Designing Invention for Women
A Women-Centric Design Conversation
In this fireside-chat style conversation with Katrine Marçal, we discussed invention with a women-centric lens. In her book, Mother of Invention, Katrine speaks about the ways in which the current invention ecosystem excludes both women and women's needs.
Key Takeaways
🎓 Historical Innovation Overlooked: The historical dismissal of women’s contributions to innovation, such as the rolling suitcase and electric cars, exemplifies the need for a re-evaluation of what constitutes ‘important’ inventions. This oversight highlights the broader societal biases that have influenced technological advancements and reinforces the necessity of including women in discussions about innovation and design.
📈 Impact of Gender Perceptions on Innovation: Katrine discusses how products perceived as feminine are often undervalued, leading to a lack of investment and support. This dynamic creates a cycle where innovations that could benefit everyone are sidelined due to gender biases, indicating a need for a cultural shift in how we view technology and gender roles.
🏦 Venture Capital’s Gender Gap: The stark reality of the venture capital landscape, where women receive only about 1-2% of funding, underscores a significant barrier to entry for female entrepreneurs. This gap not only limits women’s ability to bring their ideas to market but also stifles diverse innovations that could arise from different perspectives.
📊 Consumer Behaviour and Economic Influence: Women’s influence over consumer decisions represents a significant economic force, yet this power is not reflected in the development of products and services that cater to their needs. The disconnect between consumer influence and innovation highlights a systemic failure to address the needs of half the population.
🛠️ Redefining Comfort in Design: The discussion emphasizes the importance of comfort in designing products for women, which has historically been overlooked. By prioritizing comfort, designers can create more inclusive and functional products that resonate with a broader audience.
🌍 Environmental Implications of Gender Bias: The historical neglect of innovations such as electric cars, which were dismissed as too feminine, has contributed to environmental challenges we face today. Understanding how gender biases have shaped technology can inform more sustainable and inclusive innovation strategies.
🔄 Need for Systemic Change: Addressing the systemic challenges women face in innovation and entrepreneurship requires a multifaceted approach, including changes in funding practices, cultural perceptions of gender in technology, and the recognition of women’s contributions to innovation history. Only through a concerted effort can we unlock the full potential of female innovators and create a more equitable landscape for all.
About Katrine Marçal
Katrine Marçal is a bestselling author on women and innovation. Her first book Who Cooked Adam Smith's Dinner? has been translated into more than 20 languages. Margaret Atwood called it "a smart, funny and readable book on women, economics and money". It was named one of The Guardian's books of the year in 2015. BBC also named Katrine one of its 100 Women in 2015.
Katrine works for the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter. She has given keynotes at institutions such as Oxford University Business and Economics Programme, London School of Economics and The Royal School of Technology in Stockholm. In her role as a financial journalist she has interviewed many of the world's leading economic thinkers. Some of her interviews have been viewed more than a million times on YouTube.
Katrine's second book Mother Of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored In An Economy Built For Men became a bestseller in Sweden in 2020 and will be published in several languages during 2021 and 2022.
She lives in the English countryside with her husband and three children.