Actor Network Mapping

Challenge

Future Island-Island represents complex networks of people (Rathlin residents, design and creative practitioners, public and private organisations and stakeholders) and things (technologies, materials, natural ecosystems and policies). The Green Policies work package helped visualise these networks and reveal how complex activities were unfolding.

Approach

Actor-network mapping is a visually relational mapping method, developed and delivered by Dr Michael Pierre Johnson. It captures the collaborative activities, outputs and potential development across FII by framing four areas of relational growth: network growth, new collaborations and partnerships; knowledge growth, new skills and capabilities; value growth, new products, services, experiences and impacts; and market growth, new users, beneficiaries and audiences.

Outcomes

Two series of mapping sessions took place in Belfast in July 2024 and March 2025, producing detailed visual maps of work package activity across FII. These were shared with project leads, collaborators and partners, and supported strategic discussions about the development taking place and value being created. The maps were presented at FII annual events. Learnings The actor-network maps revealed emerging connections across work packages, showing how outputs from Digital Stories or Organic Waste could inform Sustainable Education and Green Policy Design. The sessions helped Work Package leads identify opportunities, barriers, and pathways to impact for Rathlin’s sustainable solutions.

Impact

The actor-network mapping enabled in-depth engagement with the policy implications of FII activities, learning and the innovative solutions being generated. A wider policy analysis from the Green Policy Design team resulted in the identification of opportunities and recommendations relating to democratic design to support sustainable futures.