Notes from IA Summit — We are open for business

I must confess that I didn’t sleep much last night. Even though Dan, Dalia and I worked on the conference for an entire year and we were fairly sure that we’d done our best, there is something absolutely terrifying about the idea that the experience of a large number of people rests on your shoulders and your planning.

So, it was with slightly shaky legs that I (we?) climbed the stage this morning to welcome the over 600 attendees of the 2016 IA Summit. And then it occurred to me that it wasn’t about my or my fellow co-chairs’ performance, but about facilitating the experience of everybody else who makes the Summit the unique event that it is. I am, after all, an experience designer.

As one of this year’s co-chairs, I cannot comment on specific talks (but you will be able to judge for yourself once the videos are released) not even the keynotes, but today’s lineup was absolutely stellar.

What I can say is that both Lisa Welchman and Cory Doctorow charmed us with their warmth, inspired us with their wisdom and will continue making us think though the seeds they planted today in our minds. We are so very thankful for that and for the time they took to sign their books.

And now it’s off to attend our beloved Poster Night, which Abby Covert (past IAI president and information architect extraordinaire) aptly defined, sort of a grown-up take on the grade school science fair — albeit with fewer volcano dioramas.

And get some rest, of course.

Today’s highlights — absolutely everything, but the people more than anything else. And the lingering effect of last night’s delightful conversations with Giles Colborne, Peter Merholz and Jesse James Garrett.

Originally posted at: http://www.tobiasandtobias.com/notes-from-ia-summit-we-are-open-for-business/