Abby Covert specializes in delivering a collaborative information architecture process and teaching those that she works with along the way. She speaks and writes under the pseudonym Abby the IA, focusing on sharing information architecture content with those working within the design and technology communities. She is the author of How to Make Sense of Any Mess, a book about information architecture for everybody. She is past president of the Information Architecture Institute, a global non-profit membership organization focused on empowering IA leadership, currently serving members in 73 countries.

Dave Malouf is passionate about how technology can help people connect to each other and help them achieve their personal and organizational goals. As a veteran design leader, strategist, facilitator, researcher, and educator he has worked with some of the largest and fastest growing organizations globally. He is taking that experience and passion and helping organizations amplify the value they get from their investment in design. Dave is a writer, teacher, and facilitator sought after around the globe for speaking and workshop engagements helping to teach designers how to build strategic, visionary, empathetic, and creative organizations.

Lou Rosenfeld is Rosenfeld Media’s founder and publisher. Like many user experience folk, Lou started somewhere (library science), made his way somewhere else (information architecture), and has ended up in an entirely different place (publishing). Lou spent most of his career in information architecture consulting, first as founder of Argus Associates and later as an independent consultant. He co-founded the Information Architecture Institute and the IA Summit, the user experience network. And he does know something about publishing, having edited or co-authored five books, including the IA “bible,” Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, and Search Analytics for Your Site.

Kristin Skinner is an author, speaker, workshop teacher, and organization design leader. She is currently Head of Design Management at Capital One, leading the practice and team of Design Managers who coordinate the design organization’s efforts, guide cross-functional collaboration, and enable the design team to deliver outcomes with measurable impact. Kristin has extensive experience recruiting, hiring, and managing designers and design practice managers, and shaping design organizations and operations for optimal effectiveness, in both consulting and in-house contexts, and in companies of various sizes. Previously at Adaptive Path, Kristin was Managing Director where she established and lead the Design Management practice, guided sales and operations, co-led the portfolio, and scoped and co-led over 40 of the firm’s most strategic and complex projects and programs. Prior to Adaptive Path, Kristin shaped the Design Manager role for Entertainment and Devices at Microsoft’s Pioneer Studios. Kristin programs and co-hosts the LX Conference (formerly MX) and is a keynote speaker and frequent workshop teacher on organizational design and design management. Kristin is co-author of Org Design for Design Orgs: Building and Managing In-House Design Teams, the first book dedicated to the organization, management, and operations of in-house design teams. Keep up with Kristin at orgdesignfordesignorgs.com, adaptivepath.com, or @bettay.