Wurman's vision of information architecture has not come to fruition. This could have been because his vision was made in the 1970s and he couldn't predict the socio-technical innovations that have come to pass since then (i.e., the Internet). His vision of IA was backed by a elements of traditional architecture and graphic design. Those elements are still visible in today's notion of information architecture (wayfinding, information design) but as time passed, the field has become increasingly interdisciplinary. Now, concepts from library science, computer science, graphic design, cognitive science, and psychology are at the core of information architecture.
Yet despite the interdisciplinary-ness of IA, it is almost exclusively taught in library science programs. University of Baltimore and Kent State offer master's programs in information architecture, but they are the only two of which I am aware. More often than not, library schools are offering courses and programs in information architecture. Why is that? Information architects generally work in environments like ad agencies or creative firms yet are educated in libraries. It doesn't connect. Geologists aren't educated in music halls. Why should information architects be educated in libraries?
Information architecture is an obscure field, at least from my own experience from talking about it with friends and family. I've only met a few people who are familiar with the term; most people requires some kind of explanation. This doesn't bother me but perhaps if IA was taught in more visible departments (computer science, fine arts, psychology, etc), it would be a more pervasive and understood field.
