Writting – Eduardo's blog

Methods ↔ Positions

Final writing for Unit 2.

Positions Through Triangulating

∆ 3 Synthesis

The Shipping Forecast map was the starting point of my Unit 2 research, when I delved into the possibilities of mapping, and countermapping. I aimed to show the artificiality of borders and further challenge the map’s neutrality. Studying Forensic Architecture’s (2025) practice I saw an even stronger correlation between mapping and power. They tell stories of conflicts from the point of view of everyday people instead of governments and institutions. This inspired me to shift from a macro to a micro scale. Consuegra (2025) uses Google Street View to show the presence of food delivery riders, whose work goes unseen in the context of platform capitalism. Analysing his work made me reflect on the stories behind these workers. Exploring the amplitude of mapping led me to Knight’s (2021) abstract maps. The use of overlayed tracing paper added the time dimension, suitable for analysing workers who are always moving through space. This approach inspired my following experiment, when I observed and traced the paths of riders on Granary Square. Creating something from my point of view instead of secondary research, and doing field work made me feel closer to the subject.

Positions Through Triangulating

∆ 2 Writing

Reference Point: State of Matter

Vienna based State of Matter is an artist duo composed of Fabio Hofer and Ana Mikadze, who research the work of delivery riders in the city from a unique position, since Fabio is a rider himself, while also considering the broader context of platform capitalism. Their main project, We Wish You A Safe Ride (2024), happened as part of the Wienwoche Arts Festival, when volunteers were called to work as delivery riders. This gave the workers paid time off to connect and socialise with other workers, and attend workshops on themes like labour rights, healthcare, and collective organising. The event took place at the Riders Collective’s headquarters, which also featured open-access bike repair workshops, and a walking tour of the invisible food delivery infrastructures of Vienna. The duo also curated the exhibition Between Pick-up And Drop-off (2025) at the Wien Museum, which featured video portraits of riders telling their stories, alongside objects, maps and other visuals showing what it’s like to work as a food delivery rider in Vienna.

Positions Through Dialogue

When I created the maps of delivery riders on Granary Square, I noticed how people inhabit the same space in very different ways. Riders were always moving — except for one or two who stopped briefly to check their phones — while other people sat around eating, drinking, and enjoying the sun and the water fountains. People were in the same physical location, but in different social spaces. I saw a link with maps as I saw these social borders between them. Additionally the time dimension of the maps I created made me want to explore what time means for delivery riders in the context of platform capitalism. The conversation with Nina Paim made me realise the need to be more specific about my research. At that point I wanted to keep researching delivery riders, which was too broad. Which riders? Brazilian, migrants, or any rider? What do I want to know about them? Am I only interested in their work, or also where they came from and how was life before? How and where will I get this information? Through interviews, secondary sources, or both? What do I want to do with this information? What is my audience?

Visual Essay

Annotated Bibliography

The six texts below are references gathered during the Positions Through Contextualising brief.

Written Response for Positions Through Iterating

Maps are projections. They project the surface of the Earth and displaying useful information like geographic locations and borders.

But these projections are not neutral. From the choice of projection method to translate spherical information into a plane and its resulting distortions, to the choice of information to be included, maps are tools of power that have helped shape nations, naturalise borders and territory. Therefore, instead of a representation of reality, maps project the intention of those who create them.

They are typically seen as a definitive piece of information, but we often forget that countries are fictions, and every border was once a disputed one.

How can mapping, or counter-mapping, interfere in this power dynamics? Can it show the nuances and reveal new knowledge behind apparently objective data?

Written Response for Methods of Contextualising

In the first half of our exploration, we focused on CSM’s wayfinding system’s access barriers for everyone on campus. By focusing on the system instead of a specific group, we tried to be as inclusive as possible and make the best possible version. We created colour palettes that would work for colour-blind people and looked for access barriers for people with low mobility.

The resulting analysis revealed several fundamental issues that could represent access barriers. While tackling them is valuable and needed, we overlooked many other obstacles that only people who have experienced them could point out.

In the final part of our work, we chose dyslexic people as our audience, which allowed for more focused research. We also reached out to dyslexic people, created a survey aimed at our audience, and interviewed one of the respondents. It was the first brief I engaged with my target audience. The fact that I am not dyslexic made it even more relevant.

Our problem-solving approach early on steered us into looking for one definitive solution. After the tutorial feedback, I realised that acknowledging my position and biases gives context to my work and situates it in a larger body of knowledge around design and disability justice.