Mapping

Verb

1. Represent (an area) on a map; make a map of (…).
   1. Record in detail the spatial distribution (of something).

See also Map noun

Mapping is the practice of creating maps, either topographic, thematic, or conceptual maps. With technologies like GPS, geo-data, and the rise of open source tools, maps have become more dynamic evolving processes with participatory affordances, rather than static end products. 

When we think of mapping as a process, it becomes more than just making maps; it becomes an active, performative practice that is shaped by its context—whether that context is spatial, social, or political. This is different from the idea of a map as a static object. Traditional maps help us visualize and measure the world, but when we treat mapping as a participatory practice, it allows us to question and negotiate how we understand the world through the continuous creation and re-creation of maps.

When mapping is done as a collective effort, involving many actors, or as an iterative process, where maps are created and reworked over time, it becomes open to many perspectives. This type of collaborative mapping allows us to engage with and address public issues through bringing in different voices. As mapping evolves through this ongoing process, it does not try to define a single, “correct” version of reality. Instead, it becomes a way to create knowledge that includes and respects many different perspectives. In this way, mapping is an open-ended and participatory practice, making it a powerful tool for critical thinking and engagement with the world.

Literature

Dodge, M., Kitchin, R. & Perkins, C. (2009). Rethinking Maps: New Frontiers in Cartographic Theory. London: Routledge.

Bueno de Mesquita, N. (2017). Lexicon. In: D. Hamers, N. Bueno de Mesquita, A. Vaneycken & J. Schoffelen (Eds.). Trading places: Practices of public participation in art and design research (pp. 47-50). Barcelona: dpr-barcelona.

Bueno de Mesquita, N., & Hamers, D. (2017). Mapping invisibility. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Research Through Design Conference (pp. 423-437).4

Corner, J. (1999). Mappings. The agency of mapping: speculation, critique and invention (pp. 213-252). London: Reaction Books.

Crampton, J. (2001). Maps as social constructions: power, communication and visualization. Progress in Human Geography, 25(2), 235-252.

Crampton, J. (2009). Cartography: performative, participatory, political. Progress in Human Geography, 33(6), 840-848.

 

Reference: http://www.lexiconofdesignresearch.com/lexicon/texts/mapping

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