In times of rapid change, new fields and stakeholder ecosystems constantly emerge. Some are extensions of existing domains, others an entirely novel convergence of ideas and actors. Whether you’re operating in the domain of technology, social innovation, policy or philanthropy, you may find yourself wanting to make sense of an evolving space that lacks clear structure – to understand who is involved, what ideas are circulating and how the field is structured. The goal could be research, investment, philanthropy or field-building—helping the ecosystem mature and become self-aware. You may also want to shape its development, influence its framing or support key actors.
However, there are often challenges such as:
- Lack of clarity: The field lacks a shared identity, agreed definitions, clear boundaries or an established community.
- Information fragmentation: No single institution, publication or database captures the whole picture.
- Traditional methods fall short: Academic journals, media coverage, and industry conferences often lag behind or fail to recognize emerging domains.
- Ecosystems are fluid: Networks evolve rapidly, and influence is often informal or distributed.
- Mapping is complex: Stakeholder relationships, conceptual frameworks and key players are not always visible or structured.
Ecosystem mapping provides a structured way to understand, navigate and engage with an emerging field or ecosystem by:
- Stakeholder Cataloging – Identifying key actors, ideas and relationships.
- Defining Centers & Boundaries – Understanding the core themes and structures within the field and revealing patterns, relationships and gaps in the field.
- Visual & Structural Mapping – Creating intuitive, shareable representations of the ecosystem.
Ultimately, a strong map creates a foundation for impact, helping actors within the field see themselves in relation to the whole and coordinate more effectively. It provides a compass for field-building and supports decision-making on investment, funding or strategic engagement.
Effective mapping requires specialized expertise, integrating data collection with thoughtful structuring and communication. Studio members have been involved in ecosystem mapping and field-building for more than two decades across a variety of domains. We have deep multi-disciplinary expertise across all elements of the process from data collection and visualization to analytics and communication. Recent work has included several mapping projects in the polycrisis and metacrisis space incorporating collaborations with partners such as Commonweal, Post Carbon Institute and Cascade Institute.
Flowershow