#047 Architecting Information for Search, Humans, and Artificial Intelligence

How AI Is Built

Today on How AI Is Built, Nicolay Gerold sits down with Jorge Arango, an expert in information architecture. Jorge emphasizes that aligning systems with users' mental models is more important than optimizing backend logic alone. He shares a clear framework with four practical steps:

Key Points:

• Information architecture should bridge user mental models with system data models
• Information's purpose is to help people make better choices and act more skillfully
• Well-designed systems create learnable (not just "intuitive") interfaces
• Context and domain boundaries significantly impact user understanding
• Progressive disclosure helps accommodate users with varying expertise levels

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Backend Systems
• 00:36 Guest Introduction: Jorge Arango
• 01:12 Podcast Dynamics and Guest Experiences
• 01:53 Timeless Principles in Technology
• 02:08 Interesting Conversations and Learnings
• 04:04 Physical vs. Digital Organization
• 04:21 Smart Defaults and System Maintenance
• 07:20 Data Models and Conceptual Structures
• 08:53 Designing User-Centric Systems
• 10:20 Challenges in Information Systems
• 10:35 Understanding Information and Choices
• 15:49 Clarity and Context in Design
• 26:36 Progressive Disclosure and User Research
• 37:05 The Role of Large Language Models
• 54:59 Future Directions and New Series (MLOps)

Information Architecture Fundamentals

What Is Information?

• Information helps people make better choices to act more skillfully
• Example: "No dog pooping" signs help predict consequences of actions
• Poor information systems fail to provide relevant guidance for users' needs

Mental Models vs. Data Models

• Systems have underlying conceptual structures that should reflect user mental models
• Data models make these conceptual models "normative" in the infrastructure
• Designers serve as translators between user needs and technical implementation
• Goal: Users should think "the person who designed this really gets me"

Design Strategies for Complex Systems

Progressive Disclosure

• Present simple interfaces by default with clear paths to advanced functionality
• Example: HyperCard - visual interface for beginners with programming layer for experts
• Allows both novice and expert users to use the same system effectively

Context Setting and Domain Boundaries

• All interactions happen within a context that influences understanding
• Words acquire different meanings in different contexts (e.g., "save" in computing vs. banking)
• Clearer domain boundaries make information architecture design easier
• Hardest systems to design: those serving many purposes for diverse audiences

Conceptual Modeling (Underrated Practice)

• Should precede UI sketching but often skipped by designers
• Defines concepts needed in the system and their relationships
• Creates more cohesive and coherent systems, especially for complex projects
• More valuable than sitemaps, which imply rigid hierarchies

LLMs and Information Architecture

Current and Future Applications

• Transforming search experiences (e.g., Perplexity providing answers vs. link lists)
• Improving intent parsing in traditional search
• Helping information architects with content analysis and navigation structure design
• Enabling faster, better analysis of large content repositories

Implementation Advice

For Engineers and Designers

• Designers should understand how systems are built (materials of construction)
• Engineers benefit from understanding user perspectives and mental models
• Both disciplines have much to teach each other

For Complex Applications

• Map conceptual models before writing code
• Test naming with real users
• Implement progressive disclosure with good defaults
• Remember: "If the user can't find it, it doesn't exist"

Notable Quotes:

"People only understand things relative to things they already understand." - Richard Saul Wurman

"The hardest systems to design are the ones that are meant to do a lot of things for a lot of different people." - Jorge Arango

"Very few things are intuitive. There's a long running joke in the industry that the only intuitive interface for humans is the nipple. Everything else is learned." - Jorge Arango

Jorge Arango

• LinkedIn
• Website
• X (Twitter)

Nicolay Gerold:

• ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠X (Twitter)