Reflections from IA Conference 2025

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend IA Conference 2025 in Philadelphia, where information architects, designers, and strategists gathered to explore how we can make sense of today’s increasingly complex digital and social landscapes. Through a combination of plenary sessions, small group discussions, mentorship meetings, social activities, and a poster night, the conference offered fresh perspectives on navigating the complexity that is today’s world with clarity, compassion, and collaboration.

While sessions varied from strategic to tactical, they reinforced a central truth: complexity is inevitable—but with the right tools, processes, values, and mindset, we can help people navigate it with clarity and confidence. While these themes have been present at past conferences, this year they felt especially urgent—reflecting just how much more complex and unpredictable our digital and social environments have become. The themes we heard reflected a shared motivation: to turn complexity into understanding, to amplify less noise and more meaning, to build practical tools that guide people through, and to always prioritize people over systems.

The conference was held in Old City, Philadelphia, at the Arch Street Meetinghouse. Walking through the stone gateway and onto the grounds of this historical treasure provided its own unique serenity. Situated next to the equally serene cemetery boasting Ben Franklin’s grave, the meetinghouse was itself a gentle pocket of reassurance. Its square main room, wooden pews, unconditioned spring air, and large windows letting in natural light, fostered a hushed environment for listening and opening our minds to new ideas and people. The noisy city outside—the traffic and the firehouse right across the street—felt like an apt reminder of what we try to do as IAs and designers: bring peace and presence amidst infinite clutter. 

Much like the quiet strength of the meetinghouse itself, we strive to be that place of clarity and calm for our clients…

At Digital Wave, we’re passionate about guiding our clients in co-creating meaningful solutions that honor complexity without overwhelming people. By staying authentic, collaborative, compassionate, and invested, we aim to make every step of our projects clear, constructive, and rewarding. Much like the quiet strength of the meetinghouse itself, we strive to be that place of clarity and calm for our clients—a space where complexity feels navigable, and new possibilities can emerge. We’re excited to keep applying these insights—and to keep asking: how can we work together to design a more human, inclusive, and empowering digital world?

Banner Photo Credit: Karen T. Lin