@understandinggroup.bsky.social
Great thoughts from Heather on #taxonomytuesday about the problem with using the word "term" when building taxonomies.
There is a key idea here there is the NAMING of a thing (labels) and then there is the STRUCTURE of the thing (concepts). They are distinct.
Great Stuff!
There is a key idea here there is the NAMING of a thing (labels) and then there is the STRUCTURE of the thing (concepts). They are distinct.
Great Stuff!
Narrower Terms vs. Alternative Terms
When creating or editing a taxonomy, it's important to know when to create narrower terms vs. synonym terms (alternative labels).
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Great thoughts from Heather on #taxonomytuesday about the problem with using the word "term" when building taxonomies.
There is a key idea here there is the NAMING of a thing (labels) and then there is the STRUCTURE of the thing (concepts). They are distinct.
Great Stuff!
There is a key idea here there is the NAMING of a thing (labels) and then there is the STRUCTURE of the thing (concepts). They are distinct.
Great Stuff!
A really great discussion of how to consider durable knowledge in technical projects by Indi Young.
We're glad designers are having this conversation more often, because it will make software projects better in general.
buff.ly/iSJZBUF
We're glad designers are having this conversation more often, because it will make software projects better in general.
buff.ly/iSJZBUF
Narrating diagram on cognition and user research | Indi Young posted on the topic | LinkedIn
Here's a narrated version of the diagram that shows where/when to make durable knowledge about people (cognition) versus the cyclical #UserResearch that comes in the team's build space. 📣 This is part...
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A really great discussion of how to consider durable knowledge in technical projects by Indi Young.
We're glad designers are having this conversation more often, because it will make software projects better in general.
buff.ly/iSJZBUF
We're glad designers are having this conversation more often, because it will make software projects better in general.
buff.ly/iSJZBUF
Archetype modeling ensures that the information structure at the core of a digital place is optimized to help users get things done. Learn to anticipate user needs in your digital places!
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Archetypes of User Intention — The Understanding Group (TUG)
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Archetype modeling ensures that the information structure at the core of a digital place is optimized to help users get things done. Learn to anticipate user needs in your digital places!
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
The key thing to remember about "vibe" anything is that LLMs are not procedural turing machines. They are naive, chipper magpies trying to find the things that will make you happy, for better or worse. Working with them in that mindset is critical.
Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it | TechCrunch
TechCrunch spoke to experienced coders about their time using AI-generated code about what they see as the future of vibe coding.
buff.ly
November 4, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The key thing to remember about "vibe" anything is that LLMs are not procedural turing machines. They are naive, chipper magpies trying to find the things that will make you happy, for better or worse. Working with them in that mindset is critical.
Archetype modeling ensures that the information structure at the core of a digital place is optimized to help users get things done. Learn to anticipate user needs for your digital places. Starting November 13th. More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
October 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Archetype modeling ensures that the information structure at the core of a digital place is optimized to help users get things done. Learn to anticipate user needs for your digital places. Starting November 13th. More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Taiwan has been at the forefront of using social media tools to strengthen their democracy, so much so that Audrey Tang was interviewed on the "Your Undivided Attention" podcast. This article is practical and hopeful in its ideas for using AI to improve democratic outcomes as well.
Democracy in the Age of AI
Democracy in the Age of AI
buff.ly
October 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Taiwan has been at the forefront of using social media tools to strengthen their democracy, so much so that Audrey Tang was interviewed on the "Your Undivided Attention" podcast. This article is practical and hopeful in its ideas for using AI to improve democratic outcomes as well.
We're not sure that what Jorge is describing is "conservative" as much as "average to its very bones", but his key point stands: AI is not good for finding less well lit corners or surprising results. It literally can't, and we have to keep that in consideration as we use it.
buff.ly/V5p5FFv
buff.ly/V5p5FFv
Why AI is conservative and how it affects tech choices | Jorge Arango posted on the topic | LinkedIn
AI is inherently conservative. I don’t mean that in the political sense — this is lowercase-c “conservative.” Because of how they’re trained, LLMs favor and perpetuate long-established frameworks...
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 4:07 PM
We're not sure that what Jorge is describing is "conservative" as much as "average to its very bones", but his key point stands: AI is not good for finding less well lit corners or surprising results. It literally can't, and we have to keep that in consideration as we use it.
buff.ly/V5p5FFv
buff.ly/V5p5FFv
Archetype modeling ensures that the information structure at the core of a digital place is optimized to help users get things done. Learn to anticipate user needs in your digital places!
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Archetypes of User Intention - Remote Workshop — The Understanding Group (TUG)
Learn TUG’s method for understanding the intentions of people as a way to make better digital places. Workshop Dates: Thursday, November 13, 2025, 12 – 3 p.m. ET Thursday, November 20, 2025, 12…
bit.ly
October 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Archetype modeling ensures that the information structure at the core of a digital place is optimized to help users get things done. Learn to anticipate user needs in your digital places!
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Starting November 13th.
More info: buff.ly/tsAjNar
#DesignNurture #TUGWorkshop
Another post that reflects the current state of AI, which is basically "how do we MANAGE them". A reflection of the way that they generate outputs that require more work on the back end and in the original setting of constraints than creating the actual outputs themselves.
buff.ly/OYqoDqO
buff.ly/OYqoDqO
Design as governance: The next frontier for enterprises | Mark P. posted on the topic | LinkedIn
The next frontier for enterprises is not digital innovation. It is governance of the digital, AI included. Design is the connective tissue here: mapping the terrain, orchestrating accountability, embedding...
buff.ly
October 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Another post that reflects the current state of AI, which is basically "how do we MANAGE them". A reflection of the way that they generate outputs that require more work on the back end and in the original setting of constraints than creating the actual outputs themselves.
buff.ly/OYqoDqO
buff.ly/OYqoDqO
This short post may be a seminal work in the creation of agency-centered architectures. There are some assertions about the scope of agents here that may be challenged as they expand in capability and quality, but the overall vision of the model is deeply compelling.
buff.ly/6FgYUOw
buff.ly/6FgYUOw
Enterprise Architecture of Agency: A New Unit of Design | Jesper Lowgren posted on the topic | LinkedIn
Enterprise architects don’t live in diagrams; we live in the 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬. Business leaders want speed and new value. Data...
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This short post may be a seminal work in the creation of agency-centered architectures. There are some assertions about the scope of agents here that may be challenged as they expand in capability and quality, but the overall vision of the model is deeply compelling.
buff.ly/6FgYUOw
buff.ly/6FgYUOw
Systems documentation as an Information Architecture problem! It's really notable how many decisions map to IA issues, starting with simple things like the way that the author organizes his documentation (chronologically rather than by topic).
Documents: The architect’s programming language - Stack Overflow
Senior developers know how to deploy code to systems made of code. Architects know how to deploy ideas to systems made of people.
buff.ly
October 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Systems documentation as an Information Architecture problem! It's really notable how many decisions map to IA issues, starting with simple things like the way that the author organizes his documentation (chronologically rather than by topic).
This old site shows how many essential elements of architecture remain consistent, even in layouts approaching thirty years old. The only 90's constraint is that the page was designed for smaller screens.
It even looks good on a smartphone (if you hold it in landscape mode)!
It even looks good on a smartphone (if you hold it in landscape mode)!
Mother of All Art and Art History Links Pages
This page has been accessed times since August 13, 1996
buff.ly
October 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This old site shows how many essential elements of architecture remain consistent, even in layouts approaching thirty years old. The only 90's constraint is that the page was designed for smaller screens.
It even looks good on a smartphone (if you hold it in landscape mode)!
It even looks good on a smartphone (if you hold it in landscape mode)!
A great summary of the issues with the state of the art AI design pattern (and there is only one right now). Good stuff!
LukeW | Common AI Product Issues
At this point, almost every software domain has launched or explored AI features. Despite the wide range of use cases, most of these implementations have been t...
buff.ly
October 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A great summary of the issues with the state of the art AI design pattern (and there is only one right now). Good stuff!
A remarkable meditation on the power of surfacing cost and value, regardless of your domain, job description, or role. A must-read.
buff.ly/9GkcA0y
buff.ly/9GkcA0y
She started invoicing her company for data requests. | Justin Custer
She started invoicing her company for data requests. $200 per PowerPoint. $500 per dashboard. What happened next: It began as a joke during her performance review. "You say I'm not strategic enough,"…
buff.ly
October 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A remarkable meditation on the power of surfacing cost and value, regardless of your domain, job description, or role. A must-read.
buff.ly/9GkcA0y
buff.ly/9GkcA0y
The EXPERIENCE of using kiosks, online tools, etc. adds a level of cognitive friction that makes them feel burdensome, even though they provide tremendous value. So, is there a way to improve the experience so people don't feel so exploited?
buff.ly/oTgljkQ
buff.ly/oTgljkQ
I was thinking about this over the weekend - just how much extra effort it now takes to simply buy things. | Luke Reed
I was thinking about this over the weekend - just how much extra effort it now takes to simply buy things. We’re told technology makes life easier. Faster. Smarter. More efficient. But has it really?…
buff.ly
September 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The EXPERIENCE of using kiosks, online tools, etc. adds a level of cognitive friction that makes them feel burdensome, even though they provide tremendous value. So, is there a way to improve the experience so people don't feel so exploited?
buff.ly/oTgljkQ
buff.ly/oTgljkQ
One of the most powerful things TUG does is to create ways to generate "consent" in the understanding and apprehension of data.
buff.ly/dJOPsf5
buff.ly/dJOPsf5
September 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
One of the most powerful things TUG does is to create ways to generate "consent" in the understanding and apprehension of data.
buff.ly/dJOPsf5
buff.ly/dJOPsf5
Nonlinear service modeling problems have existed for quite a while, actually, but #AI makes the initial decision points even more stochastic and wooly. So how do we manage our planning and design? This article points to a potential path.
buff.ly/qGCOQkA
buff.ly/qGCOQkA
Why we changed the format of the service blueprint
Service blueprinting is a core method of service design. However, the traditional format of a service blueprint undermines the value of the…
medium.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Nonlinear service modeling problems have existed for quite a while, actually, but #AI makes the initial decision points even more stochastic and wooly. So how do we manage our planning and design? This article points to a potential path.
buff.ly/qGCOQkA
buff.ly/qGCOQkA
A lot of what #AI generates for #IA projects is so bone-dry that it's hardly worth using. Jorge's idea of using an AI add-on originally designed to architect unique code bases to generate new taxonomies was a brilliant approach to solving this problem.
Using Claude Code for Information Architecture
Repurposing a software development agent to help draft website taxonomies.
ilo.im
September 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This article's patterns for running #AIagents are all project management tools (kanban, email, etc.)
By this reasoning, you could swap out "agent" throughout the article for "talented but inexperienced intern" and the "interfaces" would be the same.
By this reasoning, you could swap out "agent" throughout the article for "talented but inexperienced intern" and the "interfaces" would be the same.
LukeW | Agent Management Interface Patterns
As an increasing number of AI applications evolve to agents doing work for people, agent management becomes a critical part of these product's design. How can p...
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
This article's patterns for running #AIagents are all project management tools (kanban, email, etc.)
By this reasoning, you could swap out "agent" throughout the article for "talented but inexperienced intern" and the "interfaces" would be the same.
By this reasoning, you could swap out "agent" throughout the article for "talented but inexperienced intern" and the "interfaces" would be the same.
A critical insight from Erika Hall.
We manage what we measure. "good" has become synonymous with "fast" because we measure fast now (we even call them "sprints"). But what if we want "good" to be synonymous with something else?
We manage what we measure. "good" has become synonymous with "fast" because we measure fast now (we even call them "sprints"). But what if we want "good" to be synonymous with something else?
Over our many years as design consultants, the limiting factor has (almost) never been the rate at which we can generate artifacts, but the pace at which clients can make decisions, which is a… | Erika Hall
Over our many years as design consultants, the limiting factor has (almost) never been the rate at which we can generate artifacts, but the pace at which clients can make decisions, which is a…
buff.ly
September 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
A critical insight from Erika Hall.
We manage what we measure. "good" has become synonymous with "fast" because we measure fast now (we even call them "sprints"). But what if we want "good" to be synonymous with something else?
We manage what we measure. "good" has become synonymous with "fast" because we measure fast now (we even call them "sprints"). But what if we want "good" to be synonymous with something else?
Has #HomoLogicus become Homo Introvertus? And, more specifically, is it really "us"? And even if it is, is it good for our digital systems to be designed as if we were all painful introverts?
Thoughtful ideas from Christina Wodtke
buff.ly/CjpkxW6
Thoughtful ideas from Christina Wodtke
buff.ly/CjpkxW6
Here’s a wacky theory I can’t shake: I’m pretty sure many of the people steering tech are on the spectrum (and I’m pretty sure I am, too). | Christina Wodtke
Here’s a wacky theory I can’t shake: I’m pretty sure many of the people steering tech are on the spectrum (and I’m pretty sure I am, too). Live human interaction drains our batteries, so we invent…
buff.ly
September 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Has #HomoLogicus become Homo Introvertus? And, more specifically, is it really "us"? And even if it is, is it good for our digital systems to be designed as if we were all painful introverts?
Thoughtful ideas from Christina Wodtke
buff.ly/CjpkxW6
Thoughtful ideas from Christina Wodtke
buff.ly/CjpkxW6
Every experienced UX professional already has the core cognitive skillset to do almost all of what the AI community is hailing as the cutting edge of practice. -- Jesse James Garrett
True? Untrue? Incomplete? How does the community feel about becoming an army of prompt engineers?
True? Untrue? Incomplete? How does the community feel about becoming an army of prompt engineers?
Beyond prompt engineering, AI is really about *context engineering.* Once you hear this, it may sound obvious. | Marshall Kirkpatrick
Beyond prompt engineering, AI is really about *context engineering.* Once you hear this, it may sound obvious. But it's got very big implications. This idea rippled through top AI conversations on…
buff.ly
September 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Every experienced UX professional already has the core cognitive skillset to do almost all of what the AI community is hailing as the cutting edge of practice. -- Jesse James Garrett
True? Untrue? Incomplete? How does the community feel about becoming an army of prompt engineers?
True? Untrue? Incomplete? How does the community feel about becoming an army of prompt engineers?
We agree completely with list of "bring it back" from this article; in fact we're wondering why and if they ever left!
Some research practices age like wine. | Nikki Anderson
Some research practices age like wine. Others age like milk left in a warm usability lab. Here are a few we should resurrect and a few we should let quietly rot. 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: ↳ Paper…
buff.ly
September 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
We agree completely with list of "bring it back" from this article; in fact we're wondering why and if they ever left!
A lot of this is because the underlying technology simply demands it. Current LLMs produce undifferentiated text blocks to answer prompts. Is there any other way that the interface should be expected to look?
buff.ly/OnkkLJN
buff.ly/OnkkLJN
Everybody is building the same thing. | Luke Wroblewski
Everybody is building the same thing. Meanwhile Bench Computing, Inc. • look at the 6 screenshots in this image • find the CEOs of each company • make an image of the Spider-Man pointing meme but…
buff.ly
August 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A lot of this is because the underlying technology simply demands it. Current LLMs produce undifferentiated text blocks to answer prompts. Is there any other way that the interface should be expected to look?
buff.ly/OnkkLJN
buff.ly/OnkkLJN
"Design leaders who do not define the value their teams create will continue to have that value defined for them by others."
"How do I help" is one of the most important questions any professional or organization can ask to be effective.
buff.ly/jp5mTBW
"How do I help" is one of the most important questions any professional or organization can ask to be effective.
buff.ly/jp5mTBW
You aren’t imagining it. | Jesse James Garrett
You aren’t imagining it. Design leaders really have been losing ground in authority and influence in recent years, and industry analyst John Gleason has the data to prove it, as he shared with me and…
buff.ly
August 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"Design leaders who do not define the value their teams create will continue to have that value defined for them by others."
"How do I help" is one of the most important questions any professional or organization can ask to be effective.
buff.ly/jp5mTBW
"How do I help" is one of the most important questions any professional or organization can ask to be effective.
buff.ly/jp5mTBW