045 Graffiti Walls

An open canvas inviting comments about an environment or system in the context of use

• Large-format paper is temporarily adhered to a wall, with markers readily available for posting open-ended comments.

• The paper may be blank, or a guiding question may be posed to maintain a particular theme.

• The method is useful in environments or situations where it is challenging to collect information through traditional methods such as interview or observation.

• Photos of each graffiti wall should be taken at daily intervals, as the paper may deteriorate or be removed.

• The graffiti wall can be analyzed as a research artifact, for inspiration, comparison, consolidation with walls collected from other locations, and content analysis.

• One limitation is the lack of control and knowledge about who contributed to the information and why.

See also   Exploratory Research • Observation • Unobtrusive Measures

Image based on work from Purin Phanichphant

Graffiti walls are ideal for capturing informal opinions about an environment in the context of use, seen here for research on attitudes about public bathrooms.