Mapping system

Our goal is mapping participatory processes used by media art institutions and artists. In this regard, we apply the mapping methodology by using basic elements such as icons, lines, and arrows. The findings will inspire the realisation of the second prototype of the artistic multi-touch interface.
We have organised three mapping workshops in the passed three months. Media art institutions and artists we cooperated with are association Constant vzw, organisation FoAM and artist Frederik De Wilde. Two workshops are planned in the next month with art centre Z33 and artist Marthe Van Dessel.

During a mapping workshop we analyse a concrete project the institution or artist was involved in from start to end. Throughout the organisation of such a project one collaborates with different partners. The mapping will expose the participatory processes of a project by asking questions like the amount and role of people involved in the organisation of the project, the quantity and frequency of collaboration, physical distance during collaboration, materials/methods/tools and technologies used to collaborate and exchange information.

To visualise the answers to these question we have developed icons. For example icons to illustrate people involved in the projects and tasks done during the organisations of the project. Lines and arrows indicate flow and movements of information exchange (i.e. thick lines point out intense non-stop collaboration and dotted lines illustrate collaboration on a regular base). These icons are jointly (re)arranged and (re)positioned on transparent tracing paper and attached with removable/repositionable glue. Working with transparent tracing paper allows analysis of the projects evolution in time.

By means of mapping we are able to research how the end users (media art institutions and artists) collaborate in participatory processes. The gathered results will be used in developing the artistic multi-touch interface.

More information here: http://www.interface-our-space.be/projects/participatory-mappings