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Information Architecture Institute website

With the Information Architecture Institute’s website refresh came a streamlined look, feel, and voice. Working pro bono, I created an editorial style guide emphasizing clarity and brevity, then wrote original copy and rewrote existing copy to bring the whole site up to date.

Hero copy from IAI homepage

 

Client: Information Architecture Institute

Project: Copywriting for completely refreshed website

Timeline: 5 months

Launch Date: February, 2016

URL: www.iainstitute.org

In the late spring of 2015, the estimable Jonathan Colman forwarded a tweet from the Information Architecture Institute (IAI), calling for volunteers to help with their website overhaul. Wanting to connect with others in the industry, I jumped on the project, volunteering at first for the Content Strategy team, on which I was lucky enough to work with Ren Vasey. Since learning experience was offered and beginners welcomed, I also joined the User Experience team.

Throughout the summer, I worked a little bit on personas and user journeys, but the real fun started when Ren and the president of the IAI, Abby Covert, asked whether I’d be willing to put together an editorial style guide. I said yes, of course.The style guide is brief but clear, including a bit about voice, audience, and style, as well as nitty-gritty guidelines on usage, punctuation, etc., and a few “like this/not like this” examples.

A few weeks later, Ren and Abby asked if I’d write a handful of pages for the site, so I wrote (with their guidance) the home page, What Is IA, About, Our Work, and several other pages. Then came a “could you write the rest of it too” email, so I did. See the whole site.

It’s been an absolute delight to be part of this project and to work with these super-smart, incredibly nice people. I’m really grateful for the opportunity.

IA Institute