Research

Our Methodology

When co-creating with our Decentralized Archivist Communities (DACs), OpenArchive uses a deliberately slow and in-depth research and design methodology to model and create personas in order to map out the use cases and ecosystem. Through this co-research, we are able to identify key pain points these communities face and incorporate this research into building responsive, usable tools to help mitigate technological challenges.

Our Co-Research

Our partner organizations, located around the world, have used Save for a wide range of archiving purposes. OpenArchive’s Memo From… series offers needs assessments that provide insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and communities working to preserve and share media across different regions. These reports describe both physical and digital threats to media preservation—such as hacking, device loss, and limited internet access—as well as broader obstacles. Our research highlights gaps in resources and training, underscoring the need for secure, user-friendly tools that support documentation and long-term access. Read on to explore the diverse needs and challenges of media preservation in the field. For a broader perspective, OpenArchive also compiled two years of global DAC research.