I resign. I am no longer an information architecture consultant. After 30 years of service, I hereby put myself out to pasture. But I’m not retiring. My daughter and I are founding a 501c3 think tank and animal sanctuary. I hope you’ll join the adventure.

I doubt this news is a surprise. I’ve been fading from the scene for years. But I wanted to take a moment for reflection and gratitude. I enjoyed an amazing career, thanks to good luck, hard work, and so many wonderful people all around this beautiful world.

I got to learn information science and explore the Internet at library school. Thank you Lou, Joe, Amy, Heidi, Paula, Ed, Shirley, Maurita, Dave, Miranda, Victor, and Dan.

I got to build a company with Lou and Samantha. Thanks to all the Argonauts for crewing Argus Associates and the Argus Center for Information Architecture. And thank you Susan Kornfield for encouraging us to grow and for helping us to close.

I got to write the polar bear book with Lou. Thank you Lorrie, Tim, and Linda. It was also a blast to write the Web Architect column for Web Review. Plus, I got to write Ambient Findability, Intertwingled, Search Patterns, and Planning for Everything.

I got to speak at conferences all over the world, starting with Internet World, IA Summit, and IA2K. Thanks to Jane, Dick, Vanessa, and to all the lovely organizers, volunteers, and attendees. I am eternally grateful for the kindness of strangers.

I got to start the Asilomar Institute for Information Architecture which became the IAI which birthed World IA Day. Thanks co-founders, volunteers, members, and attendees.

I got to go solo and work with NCI, LOC, HBS, PBI, and AADL. I got to partner with Q and TUG. Good people, wicked challenges, what more could I ask? Semantic Studios turns 23 this year. I won’t be consulting, but I will be publishing, so no closing of doors.

What a ride! Thank you Susan, Claire, and Claudia for your support and inspiration.

And I get to keep the memories: Lou sleeping under his desk, our offices above the Broken Egg, sunset in La Jolla, folks saying the polar bear book changed their lives, Explain IA, Understanding IA, the UX Honeycomb, pisco sours in Chile, shrimp balls in Brazil, Eishin, bento with Noriyo, minestrone in Genoa, solidarity in Gdańsk, karaoke, the polar bear run, Sea Ranch, giving a plenary, becoming a fellow. Good times!

I was lucky to start my career in 1994, and 2024 feels like a great time to get out, before I’m forced to learn Figma or be a prompt engineer. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

I’m not closing the book on information architecture. In fact, my novel is my way of emancipating information architecture as language and classification are central to our relationships with animals. I’m an information architect AND an animal philosopher.

And, I do hope you’ll join our journey. We’ll be sharing our adventures in building Sentient Sanctuary via LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. See you in the pasture!