In the framework of IvOK (a fund for artistic research) a group of partners wanted to map, understand and support participatory processes in - the sometimes complex - media art and design practice. Therefore a mapping system was developed. 

It started with a proposal of media and cultural studies researcher Liesbeth Huybrechts, designer Thomas Laureyssens and professor Fred Truyen, expert in Philosophy of Information and E-learning. The supporting institutions are Media & Design Academy (KHLim), University of Leuven, EDM (professor Philippe Bekaert, Hasselt), BAM (Flemish Institute for Visual, Audiovisual and Media Art) and art centre Z33.The group has been extended over the years with new members via EFRO research funding: mediaculture researcher Priscilla Machils, designer Jon Stam and artist/engineer Johannes Taelman.

In the Interface our Space project, a mapping system has been developed to analyse how participatory media art and design projects evolve, using different media. The mapping methodology enables visualising processes in space and time. The results are maps that capture real-world situations of participatory processes used in design and art practice. In this way, mapping facilitates observation and analysis of how individuals and organisations perform in a participatory design process. Since no 'prefab' ontological set of elements has been found that describes the participatory artistic and design production process, we developed a mapping set ourselves. We
created a low-tech mapping system, an open and extendible set of icons allowing participants to visually express their thoughts. The visual aspect of the mapping was combined with a verbal notation of the conversations triggered by the icons.

More information on the mapping system can be found at www.interface-our-space.be .