Disrupting gender binaries in product language: A workshop on gender awareness

When introduced to product language—the interplay between aesthetic qualities and conveyed meanings—design students often learn that objects embody gender. Soft, curved, and organic shapes are typically framed as feminine, while monolithic and sturdy shapes are most likely labelled as masculine. Although this vocabulary bridges human communication and aesthetics, it also risks reinforcing stereotypes. Building on ongoing doctoral research investigating how product language can reproduce or challenge discrimination, a five-day workshop with 23 bachelor's design students was developed. Through reflective and analytical activities, participants examined gender beyond the binary, exploring how products convey gender norms and how aesthetic qualities embed narratives of exclusion or neutrality. The workshop sought to cultivate gender awareness as a critical design sensitivity, rather than proposing a fixed methodology. The outcomes suggest that such reflection on gender meanings in design education can support more inclusive and non-discriminatory approaches to product language.