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October 18, 2024
Vienna

designaustria: Women Creating the Future of Design


Photo Credit: Mila Weger

The “Next Gen Design: Women Creating the Future of Design” masterclass, held on Friday, September 20, 2024, at designforum Wien, was a well-attended and meaningful event during VIENNA DESIGN WEEK. Organized by designaustria, the event brought together designers, professionals, and students to discuss important issues surrounding gender diversity, equality, and the future of design. The public networking event provided a platform for learning, discussion, and collaboration.

The event began with a welcome at designforum Wien, located in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier MQ Wien. After the introductions, the curators presented two exhibitions: “INVISIBLE” and “Raum für Erregung” (Space for Agitation). Curators Johanna Wicht, Christine Poplavski and Kira Saskia Schinko guided the audience through these thought-provoking exhibits on the intersection of gender diversity and design.

Photo Credit: Evija Kraukle

Photo Credit: Evija Kraukle


The exhibitions set a reflective tone for the rest of the event, which continued with a series of impulse lectures by creative experts. Director of Mikser, Maja Lalic, an architect and urban designer based in Belgrade, shared her insights on how young designers can contribute to sustainable futures. Her presentation emphasized NextGenDesign as great opportunity for young people in Europe to connect and learn about forward-thinking design.

Photo Credit: Evija Kraukle

Next, Valentina Auer, an interior and graphic designer from Austria and a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, spoke about the need for sustainability and diversity within design processes. She underscored the importance of creating eco-friendly design solutions while incorporating diverse perspectives in the design industry.

Information designer Barbara Weingartshofer gave a data-driven presentation on the gender pay gap in the design profession, based on findings from her study “Frauen zählen” (Women Count). She outlined how gender inequalities continue to affect pay and career opportunities for women in design, providing valuable insights into ongoing challenges in the field.

Photo Credit: Evija Kraukle

Following the lectures, a panel discussion brought all the speakers and the exhibition co-curator together to explore these themes in more depth. Moderated by Sigrid Buerstmayr, a communication designer and assistant professor at FH Joanneum, the discussion allowed participants to engage with the speakers about how to drive change in the design industry. The audience actively participated, asking questions and contributing their own thoughts during the Q&A session.

The event concluded with an invitation to a follow-up meeting at designforum Wien on November 5, 2024 from four young designers – Lisa Stolz, Kerstin Pfleger, Therese Balslev, and Evija Kraukle – as part of the NextGenDesign Workshop for a young audience. This invitation encouraged attendees to continue their involvement in future NextGenDesign activities and discussions.

Overall, the masterclass and Edu Modules were successful in bringing attention to key issues of gender equality and diversity for more sustainability in design. The event fostered discussions, and participants signed up for further information on upcoming Next Gen Design initiatives, including Open Calls for residencies and future meetings hosted by designaustria.