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In recent years, designers have been moving into activities that are understood to be outside the typical commercial and artistic realms of design. During research into design and innovation we have come to uncover many projects that manifest how design is fundamental in dealing with changes in everyday life and situations. Some of this we promoted in a publication in Iceland addressing the future role and significance of design. On reflection, we have discovered how designers and the creative industries can play an important part in influencing, tackling and improving social issues, and we have been inspired by design projects that are strategically tackling issues such as crime, sustainable everyday life, development aid and health.

Gender equality is a vast subject matter and a keystone in creating real prosperity within society. Our belief and vision is therefore that gender equality should be addressed on a strategic design level. We believe that both the fields of gender research and design make a combined force to influence positive results.

“Design Innovation for Gender Equality” (DIG-Equality) is divided into two phases:

1. A research phase and execution phase. The aim of the research phase is to explore how design and equality have interacted and to look for examples where design solutions have resulted in positive steps towards equality. Other design projects that address social issues will be investigated, and a theory from the combined perspective of design and gender research will be developed.

2. This work will make the basis for the execution phase where actual design projects will be executed and designers will work in collaboration with researchers to address various equality issues. Within the field of design, this project intends to promote awareness of gender imbalance.

After clarification of objectives and goals a background description will be put forward. A separate overview covering the gender equality subject matter; ideas, history and key challenges and the field of design; its role in society, history and relevance to gender equality. It is important to present both fields so that experts can obtain a clear understanding of the other, which is a very important basis for collaboration. Each part of the eight goals will then be presented and a timeframe put forward. Our intentions are to create results that go beyond being merely a two dimensional report. The project is action based and will result in products, activities, visual material and dissemination. The outcome will be a foundation for the inclusion of gender awareness within design practices and education in the future.