Abby Covert

Abby Covert is known for being one of the leading Informational Architecture Spokespersons. She started going to design conferences in her early years as a graphic designer. Covert recalled that she was so anxious that she would freeze during meet-and-greets and stay to herself.

It was not until she moved to Chicago that she began building her confidence after she convinced a small agency that they needed an Informational Architect. Even though she was not yet confident enough with her IA skills, she was able to convince her employers and co-workers of her abilities.

With her new built-up confidence, she made it her plan to not let her anxiety get in the way, at her next design conference. It was not going to get in the way of her talking to the guest speaker and it was not going to get in her way of finding out how to advance her career from a Junior to a Mid. That is exactly what she did at the 2008 IDEA conference by the IA Institute in Chicago. She walked straight up to Andrew Hinton, who had closed the conference, and asked him how she can be more involved in IA. He recommended that she join the mentor program and introduced her to Russ Unger.

After getting to know Unger a little more, he asked her if she would be part of the conference’s planning. Soon after, she started getting invited to running other IA conferences; then finally, having the opportunity to speak on stage. To this day, Covert has spoken at over seventy conferences and writing opportunities which lead to her finding joy in teaching IA at some of the best Art Schools in New York, such as Parsons. Some of Covert’s other great achievements have been being the President of the IA Institute, Co-chair of the IA Summit, worked with some of the top companies in the world, and the one she is most proud of, inventor of World Information Architecture Day, which takes place all around the world, bringing the IA community together and sprouting leaders in design.

I believe that Abby Covert is not as heard about as her white cis-men counterparts because unconscious insecurities most women and minorities build up from their environment, as shown by her early behavior. Recalling back to when her anxiety would block her from having conversations with speakers and networking, this form of anxiety goes back to imposters syndrome. Covert did not have enough confidence in herself to think she is worthy enough to talk to the guest speaker, have enough knowledge to talk to other designers, etc. I would know because I suffer from the same form of anxiety, which cripples me when talking to European and Asian professors—who dominate the tech-industry—, talking about my art in a positive light, sometimes have a difficult time imagining my career after I graduate since I do not feel worthy enough for someone to hire me. From what I can see, Covert has surpassed these insecurities and any limitations set on by herself with the great career and notoriety she has been able to build.

Bibliography