The Informed Life

Chris Aldrich has the most multi-disciplinary resume I’ve ever seen, with a background that includes biomedics, electrical engineering, entertainment, genetics, theoretical mathematics, and more. Chris describes himself as a modern-day cybernetician, and in this conversation we discuss cybernetics and communications, differences between oral and literary cultures, and indigenous traditions and mnemonics, among many other things. See full show notes at: https://theinformed.life/2024/05/05/episode-139-chris-aldrich/

Dave Gray describes himself as a possibilitarian. He focuses on helping people and teams realize their creative potential. Dave the author of several influential books, including Liminal Thinking and Gamestorming, which he co-authored with Sunni Brown and James Macanudo. He also founded the pioneering visual thinking company XPLANE. In this conversation, we discuss how to move beyond mental models that constrain us to open up new possibilities. Show notes Dave GrayDave Gray - LinkedInThe Connected CompanyGamestormingLiminal ThinkingRed Herring (magazine) - WikipediaXPLANATIONSXPLANEGreg Petroff - LinkedInDouglas Engelbart - WikipediaAndy MatuschakSchool of the PossibleSchool of the Possible Campfire CallsShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Nikki Anderson is an independent user research consultant, instructor, author, and speaker. Nikki uses her background in education and psychology to mentor people and organizations on the value of user research. And now, she’s written a book to help them build up their research operations. That’s the focus of our conversation today. Show notes Nikki AndersonImpact: A complete guide to creating a user research practice at your organizationUser Research AcademyUser Research Academy SubstackHow To Run a Qualitative Usability TestWrite Kick@ss User Research GoalsShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Michael Anton Dila describes himself as a “designer of conversation” and someone with a passion for starting things. Among the things he’s started are ventures in online learning, co-working, and mobile technology. He’s also held several leadership roles in an elite innovation unit in the U.S. Department of Defense. In this conversation, we discuss his latest initiative, Oslo for AI, which seeks to design better processes for governing artificial intelligence. Show notes Michael Anton DilaMichael Anton Dila - LinkedInOslo for AIU.S. Department of DefenseSystem 3OpenAIStone Soup - WikipediaStuart CandyOslo (film) - WikipediaOslo (play) - WikipediaThe Oslo Accords, 1993Inside OpenAI’s Crisis Over the Future of Artificial Intelligence - NY TimesComputing Machinery and IntelligenceProjects by IFSarah GoldNew Design Patterns for AIShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Dave Elfving is an experience designer and educator. He spent eleven years at apple, where his last role was as Head of Interactive Strategy. These days, he’s my colleague teaching interaction design at the California College of the Arts. He’s also co-chairperson at Gray Area, a San Francisco-based nonprofit interdisciplinary cultural incubator. Gray Area is fostering fascinating work, and I wanted to discuss it with Dave. Show notes Dave Elfving - LinkedInaught.ioGray AreaRafael Lozano-HemmerProjection mapping - WikipediaArduinoTouchDesignerMadMapperRaspberry PiShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Joey deVilla describes himself as an experienced, engaging, accordion-playing, golden-voiced developer advocate looking for a new role. He’s had a long career in the technology space and writes about his experiences in two long-running blogs, The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the Twenty-First Century and Global Nerdy. Recently, Joey became one of the many people in tech who’s lost their job in the last couple of years. That is the subject of our conversation today. Show notes 🪗 Joey (Accordion Guy) deVilla - LinkedInThe Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century - Joey deVilla’s Personal BlogGlobal Nerdy : Tampa Bay techie Joey deVilla on software, hardware, and everything in between.Laid off in 2024, part 1: The 15 worst minutes of 2024, followed by 15 more : Global NerdyWorld IA DayCory Doctorow - WikipediaUp in the Air (2009) - IMDbShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Elizabeth McGuane is a UX director at Shopify and the author of Design by Definition, a book about the impact of language in user experience. As you might imagine, that’s a subject I’m keenly interested in, so I was excited to speak with Elizabeth about it. Show notes Elizabeth McGuane - LinkedInElizabeth McGuane – MediumDesign by DefinitionShopifyIntercomEames chairsShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Pierluigi Dalla Rosa is an interaction designer at Humane, the makers of the AI Pin. But that isn’t the focus of our conversation today. Instead, we discuss novel computer interfaces in general, and interactive environments in particular. This is a subject that’s near to my heart, as it points to exciting possibilities for future digital experiences. Show notes pierdr - Pier’s websitePierluigi Dalla Rosa - LinkedInpier dr (@pierdr) - InstagramIxD Research (@ixdresearch) - InstagramHumaneCalifornia College of the ArtsJoshua Walton — Sensory.ccTramontanaEnrico Gueli (@ris8_allo_zen0) • Instagram photos and videosAn exploration in collective interfacesDouglas EngelbartLoren and Rachel CarpenterMark WeiserMarshall McLuhanHot and cool media (McLuhan)DynamiclandWIRED 1.02: Gossip is PhilosophyApple Vision ProThe VoidMeow WolfShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 This episode's transcript was produced by an AI. If you notice any errors, please get in touch.

Nathan Shedroff is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and educator. Like me, he teaches at the graduate interaction design program of the California College of the Arts. This conversation focuses on his new book, A Whole New Strategy, which teaches strategic thinking. Show notes Nathan ShedroffDesign Strategy MBA - CCAA Whole New StrategyHenry MintzbergCharles EamesPorter’s five forces analysisSWOT analysisDouble Diamond (design process model) Regis McKennaAdobe DirectorStephen CoveyShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

This episode is a compilation of conversations from 2023. It’s not meant as a best-of collection, but an opportunity to highlight some themes that emerged during our conversations throughout the year. The episode is also an experiment, with the themes being curated partly by an AI. Cover photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash. Show notes Episode 107: Michael Becker on Knowledge WorkEpisode 108: Carrie Hane on Content ModelsEpisode 110: Nicole van der Hoeven on ObsidianEpisode 111: Andy Fitzgerald on Structured ContentEpisode 112: Jerry Michalski on Jerry’s BrainEpisode 114: Dan Russell on The Joy of SearchEpisode 115: Are Halland on The Core ModelEpisode 116: Bob Kasenchak on Music, part 1Episode 117: Bob Kasenchak on Music, part 2Episode 118: Maggie Appleton on Digital GardeningEpisode 119: Aidan Helfant on PKM for LearningEpisode 120: Alex Wright on InformaticaEpisode 121: Chiara Ogan on Personal LibrariesEpisode 122: Sönke Ahrens on Smart NotesEpisode 125: Karl Voit on Org ModeEpisode 126: Nate Davis on IA Sub-disciplinesShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Steve Portigal is an independent user research consultant. He is the author of Interviewing Users and Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries. Steve and I both have new books, so we thought it’d be fun to compare notes on writing non-fiction. In this, the second of two episodes on the subject, we focus on the process of writing. If you haven’t done so already, listen to our previous conversation, which focused on our motivations. Show notes Steve PortigalSteve Portigal - LinkedInPortigal ConsultingInterviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights (2nd edition)Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries: User Research War StoriesDuly Noted: Extend Your Mind Through Connected NotesLiving in Information: Responsible Design for Digital PlacesInformation Architecture for the Web and BeyondScrivenerTinderboxThe Informed Life episode 99: Mark Bernstein on TinderboxFreeform on the App StoreShitty First DraftsJack Kerouac - WikipediaThe Informed Life episode 2: Gretchen Anderson on WritingShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Steve Portigal is an independent user research consultant. He is the author of Interviewing Users and Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries. Steve was previously on the show last year, talking about research skills. This conversation is a bit different: both of us have written new books, and we thought it’d be fun to compare notes about the process. We decided to split our conversation into two parts. This episode focuses on the motivations for writing, and the second part will focus on processes. Show Notes Steve PortigalSteve Portigal - LinkedInPortigal ConsultingInterviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights (2nd edition)Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries: User Research War StoriesThe Informed Life ep. 92 - Steve Portigal on Research SkillsLouis RosenfeldInformation Architecture for the Web and BeyondBloggerThe Informed Life ep. 118 — Maggie Appleton on Digital GardeningMaggie AppletonAbout Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design (4th edition)Write Useful BooksObsidianBuilding a Personal Knowledge GardenShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Audrey Crane is the Head of Growth at DesignMap, a product and strategy design firm. She’s also the author of What CEOs Need to Know About Design, a book that helps leaders understand and tap into the power of design in their organizations. In this, Audrey’s second appearance on the show, we focused on how organizations can ensure they’re getting the best design work for their money. Show notes Audrey Crane - LinkedInDesignMapWhat CEOs Need to Know About DesignBanish Shadow Design with These Proven Techniques – DesignMapThe Cost of Shadow Design Teams – DesignMapLevels of Organizational Design Readiness – DesignMapThe Informed Life episode 37: Audrey Crane on Design in OrganizationsDubberly Design OfficeHugh Dubberly - AIGA San FranciscoMarty Cagan - Silicon Valley Product GroupBen Horowitz - WikipediaDunning–Kruger effect - WikipediaPeter MerholzDesign maturity: Yesterday vs. today - Inside Design BlogLeah BuleyHey designers, they’re gaslighting you. By Sara Wachter-Boettcher - Nice WorkJared Spool - WikipediaSalesforce Marketing CloudShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Nate Davis is an independent information architecture consultant and a longtime contributor to the global IA community. In this conversation, we discuss his ideas about IA sub-disciplines that influence the construction of digital user interfaces. Show notes Nathaniel Davis - LinkedInMethodbrainFour Information Architecture Disciplines Every Team Should Consider When Building Digital User InterfacesGPT-4 - WikipediaShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Karl Voit describes himself as “a life hacker trying to make deliberate decisions on every aspect of life.” Among these are the tools he uses to manage his personal information. In particular, Karl is an avid user of Org Mode in Emacs, which is the focus of this conversation. Show notes public voit - Homepage of Karl VoitKarl Voit on Mastodon (@publicvoit@graz.social)Filofax - WikipediaFranklin Planner - WikipediaLaTeX - A document preparation systemEmacs - WikipediaEmacs Lisp - WikipediaOrg-mode - WikipediaDaring Fireball: MarkdownGitHubOrgzly - Notes & To-Do ListsSyncthingabo-abo/hydra: make Emacs bindings that stick aroundpublic voit — How to Use This Blog Efficientlynovoid/lazyblorg: Blogging with Org-mode for very lazy peopleShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Karl Fast is an independent scholar, information architect, and futurist. He’s the co-author with Stephen Anderson of Figure It Out: Getting From Information to Understanding. Karl is one of the most avid readers I know, and in this conversation, we compare our reading practices. We discussed this subject in preparation for a personal knowledge management workshop we will teach later this year. Show notes Karl Fast - LinkedInThe Informed Life episode 69 - Karl Fast on Interactionism, part 1The Informed Life episode 70 — Karl Fast on Interactionism, part 2Be Useful — Arnold Schwarzenegger on 7 Tools for Life, Thinking Big, Building Resilience, Processing Grief, and More (#696) - The Blog of Author Tim FerrissWar and Peace - WikipediaObsidianGod, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for MeaningOur Own Devices: How Technology Remakes HumanityTo Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of DeathTo Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of DeathTo Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of DeathThe Bodybuilders: Inside the Science of the Engineered HumanNo-dig gardening - WikipediaMise en place - WikipediaEverything in Its Place: The Power of Mise-En-Place to Organize Your Life, Work, and MindReadwiseSlow Reading in a Hurried AgeFight Club (1999) - IMDbBuild a Personal Knowledge Garden (Karl and Jorge's workshop)Show notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Jenae Cohn is the Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at UC Berkeley. Along with Michael Greer, Jenae recently published Design for Learning, a book about how to teach better using technology, and what online teachers and instructors can learn from UX designers. Show notes Jenae CohnJenae Cohn, PhD - LinkedInDesign for Learning: User Experience in Online Teaching and LearningCenter for Teaching & Learning - UC BerkeleyCalifornia College of the ArtsLearning management system - WikipediaRichard Saul Wurman - WikipediaDisclosure: Rosenfeld Media provided a copy of Jenae’s book for review. Show notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Sönke Ahrens is an independent researcher and coach. He is best known as the author of How to Take Smart Notes, a popular book on the zettelkasten method of note-taking. In this conversation, we discuss the role of notes in thinking and learning, with a focus on zettelkasten-inspired note-taking. Show notes Sönke AhrensHow to Take Smart NotesNiklas Luhmann - WikipediaBielefeld UniversityZettelkasten - WikipediaLuhmann’s digitized zettelkastenPersonal wiki - WikipediaThe Informed Life episode 74: Annie Murphy Paul on The Extended MindShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Chiara Ogan is a former UX designer and information architect. She recently left that career to become a mental health therapist. Chiara’s background is in library science, and in this conversation, we discuss how she organizes her personal book collection — which she just did in preparation for this major life change. Show notes Chiara OganChiara (Berlingo Fox) Ogan - LinkedInInformation Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing Large-scale Web SitesBilly bookcasesAmbient Findability: What We Find Changes Who We BecomeDewey Decimal Classification - WikipediaS. R. Ranganathan - WikipediaMornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore RooseveltShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200

Alex Wright is the Head of User Experience at Google News. He’s also an author, and his most recent book, Informatica, is the second edition of Glut, his deep history of the information age. In this conversation, we discuss the history of information technologies and why learning about it matters to people who work in tech. Show notes Alex WrightAlex Wright (@alexgrantwright) / XAlex Wright - LinkedInInformatica: Mastering Information through the AgesCataloging the World: Paul Otlet and the Birth of the Information AgePaul Otlet - WikipediaS. R. Ranganathan - WikipediaCharles Ammi Cutter - WikipediaMelvil Dewey - WikipediaAnthony Panizzi - WikipediaUniversal Decimal Classification - WikipediaVannevar Bush - WikipediaThe Printing Press as an Agent of ChangeThe Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to FacebookCarl Linnaeus - WikipediaGeorges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon - WikipediaBetamax - WikipediaWalkman - WikipediaApple II - WikipediaThe Futures Cone, use and history – The VoroscopeInstitute for the FutureClaude Shannon - WikipediaShow notes include Amazon affiliate links. We get a small commission for purchases made through these links. If you're enjoying the show, please rate or review us in Apple's podcast directory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-life/id1450117117?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200