names extending
Ang Madsen
Information architect with a focus on cognitive behavior, Ang took her own sweet time building her expertise, her way. Information, art, and technology were the flames to her mothiness.
names info design
Names taxonomy
I spent weeks, probably hundreds of hours, researching names, trying to find different patterns and different taxonomies before finding W3C and Wikipedia examples like Akan names, Indian names, and African-American names.
names info design
Data myths in names
Part of the 26 cultures researched, as noted in Names taxonomy.
names info design
Multiple potential starting points
So, we’ve acknowledged that the current construct is US-centric, and the US has patterns of cultural fuckuperry.
names info design
Mixed governance names data
Legacy Our legacy standard is first_name:text, which we’re already shifting conceptually to given:text. In the legacy construct, the field name – e.g., first_name or given – is the category.
names info design
Mixed governance names UI
Legacy Our legacy standard for interfaces between governed and ungoverned data fields is pretty strict. Text field goes to ungoverned data. Dropdowns, checkboxes, radios, toggles go to governed data.
names info design
Allowing for multiple names
Understanding the name structure doesn't mean we now know all the ways to refer to them based on context, (presumed) relationship, legal form, etc. Broaden the cultural context enough, and even the legal name shifts in expectation.
names logic
Logic shifts: internal chunking
The reality is that the current structure (first/last) works in the population in which it works. We don’t have to start from scratch, we just have to be more realistic about the full complexity.
names logic
Big-picture logic shifts
The names pattern can look intimidating. There are lots of details involved, with complex structures and behaviors, and it's shifting something so prevalent that it can feel like you've stepped outside of the known information universe. Take a deep breath, it's not that bad.
names logic
More nimble logic: JSON
JSON data can use governed data, constraining both the available categories and potential entries.
names logic
Logic shift: factor in construction context
Part of what likely contributes to keeping names “simpler” is that we have to fill them in everywhere. It’s extra work for developers, extra work for systems architects and information architects, UX’ers, content managers, marketing. It's an administrative burden for users.
names logic
Mixed governance overview
Governed/ungoverned is a binary. Binary is a function of our information technology.