Unlocking Embodied knowledge for Better Design: An Introduction to Co-generative Mapping

The use of body-mapping in interpretative phenomenological analyses: a methodological discussion

“…As a research framework, body-mapping includes three parts: (a) the researcher and the participant co-create a life-size body-map by outlining the participant's body with ink on paper, which is then decorated by the participant in response to several prompts during a semi-structured interview; (b) the participant is asked to create a short testimony of their experiences to narrate and explain their body-maps; (c) through transcribing the semistructured interview and with the help of the participant, the researcher creates an individual 'symbol key' for interpreting the participant's body-map (Schaefer, Story, Abel, Tullio-Pow, & Barry, 2016;Solomon, 2002). This symbol key is a coding framework uniquely fitted to the participant's perspectives, given that symbols and colors have different meanings to different people (Orchard, 2016).…”

“…the participants' diseases, weaknesses, or otherwise stigmatizing experiences) being only one part of their bodies rather than their whole identity (Brett-MacLean, 2009;Skop, 2016). Further, by sharing their personal testimonies as well as their co-created symbol-keys, participants not only have more influence on the initial interpretation of the data, but also ensure that their voice is heard and represented throughout the research process (Nöstlinger et al, 2015;Schaefer et al, 2016).…”

“…Conclusively, with its focus on social and political advocacy as well as with its therapeutic and healing attributes, body-mapping seems to be especially pertinent for research with vulnerable participants (e.g., young children) and marginalized populations, such as persons with mental health concerns, substance misuse and dependence, and history of sexual abuse or other trauma (Gastaldo et al, 2018;Orchard, Smith, Michelow, Salters, & Hogg, 2014;Schaefer et al, 2016).…”