Material research in the design field: a gender gap analysis

Abstract

Within the framework of technology, design and material production are profoundly influenced by the class relations of production. Artifacts and objects are no longer seen as separate from society, but as part of the social matter that regulates and holds the society together. The development and use of materials are also closely connected to the social systems in which they operate. To date we have few empirical observations in this regard, especially on the investigation of the female presence in the discourse of material design. The connection between material research and gender has recently become an issue of social and technological relevance, as there is a lack of data on women activity. In addition, the communicative aspect of the material design approach will be analysed through forms of social constructivism, which foresees people working together constructing artifacts, and their potential to enhance the perception of matter in its forthcoming dimension. This contribution aims to investigate the approaches of women designers to the innovation of materials. It will start from an historical perspective via figures such as the Italian architect Anna Castelli Ferrieri up to the new generations of women designers and researchers who consider specific factors for each study and observation, applying what is called the “clinical approach”. We will encompass selected examples of good practices of social sustainability through the inclusion of women in the field of material research and production. In addition, we consider the profound impact of contemporary good design practices, questioning what impact they have on social life and the environment, due to the relationships with our artifacts and habitat under the climate crisis. Overall, we propose that gender issues are finally embedded in the design discourse and some results are emerging.