• the story •

So, we had this idea and decided to spread it far and wide, for free, so it could reach as many people as possible.

Shopping•cart•ography is a mapping activity that tracks where the things we buy are from. Intended for the home or workplace, this world map helps reveal the geography of our shopping in a fun and beautiful way. It is a kit that comes with a beautifully illustrated world map and color coding stickers.

Prototype V1.2

• imagine •

You come home with a bag of groceries and a new shirt. Before putting things away, you check the labels to see where the things were made. For each food item, you look at the packaging for the "MADE IN..." info and add a •GREEN• sticker to the corresponding country on the map. For the shirt, you look at the clothing tag and add a •YELLOW• sticker – representing clothing – to the map on the country where it was made. •BLUE• stickers are used for all other consumer goods. There is a special section on the map along the border for celebrating “homemade” items - such as canned goods, clothing, toys, etc. – with •RED• stickers. These red stickers are also used for items purchased second-hand. For when the place of origin is •UNKNOWN•, there is a section on the map in the Pacific Ocean for the •GREEN•, •YELLOW•, and •BLUE• stickers representing those products. We think of this section as “Where There Be Dragons”...

Over time, the stickers accumulate into patterns of consumption on the map and keeping track becomes a household game, making visible the normally hidden origins of the things we buy.

• context •

There is a growing ecological consciousness in our society that seeks to be aware of the social and environmental implications of our material lives. Awareness leads to changes in consumer behavior. Shopping•cart•ography provides a simple, fact-based way to begin to explore these issues. It is designed to be a non-judgemental, engaging artwork that sparks conversation and awareness among family and friends.

This is not just an educational activity; it is also a work of art and a social pastime. We envision working with different illustrators each year to release a fresh, exciting map for people to collect. The design files will also be free to download and modify for different languages, illustrations and designs. Our version is sized to fit on a refrigerator door but individual sized post-cards and local detailed maps can also be used. Colored stickers are available at most office supply stores - we like these small ones. Over time, each map becomes a record of one year of shopping. Maps can be compared from year to year within a household or with the shopping behavior of friends and co-workers. Make your own and let us know so we can share your design with others.

By the end of one year, the maps will be so layered with stickers that they become a three-dimensional topology of consumption. You can then compare them with your friends' maps or follow your own consumption patterns from year to year. Perfect for individuals, families, small businesses, classrooms, or anything you can think of that involves keeping track of your purchases. Once you fill one up, just scrape off the stickers or get a new map!