Browsing by Author "Weetman, Tamara Anne"

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    Relocalising community through design: considering the role of participatory mapping
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Weetman, Tamara Anne; Perold-Bull, Karolien; Thumbiran, Kiveshan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic forced many communities to switch to online modes of communication. While the pandemic may be officially over, many working and studying environments have remained online and remote. Sherry Turkle and Ezio Manzini claim that virtual communities are unsustainable. This study explores how participatory design, specifically participatory mapping, can negotiate stronger connections, and more sustainable communities. This study explores how the characteristics of participatory design may contribute to placemaking and Manzini’s hybrid communities of place. Furthermore, this study attempts to establish what role participatory mapping may place on relocalising, hybridising and for stronger connections within existing communities. This research study is situated within the theoretical framework of Human-centred design, specifically, Design for Social Innovation. It does this by making use of a practice-led approach, with the methodology being rooted in participatory design. The study involved practical collaborative maps with students at The Open Window Institute in Pretoria, South Africa to assess the relationship that participatory mapping may have on community development. This involved a top-down method, however, there were a few activities that allowed students to direct from the bottom up. This study found that participatory design, specifically participatory mapping, may contribute to more sustainable communities by relocalising and connecting students, although only in niche cases that involved little online interaction and the extreme willingness of the participants. This research provides a foundational framework for making use of participatory mapping methods and leveraging collaboration to enhance community sustainability. It encourages higher education institutions to assess their community culture and could be an initial step to paving the way for more studies on the long-term impact of participatory mapping on community dynamics.