The first lecture on Design/Undesign: Perspectives and Biases was particularly fascinating to me because it made me aware of the deeply ingrained biases and assumptions in the design process. One aspect that especially caught my attention was the fact that many products and public infrastructures are not designed equally for all people—especially not for women.
A striking example of this is public transportation, such as buses, which are often designed for taller individuals. If steering wheels and pedals are not adjusted for smaller body sizes, this can pose a challenge for many women. This highlights how design decisions can unconsciously exclude certain groups of people.
Another topic that stuck with me is the so-called Pink Tax—the price difference between products for men and women, even though they are functionally identical. A particularly striking example was razors: as soon as they are pink and marketed as "for women," the prices increase. This gender-based pricing is not only unfair but also raises fundamental questions about consumer behavior and marketing strategies.
The lecture made me realize how important it is to critically examine design and to be more conscious of the assumptions and stereotypes embedded in products and structures. I am looking forward to delving deeper into this topic in the coming weeks and considering how design can be made more inclusive—and how we can incorporate this into our group work.
Texts for this lesson:
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What are the new terms in this text? How are they defined? Where do they come from?
Design Ethnography: An ethnographically inspired method that focuses on studying people in their everyday environments to inform design processes. The term originates from the intersection of design and social sciences.
User-Centered Design (UCD): A design approach that prioritizes users' needs, goals, and behaviors. It emerged from the field of Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Centered Design (HCD): Similar to UCD, but with a broader focus on human experience and behavior beyond usability.
Ethnographic Praxeology: A concept that integrates ethnographic methods into practice-oriented design processes.
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Who are the authors? Where do they work?
Nicolas Nova, a professor in the Master’s program for Media Design at HEAD – Genève.
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What questions come to your mind from reading this text?
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How does it affect your design practice? What applications do you see in your practice?
I think ethnographic design can be a very exciting method for conducting research, as it allows for a much more conscious and immersive engagement with things.
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What are the new terms in this text? How are they defined? Where do they come from?
RAW: A system that combines a tool and a process for capturing and conveying audiovisual impressions of everyday life with minimal editorial mediation. It was developed at the Media Lab Europe.
Audiophotography: A technique that combines audio and photography to provide a richer contextual experience than traditional photography.
Binaural Audio Recording: A method of capturing sound using microphones placed in the user’s ears, creating a 3D audio effect that mimics how humans naturally hear.
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Who are the authors? Where do they work?
The authors are Joëlle Bitton, Stefan Agamanolis, and Matthew Karau. The institution where they are working is Human Connectedness Group at Media Lab Europe, Dublin, Ireland.
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What questions come to your mind from reading this text?