How might we use maps to inspire Chicago residents to explore & create community-driven spaces in their own neighborhoods?
Maps are an important tool for community planning and storytelling. Architects and urban planners create maps that capture a snapshot—one specific moment in time within a community—but they become outdated very quickly. We created an incremental, open-source map that is populated by and accessible to all Chicagoans. A research tool to better understand the challenges, priorities, and assets within a neighborhood.
PROCESS
We held several sessions with a dedicated working group of volunteer design professionals and key community members to brainstorm ideas of how we could create a resource that is user-friendly to community members and design practitioners alike and brings design knowledge to the public.
We then engaged SPAN Studio, a local communications design studio, who assisted in defining the visual identity of the digital platform–one that is legible, compelling, and friendly while incorporating best practices for databases and mapping resources.
SOLUTION
The final result is MAPPED (Making a People’s Pathway for Engaging Design)–a digital library dedicated to documenting Chicago’s community projects—built, envisioned, or planned. This transparent, organized, and accessible index of Chicago’s community spaces showcases resources for communities to advance their design and planning initiatives by mapping ideas, projects, people, plans, and organizations.
Users are able to quickly access budgets, partners, funders, technical information, and other project specifics that can help them better predict costs and concerns and explore community-focused design possibilities throughout Chicago. The digital platform launched in January 2022 and was created with support from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts and the Chicago Community Trust.
We are working on building the database of projects published on the MAPPED website by hosting virtual and in person MAPPED-a-thons. MAPPED-a-thons are public workshops attended by engaged community members, civic actors, and design professionals. During each event, participants contribute to the collaborative platform by identifying and inputting project content to build this design library of projects across Chicago.
Upcoming MAPPED-a-thons can be found on the MAPPED Program page.
PARTNERS
Funding Support
Working Group
Manwah Lee
Carla Argueta
Carolyn Isaacson
Felix Martinez
Ayesha Riaz
Natalie Goodin
Lynn Basa
Danielle Beaulieu
Marina Berrones
Casey Smagala
Yaritza Guillen
Haya Suri
Nicole Ashurian
Design/UX Team