From co-design to the construction of a metaverse for the promotion of cultural heritage and tourism: the case of Amiais

Abstract

Co-design is characterized as a key process so that researchers can count on the collaboration of those who are bearers of knowledge and wisdom of a certain subject, so that together they can work towards a common end. This paper focuses on the case study of Amiais, a small village located in the central region of Portugal in which a project is being developed that intends to replicate the village in the Second Life metaverse so that visitors can get to know the place virtually. To make this possible, several visits to the place were made and co-design sessions were developed so that there would be a participative and ethnographic proximity research. In this way, the inhabitants also became members of the research team, and their knowledge was central to the project. Thanks to the sharing of knowledge, experiences and stories, the contribution of these inhabitants will have an impact on the preservation and dissemination of the cultural heritage of Amiais. This article focuses on the two co-design sessions held by the project, which gave voice to the inhabitants of Amiais, making them also members of the team. The main objective of these co-design sessions was to create brainstorms with the purpose of sharing the knowledge and life experiences of those who live in the village. Thanks to the sessions, it was possible to recreate and share the cultural heritage of Amiais in the Second Life metaverse.