Participatory Methods

Emotional map

The Emotional map is a participatory activity designed to explore and visually represent participants’ emotions related to a topic, experience, or space. Through this tool, participants identify and locate their emotions on a physical, conceptual, or spatial map, fostering individual reflection and group exchange on how emotions influence their perceptions and decisions.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Decide the goal:
      • Explore emotions related to a specific place, project, or topic?
      • Identify emotional patterns within a group?
      • Reflect on past or future experiences?
  2. Design the map:
    • Options:
      • Physical map: A blueprint of a real location (e.g., school, office, community).
      • Conceptual map: A blank sheet divided into thematic areas.
      • Generic emotional map: A space to locate emotions based on their intensity (e.g., from joy to sadness).
  3. Prepare materials:
    • Blank map templates.
    • Cards or sticky notes for participants to write down their emotions.
    • Markers, colored pencils, or digital tools if conducted online.
  4. Organize the space:
    • If in-person, use large tables or walls for group work.
    • If virtual, use digital platforms to create collaborative maps.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduction to the purpose
    • Explain that the goal is to identify and locate emotions on a map to reflect on their impact on the central topic.
    • Provide examples of emotions (e.g., joy, frustration, trust, anxiety) and clarify that there are no right or wrong answers.
  2. Distribute the map and cards
    • Provide each participant with a blank map or access to the digital map.
    • Explain how to place emotions on the map based on its areas (e.g., a section of the physical place or a conceptual category).
  3. Identify emotions
    • Ask participants to reflect on the topic or space and write the emotions it evokes on the cards or directly on the map.
    • Example:
      • “How did you feel in this place or situation?”
      • “What emotions dominate when you think about this project or experience?”
  4. Place emotions on the map
    • Participants place their emotions in the corresponding areas of the map, indicating intensity or context if necessary.
  5. Group discussion
    • Facilitate a collective reflection:
      • What emotional patterns are visible on the map?
      • Which emotions are most frequent or intense?
      • What ideas or actions can emerge from these emotions?
  6. Conclusion and takeaways
    • Summarize the key findings, highlighting how emotions influence perceptions and decisions.
    • Provide suggestions for managing the identified emotions, if applicable.
Recommendations
  • Provide examples: Show how to locate emotions on the map to facilitate participation.
  • Create a safe environment: Ensure participants feel comfortable sharing emotions.
  • Document the process: Take photos of the maps for further analysis.
  • Encourage action: Use the map’s findings to propose improvements or interventions.
Inspiration
Types of Emotional maps

Based on physical spaces

  • Place blueprint: Represent emotions associated with different physical areas, such as an office, school, park, or city.
  • Community map: Identify emotions related to neighborhoods, streets, or specific points of interest.
  • Natural environment: Map emotions in spaces like forests, beaches, or trails.
  • Event map: Associate emotions with zones within an event location (e.g., main stage, rest area).

Based on processes or projects

  • Stage map: Reflect emotions in each phase of a project or process (e.g., beginning, development, closure).
  • Emotional timeline: Associate emotions with specific moments on a timeline.
  • Product lifecycle: Map emotions during the design, launch, and use stages of a product or service.
  • User experience map: Identify emotions tied to each interaction point with a product or service.

Based on personal or group themes

  • Daily routine map: Represent how participants feel during different times of the day.
  • Relationship map: Associate emotions with people or groups within a social network or team.
  • Values map: Reflect emotions related to themes like justice, community, or creativity.
  • Priorities map: Locate emotions around tasks, goals, or responsibilities.

Based on emotional intensities

  • Intensity map: Classify emotions by their intensity (e.g., mild, moderate, intense) in a level chart.
  • Polarity graph: Identify positive and negative emotions on a visual axis.
  • Balance map: Show emotions in terms of emotional balance or imbalance.
  • Well-being scale: Assign emotions to a scale reflecting moods, from relaxation to stress.

Based on abstract concepts

  • Conceptual emotional map: Represent emotions related to abstract themes (e.g., learning, creativity, innovation).
  • Symbolic map: Use images or symbols to associate emotions with key ideas or values.
  • Sensory map: Relate emotions to sensory experiences (e.g., colors, sounds, textures).
  • Dreams or goals map: Reflect emotions linked to future objectives or personal aspirations.

Based on temporal experiences

  • Emotional timeline: Identify emotions during key moments of an experience or event.
  • Before, during, and after: Show how emotions change before, during, and after a specific activity.
  • Transitions map: Represent emotions at points of change (e.g., new job, relocation, project).
  • Emotional cycle: Visualize how emotions evolve in cycles (e.g., monthly, seasonal, annual).

Based on creative or artistic contexts

  • Artistic emotional map: Associate emotions with artworks, music, or movies.
  • Colors and emotions: Create a map where each color represents a specific emotion.
  • Inspiration map: Locate emotions related to moments or elements that inspire creativity.
  • Collaboration map: Identify emotions that emerge during group creative processes.
Materials
  • Map templates (physical or digital).
  • Cards or sticky notes.
  • Markers or colored pencils.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of the Emotional map is to foster reflection on how emotions impact perceptions and decisions, helping to identify patterns and areas for improvement in projects, spaces, or experiences.
Type of activity
Participatory DesignParticipatory EvaluationParticipatory InteractionParticipatory Learning
Level of participation
Inquiry, Collaboration, Knowledge generation, Exchange of perspectives
Target audience
Educators, Facilitators, Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams, Government, Creative designers, Researchers
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Innovation and design, Research and evaluation, Conflict resolution, Technology and digital environments, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
From 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the depth of the analysis, modality, and group discussion.
Ideal number of participants
From 5 to 20 participants, with the option to divide into smaller teams for larger groups.
Topics related to this activity
Active LearningActive ListeningCollaborative VisualizationsGroup StrengtheningKnowledge GenerationParticipatory AnalysisPerspective ExchangeProblem SolvingQualitative EvaluationVisual CommunicationVisual CreationVisual DiagnosisVisual DocumentationVisual MapsVisual MethodologyVisual ReflectionVisual Tool
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