WWD’s Post

Advancing Gender Equality in Workplace Design From childhood, women are conditioned to navigate public spaces with caution, often feeling a sense of vulnerability when out alone. Yet, it's surprising how this sentiment extends into the workplace environment, a space ostensibly tailored for professional productivity and comfort. The pervasive influence of the 'Standard Person' (or 'Reference Man') in shaping everything from crash test dummies to office furniture dimensions (the standard size of a desk, the regulated temperature of the air-con, the number of bathrooms and so on) underscores the systemic bias ingrained in our built environment. Creating inclusive spaces isn't about stereotypical gendered designs but about proactive, systematic changes. Well-lit pathways, increased restroom facilities, and private areas for breastfeeding or menstrual symptom management are imperative steps toward fostering inclusivity. As this article highlights, we have an opportunity to design spaces that empower, inspire, and embrace diversity—because inclusivity isn't just a goal; it's a necessity for progress. By engaging key stakeholders and eliminating inherent biases, we can cultivate environments that prioritize comfort, accessibility, and equality for everyone. What other considerations in relation to gender would you add to the list? #GenderEquity #InclusiveDesign

*HBR ARTICLE* Well, this recent article certainly caught our attention for a number of reasons including that women are still under-represented in some areas of product design, the workplace and as users. Also, that lack of female representation and diverse input applies to various key industries including within emergency services and the medical field leading to some eye-opening consequences. Still. And that the gender bias toward designing for men persists in significant areas, where women are perceived as 'smaller men' in some designs and by some brands. Yep, still. The statistics are surprising. As are the repercussions of not considering a female vantage point or including diverse input in decision-making. Surely considering the genuine needs and requirements of ALL users - men and women - is now well overdue! https://lnkd.in/gFjxE2JD. While this piece focusses on product design some of the same questions apply to service industries. At HM3 Legal we're proud to be female-led and two-thirds of our leaders are female. Equality, diversity and inclusivity is not a tick-box here. It is elemental, "because women won’t forget that women exist." (Quoted from the blog.) Please, no more 'shrinking' or 'pinking' whether consciously or unconsciously! Ever. #Equality #Diversity #Inclusion #EDI #GenderBias

"We can say that men led the #design world, boldly deciding and setting what design looks like and how it is ‘done’ in our society. We believe that this narrative of the male ‘star’ designer, led to a very exclusionary industry that did not design for people of a different gender or with different needs." For our #GenderSpotlight series, we spoke to Elena Pirondini, founder of no.ja studio, and Clara Roth, former co-founder and now collaborator. We asked them about the meaning of #gender in design. Often, when people hear design, they mostly think of graphic design. Actually, design is much more, it can also include the question of how we create buildings, furniture, products, interactions and lately tech. This understanding of design raises many questions about whom can and should design for whom, whose needs are taken into account and who is not seen at all. Elena Pirondini says in our interview: "Explaining what design is, is indeed a challenge that we’re constantly working on. Design is much more than something that looks beautiful. And perhaps the fact that the discipline became mainstream during the industrial revolution, has caused many to relate it to its superficial outcomes, namely graphics and products. And these are also parts of design, but just two of many. Just take a moment and look around you, wherever you are. Literally everything that surrounds you (besides untouched natural landscapes) has been designed by someone, from the phone to the walls to the street you may find yourself in. And not only the material products, but also the services and interactions, even the spaces and structures on which our society is based upon. Everything is designed. The fact that design is mainly connected to graphics is most likely due to the fact that in the so-called ‘attention economy’ we find ourselves nowadays in, the visual side of things is key. Graphics or products are also more tangible and easier to understand as a design discipline than the design of societal structures within a government for example." In our interview you can dive into this topic more deeply and learn about the potential of an inclusive design approach. #GenderEquality #DiversityandInclusion #GenderPayGap #WorkplaceEquality #WomenLeaders #InclusiveWorkplace #BreakingTheGlassCeiling #Empowerment #Feminism #WomenSupportingWomen #DiverseWorkforce #inclusionmatters #Sexismus #Gendergerechtigkeit #Gleichstellung https://lnkd.in/eHjThvnU

The basic structures of our physical environments work against women in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, from too-cold offices to too-heavy doors. Design consultant Virginia Santy shares how designing an office for women sparked an even greater conversation: What if we built whole cities and economies for women? https://ow.ly/9HL650PHzm2

Women’s History Month Spotlight on Kimberly Chin, Senior Interior Designer at the DLR Group.💗✨ Kimberly’s advice to the next generation of women in the workplace is, “Progress over perfection. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of perfection. But the truth is, you cannot control everything. Instead, focus on progress and enjoy the ride.” ⭐️🌟 Click the link below to read more captivating stories, insights, and experiences from Kimberly Chin, one of the women who are leading the way forward! https://lnkd.in/e3BXr6iY

On International Women’s Day 2024, we, as an all-female team, stand proudly to champion the cause of women everywhere. In an industry where the contributions of women are often underestimated and undervalued, we recognize the importance of breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. Despite the progress made, there still exists a lingering stigma surrounding females in the Construction & Architecture industry, with interior design being particularly marginalized. While women are prominent within the realm of interior design itself, we have encountered challenges when collaborating with the predominantly male-dominated fields of construction and architecture. It's essential to acknowledge that while encounters with sexism exist, they represent a minority within our professional landscape. Over the years, we've had the privilege of working with outstanding teams who not only respect our expertise but also value the unique perspective and skills we bring to the table. Building strong relationships based on mutual respect and appreciation has been instrumental in our success, and we've forged lasting friendships with many of our collaborators. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are reminded of the importance of solidarity, empowerment, and mutual respect. Together, let's continue to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and create a more inclusive and equitable future for women in the construction, architecture, and interior design industries. #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2024 #womeninconstruction #interiorday

In anticipation of International Women’s Day, our Wellbeing Group hosted a design discussion to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of women and people of marginalised genders to the world of architecture. Together, we met as a studio to share experiences and insights to educate ourselves on the challenges women face working within the construction industry with the aim of helping to further progress in the fight against gender discrimination.   Globally, 30% of architects are women, but far fewer progress to positions of senior leadership in practice. By sharing insights on the architects and those working in our industry who inspire us, we celebrated the work and achievements of those women. Those who felt able to were encouraged to share personal experiences on the obstacles they may have or fear they could face and the successes they had won.   At the heart of this event is the idea that feminist design principles can and should integrate into all aspects of architecture and the built environment. Feminist design principles call for more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable design practices that respond to the needs and experiences of all people, regardless of gender identity or expression. By embracing these principles and working to create more inclusive spaces, we can help to create a world that is more just and equitable for all. Image: A selection of books taken from our studio library celebrating just a few of the women in design that we find inspiring.

I've recently finished reading Feminist Designer, edited by Alison Place. A book on principles of feminist in design with examples in case studies and essay's about how feminism in design is not just about gender equality as some might think, it means so much more than that. Some of my key takeaways are: - That we learn design from a solutionist perspective, which can be damaging. It is linked to the idea of saviourism in design and that if there is a problem, a designer can find a solution to fix it. But this isn't necessarily the case. - Subjectivity is actually more beneficial than I always believed. In being objective we can oppress people's experiences into stereotypes and ignore the personal biases and experiences designers are bringing to the process. But subjectivity allows for more voices to be included. - That empathy in design might not be enough "Empathy implores us to feel, care implores us to act" - perhaps as designers we could care more. - And finally, community in design. Working in a community is one way we can be a force for change. But how? As Place writes design is a "discipline that prizes individualism, competition, and design heroism above all else", something I have certainly experienced - How can we rebuild a community in design that is genuine? I'd certainly recommend giving this a read to challenge your own perspectives on design and feminism. What are your thoughts on feminist design? #FeministDesign #FeministDesigner

As we celebrate International Women's Day, we're sharing valuable insights for young women venturing into the dynamic world of interior design! Here’s 3 tips from the inspirational women in our team: 1) Get experience as soon as you can ↳ There’s a lot of paths to choose from when looking at a career in interior design. Getting experience early allows you to explore different niches so you can decide what you’d like to specialise in. 2) Never stop learning ↳ The design world is constantly evolving. Stay curious by exploring new trends and technologies, as well as investing in your education to stay ahead of the curve! Here at Project London, we truly believe that learning is a lifelong journey. 3) Trust your gut ↳ Whether you’re deciding what area to specialise in, or to go it alone and set up your own business, the biggest piece of advice we can give you is to follow your intuition. & perhaps the biggest tip of all… Believe in yourself. Designers of LinkedIn, what would you add? #InternationalWomensDay #InteriorDesignAdvice #EmpowerWomen #IWD2024 #WomenInDesign

Today is International Women's Day, and this year's theme is 'Inspire Inclusion'. Human diversity is a fact of life and yet our public spaces are not always designed with this in mind. So as part of this year's #IWD2024 theme, Niamh has taken a look at the importance of inclusive design, what it means and how it can be applied to urban design and the places we create 💖 https://buff.ly/3IrYthR