IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 23
Pink is no longer a prominently female color. Here, the hue
plays a starring role at The Gallery at Sketch restaurant in
London, England.
sheltered and comfortable. Even beyond pink, these pastel
colors are now being used almost as a neutral."
Photo by: © Rob Whitrow courtesy of India Mahdavi
Decontextualizing Textiles
Beyond color, texture and form are finding freedom from
gender ties. Tick points out that as more women have risen
the ranks in the workforce and as brand influencers, design
has evolved away from the hard, overtly masculine interiors
that many associate with power and prominence. "The
softer, romantic iconography that accompanies feminine
aesthetics has become prominent in design," she says. The
change is so prevalent that it affects both gender-neutral
spaces and traditional men's goods. Hard, sharp edges have
given way to more rounded, delicate shapes; patterns and
organics are no longer necessarily seen as inherently female.
Fifty years ago, the delineation between home and
work was more crisp, with the majority of men relegated
to one and women to the other, says Viveca Bissonnette,
FIIDA, CID, LEED AP, a principal at Hollander Design
Group in San Diego, California, USA. The gender barriers
of home and work have blurred as have the functions of
the two spaces. Though corporate clients might not talk of
gender neutrality or binary blurring in those terms, "we've
seen a desire for more comfort in the workplace," she says.
Workplace design is bleeding toward designs typically seen
in residential spaces. "Not just because it's women who are
designing these spaces, but because it's about women who
are occupying these spaces."
The Talk
As the cultural conversation around detaching design
from gender norms evolves, Tick expects more and more
possibilities to open up for interior designers to create
genderless spaces. "There's an understanding that changes in
gender roles and identities are part of what's happening now in
culture," says Tick. "Designers really have an ability to open up
the narrative in a different way."
Of course, for every client who makes gender an
upfront, explicit part of the design discussion, there still are
dozens-even hundreds-that don't have
this on their radar. Market segment and
geographic location heavily factor into client
conversations about gender, says Epstein.
"Hospitality and retail clients take more
risks and want to push the boundaries,"
she says. Even if gender neutrality isn't
a priority when they walk through a
designer's doors, they're likely more
willing to flirt with layout overhauls, floral
motifs, or gender-neutral changing rooms.
"The question is: Do you want to push
the envelope and have a building that's
spectacular and serves all people?" she says.
For clients that are open but in need of reassurance,
pointing to gender-neutral examples in interior design,
as well as fashion and home goods, can help calm
uncertainties, Epstein says. Evoking well-known brands
that have embraced gender neutrality can ease hesitations
as well. "When a company like Kvadrat or Maharam brings
pink into its textiles, it paves the way because they're a
global design leader," she says. "But it's hard to be ahead of
the curve."
"I DON'T THINK SOCIETY
HAS REACHED CRITICAL
MASS WHERE ALL PUBLIC
SPACES WILL BE REQUIRED
TO INCORPORATE
GENDER-NEUTRAL DESIGN."
-Royce Epstein, Ind. IIDA, LEED AP
For clients that don't see the merit of considering
gender neutrality in their design, Epstein suggests a
different tack: Put the emphasis on universal design and
make the space appealing to and comfortable for everyone.
In certain markets or with certain clients, though, that
softer focus can be a challenge to embrace. "I don't think
society has reached critical mass where all public spaces will be
required to incorporate gender-neutral design," Epstein says.
"It's a movement that has been gaining momentum, but we
need a shift in design thinking, as well as societal acceptance,
to push these boundaries and make space that is welcoming
for all. The more clients embrace this, the more acceptable
it will become and then perhaps someday it will become the
norm. Today we don't think anything about designing for
[Americans with Disabilities Act standards], and hopefully in
the future it will be the same for gender in design." n
spring 2018
perspective
23
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018
From IIDA
Contents
Next
World View
Sum of Its Parts
Talk, Talk
Data Viz
Pre/Post
I Design
Redesigning Gender
The Real Deal
Supermarket Shift
Safe Spaces
Ready for Takeoff
Scratch Pad
Insider Intel
IIDA News + Updates
Why This Design Works
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Cover2
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - From IIDA
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Contents
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 3
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 4
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 5
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Next
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 7
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 8
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 9
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - World View
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 11
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Sum of Its Parts
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 13
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Talk, Talk
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Data Viz
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Pre/Post
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - I Design
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Redesigning Gender
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 19
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 20
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 21
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 22
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 23
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - The Real Deal
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 25
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 26
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 27
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 28
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 29
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Supermarket Shift
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 31
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 32
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 33
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 34
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 35
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Safe Spaces
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 37
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 38
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 39
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 40
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 41
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Ready for Takeoff
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 43
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 44
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 45
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 46
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 47
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 48
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 49
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Scratch Pad
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 51
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Insider Intel
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 53
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - IIDA News + Updates
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - 55
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Why This Design Works
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Cover3
IIDA Perspective - Spring 2018 - Cover4
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