force10x's dashboard

- This is a personal preference but the discussion in a mailing list format does get frustrating as I find it difficult to locate threads (specially if its a continuation of a 'conversation'). Would prefer to have it in a forum style so that I book mark interesting threads with relevant topics. A forum would help me search according to topic/post by user and also makes it easy to send links to colleagues.

I personally think that the following has been of help to me since I joined IAI a few months ago:

- discussion on the mailing list have been very informative with right mix of professionals participating.

- The recently initiated UX book club

- resources on the IAI website (tools/IA library/)

Though I have been working on design and development of websites and web application, I am fairly new to Information Architecture as a specialised field.

I understand usability, site structure, importance of card sorts, wireframing and storyboarding, creating prototypes, contextual inquiries, work flow diagrams.

Unfortunately, since it was "not required/feasible" I have not had the opportunity to conduct or create the following on live projects:

- Contextual inquiry
- Card sort with the relevant stakeholders
- Work flow diagrams
- Focus group
- Process/Method/Documentation for conducting user research and analysis, use cases, IA/Interaction design

So far in my career all the above have been done in bits and pieces by taking initiatives and reading material on online forums/books etc. Since I have never worked under a seasoned IA or User experience specialist I lack confidence in this discipline.

It would be great to meet professionals with a few years of experience or attend "reasonably priced" workshops that would help to build these skills.

The UX book club initiated recently seems to be something that might just work and touch upon the above.

my 2 cents ;-)