Cartografia ilustrada dos nichos comerciais e da memória urbana do centro de Fortaleza: do comércio ao afeto

Abstract

This research investigates the application of information design in the construction of an affective and illustrated cartography of the city center of Fortaleza, understanding the map as an instrument for representing the urban, commercial, and social dynamics of the territory. The general objective is to develop a graphic artifact that integrates technical data with the subjective dimensions of urban experience. The theoretical framework articulates references from historical cartography, urban image studies, affective cartography, and information design. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative and exploratory approach, structured through documentary research, field surveys, and affective mapping, which included interviews, photographic records, and the use of a graphic diary as a visual experimentation laboratory. The design process involved the cataloging of approximately 1,500 commercial establishments, combined with the analysis of affective narratives and memories collected from 53 interviewees about the city center. As a result, the research proposes a printed cartography that enhances legibility and spatial orientation while valuing memory and a sense of belonging, contributing to new forms of reading, experiencing, and appropriating the historical and everyday heritage of the city center of Fortaleza