Expanding the Methodological Repertoire in Institutional Ethnography: A Design Sociology Approach to Mapping and Visualizing Invisible Work

This article presents a novel methodological approach in which institutional ethnography borrows from design sociology. Although mapping is a core component of institutional ethnography, previous research highlights opportunities to further develop mapping techniques as both an analytical tool and a means of presenting research findings. Design sociology is an emerging interdisciplinary field that merges sociological inquiry with design methodologies, offering creative tools for analyzing and visualizing complex social phenomena. The article builds on a project conducted in the elderly care sector, illustrating how design-based approaches can bring caregivers' everyday experiences and invisible work to the forefront while revealing systemic challenges. Utilizing design sociology, the study broadens the methodological repertoire of institutional ethnography by introducing new strategies for analysis and communicating research findings. This interdisciplinary framework offers opportunities for mapping and visualizing how people's experiences and activities are structured by larger institutions and structures.