To evaluate an information architecture, first identify at what scale it operates. Information architecture generally applies to one of five scales: The organization, The platform, The site, The interface, or The interaction. At each scale, information architecture operates with different constraints. Each scale changes at different rates, and each scale operates within a different design context. Scale gives us a way to classify the type of information architecture, so we know what we can compare.

A language of critique describes information architecture without judging information architecture.

A first-person account of Jesse James Garret’s historically significant 2009 IA Summit closing plenary where he declared “there is no such thing as an information architect”, and a look at his argument about the need for a language for discussing information architecture.

Both breadth and depth impact how well users can navigate, however information scent, berrypicking, and visual hierarchy—how people interact with your hierarchy—impact the usability of your hierarchies just as much, if not more.

Fail to collaborate on content inventories, content models, or block diagrams, and you will deliver disjointed experiences for users, and difficult to manage sites for content authors.

Mental models represent how users think about something. Information architecture crafts mental models that help teams design products and services that work the way your users expect.

How you think about the stuff in your site isn’t how your users think about the stuff. If you want your site to work for your users, you have to design a site that reflects how they think.

The balance between the org’s needs and user needs means you need to organize content by both type and user path, so you can support both users and the org.

UX isn't about answers. It's about the right questions. When someone suggests you're an impostor, look for the right question.

Andy Fitzgerald's presentation, "Taxonomy for App Makers", doubles as a solid exploration into taxonomy as a concept. The presentation audio has been synched with the slides.