Counteracting Dominant Design Through Intersectional Feminist Thought

Abstract

This thesis examines how dominant and exclusionary design practices operate within systems of power, how these maintain experiences of privilege and oppression, and how these might be challenged through a systematic implementation of intersectional feminist thought in design processes. A three-phased qualitative study was conducted.Phase 1 involves a critical literature review of intersectionality and how forms of dominant design operate, including the Double Diamond model. Phase 2 includes an analysis of three design approaches, Design Justice, Data Feminism and Towards an Intentional Intersectional Practice to assess the implementation of intersectionality in the design process. Phase 3 synthesizes the findings and discusses how intersectional thinking may counteract dominant design. It was discovered that emerging intersectional feminist design approaches contribute to counteracting dominant design. This work is fledgling and further study is required to systematically implement intersectional feminist thought in design processes. This thesis offers insight regarding how to do so.