Talk / Identities
What Designers can learn from Intersectional Feminism
Fahmida Azad
An intersectional approach to design so that we don’t undo decades of grassroots work
Designers take pride in moving fast and breaking things. When could it benefit us to slow down? When could it benefit us to understand the histories of social movements, the strategies of grassroots organizers, and the struggles of marginalized communities? This talk aims to show how the evolution interaction design practices can be informed by the world of social advocacy and activism.
The world of emerging technologies, such as services and products driven by machine learning, artificial intelligence and mixed reality, is a world dominated by men. The breakneck speed of innovation is beautiful and astonishing in this space. However, if our design practices are completely uninformed by bodies of work related to Critical Race Theory, Feminist Linguistic Theory and Intersectionality, we face a massive risk. When we ignore the advancements in the social sciences and in social movements, we risk undoing decades of work with a few lines of code. Design and technology have the power to amplify and even embolden social inequality if we are not careful.
How do we confront the realities of what we create and consider the consequences in an approachable manner? How do we move beyond empathy and create a culture of accountability and fair representation?
About the speaker
Fahmida Azad
I am a Bangladeshi-American Interaction + Service Designer with a background in teaching, human rights and social advocacy work. My approach to design is through an intersectional feminist lens focused on centering the narratives, experiences and expertise of under-represented communiites, particularly womnx of color.
In a previous life, I worked as a teacher in Palestine and worked as a crisis responder for victims of sex and labor trafficking at a national anti-human trafficking organization in the United States.
I’ve lived and worked in Palestine, Jordan, the U.S, and Denmark exposed to the interlinked struggles and resilience of communities who face systemic oppressions. These experiences continually push me towards being an advocate of designing experiences that are inclusive, meaningful and joyful.
I hold a B.A. in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill, and am a graduate of the Interaction Design Programme at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design.