Zineography: a community-based research-through-design method of zine making for unequal contexts

We introduce Zineography, a novel Research through Design (RtD) method of zine making to support collaborative sensemaking and visual communication of pluralistic narratives within unequal contexts. We highlight Zineography's potential value for practicing Community-Based Participatory Design (CBPD) in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and related fields and describe how Zineography has been informed by zine making's roots in advocacy and community-building. We provide justification for Zineography by demonstrating its application through a case study exploring HIV peer support with women living with HIV. We present the method, critically reflect upon using it, and contribute methodological insights to participatory discourses within HCI and Design Studies about practicing RtD with marginalised and/or underserved populations, about listening and accountability when articulating narratives with participants through collaborative making and storytelling with artefacts. We underscore the mediating role of materials when designers work in coalition with communities, offering insight into reframing the designer's role within CBPD discourse.