designerasfeminist
Designer as Feminist
WORKSHOP 6.–7.5.2017
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Workshop
What does it mean to be a feminist designer/architect?
What can intersectional feminist perspectives and methods bring to design and architecture? What constitutes a feminist design practice and project?
We are calling for students and practitioners from the fields of design and architecture to take part in investigating the intersection of design and feminism in an independent two-day workshop. Together we will explore ways to apply intersectional feminism into one’s own design practice and assess the need for feminism in design and architecture. The workshop consists of peer learning through readings, reflection, discussion, speculation and action. We want to exercise constructive criticality through analysing design practices, projects and narratives, and visualise sustainable alternatives.
Our aim in the workshop is to phrase critical questions in order to generate insightful discussion on the overlap of design and feminism. Ultimately, we strive to collectively come up with tools and ideas for feminist design and architecture practice, and to contribute to the wider discourse on their professional and societal significance.
KEYWORDS AND THEMES
intersectional feminism, design practice, inclusivity, critical positions, privilege and oppression
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Information
DATE AND TIME
Saturday–Sunday May 6–7, ca. 10-18 on both days.
PLACE
Hiap Gallery Augusta, Suomenlinna, Helsinki.
LANGUAGE
Our common language will be English.
(Remember: we do not expect anyone to be perfectly fluent.)
WHO ARE INVITED
Students and recently graduated practitioners in the field of design and architecture.
COST
The workshop is free of charge for all participants. We will also serve a light vegan lunch, snacks and coffee on both days.
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Sign up
We are currently fully booked with some people on the waiting list. If you missed the enrolment but would like to be informed about activities like this in the future, fill out the form here. We’ll take down your contacts and keep you posted!
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Pre-readings
Read these texts before the workshop. This is very important, as we would like to start off with some common understanding, so respect others’ time and come prepared. There are five texts and and in addition we would like you to familiarize yourself with the concept of intersectionality (there are also text recommendations for this). Mull them over and jot down any questions or thoughts!
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Mission
We believe that a strive for egalitarian design goes in parallel with the strive for an egalitarian society. Sustainability of design practice is not self-evident, but requires identification of systemic inequalities and reflection on how design supports them. We are hopeful that intersectional feminism will offer powerful tools to critically assess the societal significance of design and architecture. Therefore, we wish to contribute in the discourse on design for social justice by taking an intersectional feminist stance and exploring its potential.
Dismissing the politicality of design and undermining the responsibility of the designer have a huge impact on design as discipline, the environment and the society at large. This makes us concerned. In addition, from the individual designer’s point of view, the practices and structures within the field of design are often unjust, unsustainable and exclusive. There is no rule of equal pay for equal work for a freelancer, and operating as a professional requires both mental and physical resilience.
The relation of design, unequally distributed power and consequent oppression are overlooked in Finnish design and architecture education. Concepts like classism, colonialism, racism, sexism and ableism are ignored in the curriculum. Thus both the disciplines and the practices of individual designers are rendered apolitical by default. We think that it is necessary to consider these aspects in order to constitute a sustainable design practice.
We want to encourage our peer designers and architects to observe the potential of intersectional feminism in their personal design practice. This means, for example, practicing self-reflection, discerning privilege, questioning authorship and being critical of norms. In addition, the multiple uneven social, environmental and economic influences of design projects must be acknowledged.
Striving for creating inclusive, culture sensitive design is a critical and dynamic position. It is a process which calls for constantly analysing past and present narratives, speculating about futures, and learning capabilities to deal with the inevitable controversies. We believe this is best done together.
Sincerely,
Henna Herranen, visual culture and contemporary art
Pauliina Nykänen, graphic design
Marja Rautaharju, architecture
Eevi Saarikoski, collaborative design
Aliisa Talja, applied arts and design
Workshop is financially supported by TTE-Fund and Kari Mattila foundation.
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Library
Texts
Arao, B., Clemens, K. (2013) From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces. A new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice.
Dietze, G. (2014) Decolonizing Gender. Gendering Decolonial Theory: Crosscurrents and Archaeologies
Freeman, J. (1973) The Tyranny of Structurelessness
Ghodsee, K. (2004) Feminism by Design: Emerging Capitalisms, Cultural Feminism, and Women’s Nongovernmental Organizations in Postsocialist Eastern Europe
Hamraie, A. (2013) Designing Collective Access: A Feminist Disability Theory of Universal Design
Pirici, A., Voinea, R. (2015) Manifesto for the Gynecene. Sketch of a New Geological Era. (in English and Finnish)
Urbanapa: Toiseus 101. Näkökulmia Toiseuteen (in Finnish)
Websites
Just for the Record is investigating how gender is represented in new media and writing/publishing tools like Wikipedia, and how it influences the way history is recorded.
Precarity Pilot is an online platform and a series of nomadic workshops that aim at addressing in inventive ways issues faced by precarious designers.
A White Institution’s Guide for Welcoming People of Colour And Their Audiences is a hands on model to stop demanding slave labour under the guise of diversity.
Xenofeminist Manifesto | A Politics for Alienation by Laboria Cuboniks
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