One in five senior executives are women, and fewer than one in 30 are women of color.

How do we find and create an ideal future state for women at work.

What is Women of Innovation (WOI)

Creating an exhibit for Austin Design Week that celebrates and raises questions about women in the workplace is a creative and meaningful endeavor. Here's a hypothetical overview of how I and others, in collaboration with frog Design, could curate a spatial installation for this purpose:

Title: "EmpowerHER: Navigating the Workplace"

1. Concept and Theme:

• The exhibit's central theme is to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in the workplace.

• It should also highlight challenges and questions about gender equality, career advancement, and inclusivity in the professional world.

2. Venue Selection:

• Choose a high-traffic venue within Austin to maximize visibility and attendance during Austin Design Week.

3. Collaborative Design with frog Design:

• Work closely with Frog Design, known for their expertise in innovative design solutions, to create a visually compelling and interactive exhibit.

• Incorporate elements of user-centered design and human-centered thinking to ensure the exhibit engages visitors on multiple levels.

4. Exhibit Components:

a. Art Installations: - Use art to express women's experiences, stories, and achievements in the workplace. - Incorporate visual and interactive art installations that provoke thought and discussion.

b. Historical Timeline: - Create a timeline highlighting key moments and milestones in the history of women in the workforce. - Showcase pioneering women who have made significant contributions in various fields.

c. Interactive Workshops: - Host workshops and panel discussions featuring successful women from different industries. - Encourage visitors to share their thoughts, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations.

d. Photography and Storytelling: - Display powerful photographs and personal stories of women in the workplace. - Share stories of resilience, leadership, and overcoming barriers.

e. Video Installations: - Showcase short documentaries and interviews with women who have made a difference in their professions. - Include testimonials from both women and allies in the workplace.

f. Audience Engagement: - Encourage visitors to leave their thoughts and questions on a "Question Wall." - Provide a space for interactive discussions and idea-sharing.

5. Technology Integration:

• Utilize cutting-edge technology, such as augmented reality or virtual reality, to create immersive experiences within the exhibit.

• Offer a virtual tour or companion app for those who can't visit the physical space.

6. Community Partnerships:

• Collaborate with local women's organizations, diversity and inclusion groups, and educational institutions.

• This can help amplify the reach of the exhibit and promote inclusivity in design.

7. Evaluation and Feedback:

• Collect feedback from visitors to understand their experiences and perspectives.

• Use this data for future iterations of the exhibit or related events.

8. Promotion and Outreach:

• Leverage social media, local media outlets, and community partnerships to generate buzz and attract a diverse audience.

By collaborating with frog Design and focusing on a multidimensional approach, this exhibit can both celebrate the successes of women in the workplace and spark conversations about gender equality, diversity, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. It provides a platform for sharing stories, raising questions, and ultimately working towards a more inclusive and equitable professional world.

Encourage Dialog

In alignment with the preceding section titled "EmpowerHER: Navigating the Workplace," the exhibit aims to enlighten individuals about the obstacles that women encounter and conquer in positions of leadership. Furthermore, it seeks to ignite conversations and deliberations surrounding gender-related concerns within the professional sphere.

Make Something

Develop insights into work settings that empower women professionally and craft something impactful.

Normalize Diversity

In the workplace, diversity is not just necessary; it's a valuable asset. We aim to highlight and expand these opportunities.

Overview

Initially, we examined the existing knowledge, which is quite substantial. Primarily, it's evident that diverse leadership results in improved outcomes. The financial advantages of gender diversity, as extensively demonstrated in studies like McKinsey's decade-long "Women in the Workplace" research, have been repeatedly confirmed. Especially in creative industries, we collectively recognize the necessity to harness the full spectrum of experiences and perspectives, thereby unlocking our collective intelligence. This is essential for addressing the increasingly intricate challenges in design, technology, and society. However, despite this awareness, progress remains frustratingly slow, with statistics largely unchanged.

Challenge

A side project undertaken at frog, which required several months of development and nurturing, ultimately resulted in an immensely gratifying and enchanting exhibit that could be shared with a broader audience.

Opportunity

It became evident that the most impactful outcome of this venture was for us to transform into a platform for these women's narratives. We made the decision to establish an exhibit for Austin Design Week that encourages others to contemplate, connect with, and introspect upon various thought-provoking questions.

Role

Lead IxD

Skills

Research
Personas
Exhibit

Collaboration with

frog team

My Contribution and Role

1. Interaction Design Expertise:

   • I took on the role of Lead Interaction Designer, responsible for crafting interactive elements and user experiences within the exhibit. This involved conceptualizing and designing interactive displays and ensuring they were user-friendly and intuitive.

2. Spatial Planning and Design:

   • I served as the Spatial Planner, responsible for organizing the physical space of the exhibit. This included determining the layout, ensuring accessibility, and creating an atmosphere that aligned with the exhibit's message.

3. Research Leadership:

   • As the Researcher, I led the effort to gather user insights, validate content, and employ a data-driven approach. My research guided design decisions and ensured the exhibit's accuracy and impact.

Exploration and Research Journey

The exploration and research process played a pivotal role in unearthing valuable insights and opportunities that could be subsequently shared to ignite meaningful conversations and kickstart the creative design concepting phase.

During this phase, extensive efforts were devoted to:

1. User-Centered Investigation: Placing users and their experiences at the core of our research, we delved into the perspectives, needs, and aspirations of the intended audience.

2. Data Collection and Analysis: Data-driven approaches were employed, encompassing surveys, interviews, and observations. This multifaceted data collection allowed us to gather a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

3. Contextual Inquiry: Immersion in the environments and situations relevant to our research, we sought to uncover nuanced insights by experiencing firsthand the conditions that our audience encounters.

4. Iterative Prototyping: The research phase was marked by continuous refinement and development of prototypes to test and validate various concepts and solutions.

5. Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Close collaboration with experts across different fields enriched our research process, providing diverse perspectives and expertise.

The culmination of this research process provided the foundation upon which to build a compelling exhibit that would not only celebrate women's achievements but also spark meaningful discussions and inspire innovative design concepts.

Participant Summaries

We, through the nature of our work, had the opportunity to personally reach out to influential individuals at the pinnacle of their careers, those who had successfully navigated their journeys.

Over the course of 2 to 3 months, we engaged in conversations with a diverse array of women who had accomplished remarkable achievements, experts who dedicated their efforts to studying these matters, and leaders of organizations committed to supporting other women.

Additionally, we extended our discussions to include male allies in this endeavor. Our outreach encompassed professionals from renowned companies such as Google, Adobe, LinkedIn, Intuit, and we were fortunate to secure time for insightful discussions with Sarah Green-Carmichael.

During these conversations, we posed fundamental questions, inquiring about the unique aspects of their experiences, the challenges they had encountered, and the strategies they employed both in the workplace and in their personal lives to address these pertinent issues.

Insights

We distilled these incredible interviews down to a number of insights to activate against. These are concise and accurate and perfectly actionable for designers. But for many of us, this information was not entirely new

1

Many believe in the value of diversity, but effective action lags behind.

2

Traditional workplace norms do not fully address the expectations of the diverse workforce.

3

Women want to be recognized for their strengths and encumbered by expectations tied to their gender.

4

Self-doubt drives women to over-prepare in anticipation of potential bias.

5

Self-advocacy and risk-taking enable new opportunities and new roles.

6

Empathy is a strength but can create additional expectations.

7

Accessing mentors and identifying advocates early are pivotal steps on the path to success.

8

Achieving a work-life balance requires sacrifices and home support systems.

9

Women are paying it forward to create a better future (for women) at work.

frog Design Jam

These insights, coupled with a glimpse into a few personal narratives, sparked a wave of creativity and innovation during our frog Austin concept jam. The inspiration led to the conceptualization of various products, services, and initiatives aimed at addressing the pressing issues that required our attention. These concepts encompassed a wide range of solutions, from software designed to help companies assess the fairness of subjective performance reviews to challenging established structures that perpetuated pay disparities. We also explored ideas such as mentor-matching services, encouraging existing leaders to sponsor women for leadership roles within their organizations rather than seeking external candidates, and many other innovations.

However, the true impact of our endeavor became evident in the days and weeks that followed. The individuals within our frog community were deeply touched by the statistics and personal stories we encountered. They expressed a genuine interest in learning more about these remarkable women. It was the human stories, conveyed with empathy and attention to the nuanced details often hidden within typical data, that left a lasting impression. These narratives not only resonated with our team as designers but also as individuals who navigate their own work environments daily. They were personally motivated to challenge the barriers that prevent these powerful voices and countless others from fully participating in the spaces where their contributions are most needed, transcending the boundaries of work and budgets.

Visual and Exhibition Design

While creating these immersive experiences intended to encourage individuals to explore the theme, connect with the narratives of these women through various channels, and inspire them to question the assumptions they hold, we aimed to leave them with fresh emotions, altered perspectives, and a genuine desire to engage in meaningful conversations.

I was truly privileged to be an integral part of this remarkable team that came together to bring this project to life. Over several months, I had the opportunity to contribute significantly to the project's evolution. This journey encompassed a series of pivotal phases, including conducting insightful interviews, engaging in productive design jams, synthesizing the collected data and ideas, and ultimately culminating in a remarkable design exhibition.

In my role within the team, I played a multifaceted part, bridging various elements of the project:

1. Interviews and Insights: I actively participated in conducting interviews, allowing us to glean valuable insights and perspectives from diverse individuals. These interviews formed the foundation of our project, providing firsthand accounts and experiences that would resonate with our audience.

2. Design Jams and Conceptualization: During the design jams, I collaborated closely with the team to brainstorm, ideate, and conceptualize the immersive experiences and interactive elements that would form the heart of the exhibition. This creative process was not only intellectually stimulating but also deeply rewarding.

3. Synthesis and Implementation: The synthesis phase saw us distilling the collected data and ideas into coherent, impactful narratives and design elements. I played a role in translating these insights into tangible experiences that would resonate with our visitors.

4. Exhibition: My involvement extended to the exhibition itself, where I witnessed the culmination of our collective efforts. It was immensely gratifying to see our designs and concepts come to life and the transformative impact they had on our audience.

The outcome of this journey was nothing short of inspiring. The project sparked conversations, ignited curiosity, and encouraged attendees to ask profound questions. On a smaller scale, we witnessed tangible changes taking root. It was a testament to the dedication, love, care, and passion invested by the entire team.

My takeaway from this adventure is a profound sense of fulfillment and a realization of the potential we hold to drive change. I look forward with eager anticipation to the continuing journey and the evolving conversations it will inspire. It is with great excitement that I await the next steps, knowing that this endeavor has only scratched the surface of its transformative potential.