From the fundamentals of the discipline, through UX and artificial intelligence, to information visualisation
AIDA is a series of conferences which, since 2018, has been bringing together researchers, designers, educators, students and representatives of cultural institutions and the technology sector. The common theme of the event is information architecture — understood not only as a way of organising content, but also as the practice of designing understandable, useful and responsible information environments.
The five subsequent editions have chronicled the changes taking place in this field. The conference programme has evolved alongside technology and users’ needs: from questions about definitions, methodology and the training of information architects, through UX research and digital service design, to algorithms, artificial intelligence, disinformation and visual ways of explaining complex data.
| 5 | 2018-2026 | 13 | 30+ |
|---|---|---|---|
editions of the conference | eight years of development | special guests | the institutions represented |
From the concept of discipline to designing the future
Each edition of AIDA had its own theme and its own visual language, but they all form a single narrative: about how people find meaning in an increasingly complex world of information. The conference was not limited to merely observing these changes. It enabled participants to identify, explore and translate them into design, educational and institutional practice.
AIDA 1 – Information Architecture: Research, Education, Design
The first edition, held in 2018, laid the foundations for the entire series. The discussion centred on information architecture as an interdisciplinary field of research and education. The programme covered methodology, terminology, the skills required of future graduates, the design of information environments, usability testing and data visualisation. The presence of Peter Morville and Andrea Resmini gave the event an international perspective from the outset and connected Kraków’s academic community with the most significant trends in global information architecture.
AIDA 2 – From theory and research to a useful infosphere
The 2020 edition took place under the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic and moved the proceedings online. The focus was on the practical application of information architecture: digital product design, exploratory search, visualisation, user research techniques and website evaluation. Eric Reiss’s presentation highlighted the importance of a common design language, whilst the conference format itself demonstrated that the AIDA community is able to maintain the exchange of knowledge even when face-to-face meetings are not possible.
AIDA 3 – Information Architecture from a UX Perspective
In 2022, the conference placed a stronger focus on user experience. The programme brought together research into navigation and wayfinding, eye-tracking, behavioural analytics, interface design, minimalism, accessibility and UX education. Karol Piekarski explored what even well-prepared data visualisations conceal from their audience, whilst Abby Covert discussed trends and challenges in information architecture. Workshops on information visualisation added a practical dimension to the programme.
AIDA 4 – AI versus IA: Information Architecture in the Age of Algorithms
Czwarta edycja, zorganizowana w 2024 roku, postawiła architekturę informacji w samym środku debaty o sztucznej inteligencji. Prelegenci analizowali relacje między AI i UX, rolę algorytmów w projektowaniu taksonomii i systemów etykietowania, chatboty, zasady FAIR, cyberprzemoc, fake newsy, dostępność narzędzi generatywnych oraz bezpieczeństwo informacji. Joanna Jaworek-Korjakowska, Anna Pietruszka, Heather Hedden i Jorge Arango pokazali z różnych perspektyw, że odpowiedzialne projektowanie w erze AI wymaga zarówno technologicznej wiedzy, jak i świadomego porządkowania znaczeń.
AIDA 5 – Information visualisation: structures, tools, interpretations
The fifth edition, held in 2026, focused on imagery as a tool for understanding data, communicating knowledge and building trust. The programme brought together scientific infographics, public statistics, visual metaphors for information, taxonomies of digital cultural resources, text–image communication, visual narratives and affective maps. Jasiek Krzysztofiak explored the practice of information design in Nature magazine, Monika Wałaszek presented the visualisation ecosystem of Polish public statistics, and Dan Brown addressed the topic of the architecture of disinformation. The discussion also covered biases in AI models and visual mechanisms of manipulation in digital media.
Theory meets practice
From the outset, AIDA’s strength has been its ability to bridge the gap between the academic world and design practice. Alongside theoretical papers, the programme featured case studies, project presentations, posters, panel discussions and workshops. Researchers were able to test their methods against the real-world problems faced by designers, whilst practitioners could place their day-to-day decisions within a broader scientific, ethical and social context.
The programmes for subsequent editions continued to address issues such as the usability of websites, the organisation of digital resources, navigation design, taxonomy development, user behaviour and the education of future professionals. Over time, these were joined by issues such as algorithmic accountability, protecting users from manipulation, and communicating data in a transparent and reliable manner. As a result, AIDA remained closely attuned to the issues that were actually transforming information design.
International voices, a Polish cooperation network
The conference’s special guests included renowned researchers, authors and designers from Poland and abroad, such as Peter Morville, Andrea Resmini, Eric Reiss, Abby Covert, Heather Hedden, Jorge Arango and Dan Brown. Their participation opened the programme to a global debate on information architecture, UX and design, whilst also strengthening the dialogue with Polish research centres.
Representatives from over thirty institutions – including universities, libraries, museums, public bodies, technology companies and industry organisations – took part in the five editions. These included, amongst others, UKEN, the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, the University of Silesia, the University of Łódź, Nicolaus Copernicus University, the University of Wrocław, AGH University of Science and Technology, Nature, Enterprise Knowledge and the Statistical Office in Kraków. This diversity has made AIDA a meeting place for a wide range of professional languages and perspectives.
A partnership that ensures continuity
The conference’s development was supported by sponsors, patrons and institutional partners. In subsequent years, organisations involved in the event included Aleph Polska, MOL, EBSCO, BonaSoft, Traffic Peaks and Arfido, whilst patronage was provided by industry organisations, public institutions and academic media. Their presence reinforced the practical dimension of the event and enabled the scientific perspective to be contrasted with the experience of the market, libraries, cultural institutions and public administration.
A legacy that lives on
AIDA’s legacy does not end with the conference’s final session. The programmes, abstracts, presentations, publications and photo reports form an open archive of the development of information architecture in Poland. They illustrate how research questions, design tools and user expectations have evolved — and how the importance of responsible information design has steadily grown.
After five editions, AIDA is more than just a series of events. It is a community where theory meets practice, where the expertise of recognised specialists is combined with the perspectives of young researchers, and where information architecture remains a vibrant discipline that responds to the most significant challenges of the digital world.
Discover the history of the AIDA conference