We recently caught up with research-based graphic designer and Falmouth Uni graduate Caitlin Westgate about ‘researching gender equality in design disciplines’ with project Unequal Stories.
Hey Caitlin! Can you tell us about the purpose of the Unequal Stories project?
Hey! Unequal Stories unpacks gender bias in design disciplines. We do this by gathering designers’ stories on gender diversity, equality, and representation in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, this research project between Falmouth University (UK) and University of Johannesburg (SA) is a cross-national comparison that aims to investigate and challenge gender imbalance in design.
The research was launched in response to data which revealed that most design roles in UK and SA (particularly leadership positions) are held by men, despite the majority of design students being female. For example, in the UK, 63% of creative arts students are female, and yet women only make up 22% of the UK’s design workforce (Design Council, 2019).
Who do you want to hear stories from?
We want to hear from people of all genders to explore the impact gender plays in an individual’s design journey. The project invites industry designers and creative students to submit a short statement that captures their experience of gender in design.
What is the aim of the project?
We aim to gather as much anecdotal evidence as possible to bring the human-side of the issue to life. The benefit of this approach is that we can push beyond statistics to firstly, question why gender disparity is present, and secondly, examine how this imbalance makes people feel.
What are your next steps with the project once you’ve gathered the research findings?
Our initial findings will be published later this year in Design Council’s Design Economy 2021, and we plan to address any evidence of bias through pedagogical and/or industry interventions.
Moving forwards, we hope that Unequal stories will act as a prototype for a larger, more inclusive study that investigates the broader spectrum of intersectional issues at play in the creative industries.
How can designers submit their story?
We want to hear from as many designers as possible! Stories can be submitted at: unequalstories.falmouth.ac.uk.
Sharing your story involves selecting an icon, adding contact details, and writing a short statement. The process shouldn’t take more than five minutes.
How else can creative students be involved in the project?
Alongside gathering stories, we have a brief and toolkit that allows creative students to critically respond to the data. The superb student projects are then displayed in the Unequal Stories website gallery.
Visit:
Follow:
- Instagram: @unequal_stories – @caitlinwestgate.studio
- LinkedIn: Unequal Stories
Email:
- unequalstories@falmouth.ac.uk
