Unequal Stories

Researching gender equality in design disciplines

Cook, Robyn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4265-6716 (2021) Unequal Stories. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract / Summary

Unequal Stories is a collaborative, GCRF-funded research project between Falmouth University, United Kingdom (UK), and the University of Johannesburg, South Africa (RSA). Guided by Sustainable Development Goal #5 (gender equality), this cross-national (RSA & UK) comparative research project aims to explore gender diversity, equality, and representation across various design disciplines (industrial design, fashion design, graphic design, etc.) within Higher Education (HE) and Industry.

The project was prompted by an analysis of statistical data around gender and diversity in design disciplines. For example, a recent study by the British Design Council (2018) identified that while 63% of all UK Art and Design graduates are female, the UK's design workforce comprises a 78:22 gender split (male to female), compared to the 53:47 gender split of the wider UK workforce. These statistics were influenced by the extreme gender imbalances in the disciplines of Architecture, multimedia, and Industrial design. Similar statistics have been identified in other countries, including Australia and the United States. While some quantitative data of this nature from South Africa is available, it is significantly outdated (2008).

While the data indicate systemic issues impacting gender equality in design industries, it does little to shed light on underlying reasons. By conducting a narrative inquiry around attitudes and perceptions of gender among participants currently studying towards a qualification in a design discipline and those with design industry experience, Unequal Stories seeks to surface stories related to equality and inequality in the design industries.

The narrative data was gathered, shared, and analysed via two methods on the Unequal Stories platform:

1) Participants (in both HE and Industry) were asked to share their stories anonymously. This data was then mapped on the website through data visualization, allowing users to compare and contrast the stories according to tag, location, and discipline.
2) Through a Pedagogic Toolkit, students from design departments in RSA and the UK were asked to respond to the shared data, offering further insights using a critical design approach. The outcomes of this process were then shared in an exhibition.

Item Type:	Other
Subjects:	Communication > Graphic Design
Courses by Department:	The School of Communication
Related URLs:	https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/research/proj...
Depositing User:	Robyn Cook
Date Deposited:	17 Oct 2024 13:41
Last Modified:	17 Oct 2024 13:41
URI:	https://repository.falmouth.ac.uk/id/eprint/5714

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