The 'My Mission Viejo' Project. Investigating the Potential of Photovoice Methods in Place Identity and Attachment Research

In 2008, the City of Mission Viejo enlisted residents to photograph places and events that best illustrated the city's place identity. Inspired by the notion that pictures act as <italic>simulacra</italic> of reality, the research team content-analyzed them for evidence of the city's place identity: its social imageability, its emotional values, its imageability and satisfaction. The bond between residents and their neighborhood places is key to the creation of stronger, more democratic and sustainable communities, and decisions made during their planning stage become critical in shaping the future of a community. 'My Mission Viejo' illustrates how planning and design affected the community's place identity, people's attachment and its livelihood. The project offers a methodological precedent for future research aimed at creating more sustainable and imageable communities.