Gendered Design Thinking So-called Logic of People and Things

Abstract

Designs affect us humans every day. In this text we introduce some basic concepts within gender and design. There is a general perception that design is gender neutral, that the visual and material objects we humans surround ourselves with don’t affect us, and have nothing to do with gender issues. However, in this text, the design doing of gender is described as an ongoing act around, and between, us humans and how design affects this making in the form of meaning and representation. Basic concepts in social theory and gender are presented and design history is analyzed from a gender perspective, including power structures, gender norms and so-called logics. We describe and exemplify how visual communication and gender are related, as well as how form giving can be understood as (gendered) norm giving. It is also described and exemplified how interactions can be understood from a gender and intersectional perspective, as well as how our surrounding cities and environments can be regarded as a gendered system that includes or obstructs everyday human life. This is important for our ways of approaching design, and thinking of both users and use. In this chapter we introduce some of the basics, to provide a foundational understanding and shared language about the constitutions of gendered design thinking: the so-called logics of people and things. By rethinking design based on gender theories, the field of design can take the next step in challenging inequality and power imbalances in all societal sectors, and truly align design thinking with its intention of being human-centric.