user base
and unique business needs.
13. IA is an aspect of design.
14. IA can be taught, but good instincts are invaluable. Honed with
experience, they are priceless.

more!!