Designing Participatory Visual Methods for Online Spaces: A conversation with Katie MacEntee, Olivier Ferlatte and Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco
How do practitioners thoughtfully design photovoice, cellphilms and digital storytelling projects for online spaces? In this episode, host Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco is joined by Dr. Katie MacEntee and Dr. Olivier Ferlatte for a rich and reflective conversation that walks listeners through the various dimensions of designing participatory visual methods for online environments. They explore how to onboard co-researchers and adapt to the challenges of this work online. They also dive into complex questions around ethics, visibility, and privacy. From the realities of funding and community accountability to moments of joy and creativity, this conversation is filled with practical insights and hard-earned lessons. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into the planning of your own PVM project, tune in for an insightful and practical discussion!
Conversation Outline:
- Introduction: the what and why of participatory visual methods (0:00–5:36)
- Imperfection as part of the creative process (5:36–11:01)
- Designing for online spaces: Engagement, trust, and ethical considerations (11:02–22:42)
- Navigating funding, managing expectations, and staying joyful in the process (22:31–27:45)
- Advice and lessons learned: Reflections and practical tips for designing participatory visual methods in online spaces (27:46–35:11)
Further Resources:
- Ferlatte, O., Karmann, J., Gariépy, G., Frohlich, K. L., Moullec, G., Lemieux, V., & Hébert, R. (2022). Virtual Photovoice With Older Adults: Methodological Reflections during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221095656 (Original work published 2022)
- MacEntee, K., Burkholder, C., Schwab-Cartas, J. (eds) What’s a Cellphilm? Integrating Mobile Phone Technology into Participatory Visual Research and Activism. SensePublishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-573-9_1
Guest and Host Bios
Dr. Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco (Host)
Dr. Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco (he/him) is a Latino-Canadian, queer Assistant Professor in Learning Innovations at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. His work focuses on patient-oriented, community-based and participatory research, with a strong emphasis on Knowledge Mobilization, collaborative learning across media and modalities, and participatory visual methodologies. Living with HIV since 1986, Francisco has been an active voice in the Canadian HIV movement since 1989. Through both fiction and non-fiction, he has documented the complex realities of the AIDS pandemic in Canada—capturing the good, the bad, and the ugly with honesty and insight.
Dr. Katie MacEntee (Guest)
Dr. Katie MacEntee (she/her) is an accomplished interdisciplinary scholar with over fifteen years of experience using participatory video-based methods to address critical issues of social justice. She has co-designed projects and collaborated with youth and adults in diverse locations including Canada, Ethiopia, India, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Katie is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Community Based Research. She is also a Research Associate at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto as well as in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph. Her publication record includes multiple works on participatory visual research and her latest of two books on cellphilm method is “Cellphilm as a Participatory Visual Method: Mobilizing Opportunities for Research, Teaching, and Social Change” (Routledge, 2023).
Dr. Olivier Ferlatte (Guest)
Dr. Olivier Ferlatte (he/him) is an Associate Professor at l’École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal and a research scientist at the Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique. His research primarily focuses on health promotion strategies related to mental health and substance use within 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities. Utilizing a range of methodologies—qualitative, quantitative, and artistic—his work is motivated by a deep commitment to community engagement and collaboration with those affected by health inequities. Ferlatte is also the director of Qollab, a collaborative community-based mental health research lab, and holds a Junior 1 salary award from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé.
To cite this podcast episode:
Ibáñez-Carrasco, F. (Host). (2025, February). Designing participatory visual methods for online spaces: A conversation with Katie MacEntee and Olivier Ferlatte in Let Me Just Share My Screen. Production by Hani Sadati, Centre for Community Based Research and Trillium Health Partners.
Podcast episode production team: Sarah Switzer, Elizabeth Mansfield, Kristina Fuentes-Aiello, Hani Sadati, Amanda Brotman