The editorial “Mapping Beyond the Monodisciplinary Approach: Exploring the Potential of Mapping in Comparative Research Methods” introduces a special issue of the European Journal of Creative Practices in Cities and Landscapes (Vol. 7, No. 1, 2024). It highlights how geospatial mapping can bridge disciplinary, geographic, and temporal divides to address complex global transformations such as climate change, migration, and urbanization. The authors argue that mapping is not a neutral or merely technical practice but a comparative and critical tool for revealing spatial, social, and ecological interrelations. The issue’s contributions demonstrate mapping’s versatility—from historical urban morphology and socio-spatial experiences to logistics landscapes, participatory planning, and education. Together, they show how mapping integrates quantitative and qualitative knowledge, supports ethical and political reflection, and fosters collaboration across fields. Ultimately, the editorial positions mapping as a generative process for shaping more inclusive and sustainable futures.

The current work explores value mapping as a pedagogical tool to gain a better understanding of the role of values in addressing sustainability challenges and their implications across scales, disciplines, and time. First, we introduce a Master-level course where students use the city as a learning ecosystem and engage with situated creative practices tackling global sustainability challenges at a local scale. Then we discuss the developed value maps. It can be concluded that the value mapping process not only proved instrumental in offering valuable insights and contextual understanding into the intricate, and sometimes conflicting, values identified, but also fostered students’ critical thinking skills, allowing them to identify potential areas of discord among stakeholders. The collaborative mapping approach, guided by shared values and facilitated by design expertise, holds the potential to overcome challenges, create a thriving ecosystem, and ensure a future where ecological well-being, shared responsibility, and informed decision-making go hand in hand.