Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
LANDART AS SOCIAL DESIGN: TWO WORKSHOPS
Melanie SARANTOU (1); Nina LUOSTARINEN (2); Mengyao XIA (1)
Type:
Year:
2025
Editor:
Yong Se Kim; Yutaka Nomaguchi; Cees de Bont; Jianxi Luo; Xiaofang Yuan; Linna Hu; Meng Wang
Author:
Series:
Other endorsed
Institution:
1: Kyushu University, Japan; 2: Humak University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Page(s):
242-251
Abstract:
Rooted in social design, this study examines the role of landart in fostering environmental awareness and community engagement through arts-based research (ABR) and diverse mapping approaches. A pilot project started in Finland in 2021 and later adapted in Japan in 2024 demonstrates the potential of collaborative landart workshops to reconnect individuals and communities with their environments. Methodologically, the study examines two research cycles to evaluate how landart as ABR can transform sites into participatory spaces for ecological reflection and collective responsibility. The article describes two landart workshops conducted in Rovaniemi, Finland, and Ōmuta, Japan. Through tactile, collective creation, participants experienced shifts in perception, exploring the relationships between human and nonhuman entities through digital documentation tools, including visual photo diaries, whiteboard mapping, note-taking, and WhatsApp sharing. This study illustrates how landart, grounded in dialogical and embodied engagement, can foster environmental stewardship and multispecies awareness by engaging with socio-ecological contexts. In combination, participatory land art, as practiced through ABR, and social design can create opportunities for deepening understanding of how communities can creatively raise awareness about local or specific ecological challenges.
Keywords:
