Humanistic geodesign: counter-mapping migration, death, and memory in the US-Mexico borderlands

Critical cartography and counter-mapping have been valuable lenses for analyzing the spatial dimensions of global migration and border regions. The US-Mexico borderlands is one such region where the United States government’s 1994 ‘prevention through deterrence’ policy has funneled migrants into lethal natural geographies and climatic conditions, resulting in hundreds of migrant deaths every year. Recent developments in geospatial virtual reality tools have allowed for a more immersive approach to mapping. In this article, we use a design research methodology, building out a proof of concept ‘virtual reality counter-map’ as a memorial to migrants who have perished along the US-Mexico border in Southern Arizona. The design of virtual space acts as a form of humanistic geodesign, layering queries around life, death, and power upon a digital landscape of dunes and sands. This approach allows for more contemplative, embodied reflection upon this horrifying policy failure and centers the lives of those who have died. It also has implications for theories of critical cartography, GIS, and memorialization, expanding our repertoire of design tools available for critical and creative analysis of borderlands geographies.