I ran across the concept of Feminine Exhibit Design when doing some post-conference research - and it perked my ears right up! What is feminine exhibit design? And, why is it important? Margaret Middleton has been focusing on these questions for several years now, and spent a little time with me to discuss.  Margaret is a thought leader in the inclusive design space, designer of playful, enriching learning experiences, and speaker and consultant advocating for inclusive museum practices.  In this week’s episode, Margaret shares their thoughts on why Feminine Design principles are a critical aspect for inclusive design and how and when to use them. We discuss how acknowledging and resisting an andro-centric perspective is important in design work, and how difficult that can be considering the complexities of femininity. We also discuss what fem-phobia is and how it may present itself in our design work. Margaret tells us how and when a focus on feminine design emerged from their work and how their thought exercise on this topic has developed since then - including how Cute came to be the 7th element in the emergent Feminine Exhibition Design structure.    Find Margaret on LinkedIn Find Margaret on their website   Links to resources discussed in episode: Margaret’s Family Inclusive Language Chart Book: Feminist Designer Book: Storytelling in Museums Book: Welcoming Young Children into the Museum Book: The Inclusive Museum Leader Article: Feminine Exhibition Design - describing 6 elements of Feminine Exhibition Design, before the 7th - Cute - was added Reader Guide for Feminine Exhibition Design article Gaston Bachelard - ‘the curve is inhabited geometry’ Barbie gets with the program - exhibit Margaret designed, and inspired their focus on feminine design Alok Vaid-Menon asks ‘What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy to be part of this world?’  Discovery Museum, Acton Massachusetts - Teddy Bear diner Exhibit: Gender Bending Fashion - Museum Fine Arts Boston EDGE - Exhibit Design for Girls Engagement research from Exploratorium  Guide from EDGE - recommended qualities regarding what works for girls in a science museum setting Rhea Ashley Hoskin’s work on femininity and fem-phobia Sapna Cheryan’s work on the concept of ambient belonging - she focuses on learning and educational spaces Book: Extra Bold  feminist-inclusive, anti-racist, nonbinary field guide for graphic designers     Connect with us: Have questions or topics you’d like us to explore on the podcast? Or a recommendation of an expert to interview? Feel free to contact me via my LinkedIn page   Need help with a user-, visitor- or community-centered project, evaluation or experience design strategy?  Head over to digin-ux.com for info on human and community-centered strategies for your mission-driven institution  Or, contact us via the Dig In UX website about your project or collaboration you’ve got in mind, or just to say hello!