Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Meagan Waller
19,382 PointsWhere are all the female designers?
It's a little bit of a bummer to view two videos about "Great Designers" and have it all be men (save for one 'husband & wife' team). While all these men are/were obviously very successful designers, with interesting careers, it's important to remember that imposter syndrome is a real thing that plagues the field of technology and predominately affects women in the field. Not seeing yourself represented can be a big barrier to entry for a lot of people, and for many it's enough to make you feel like you couldn't succeed since you never see someone who looks like you as a role model in the field.
There are many amazing female designers, such as: Lillian Bassman, Carin Goldberg, Ellen Lupton, and the amazing Paula Scher. These are just to name a few off the top of my head.
It would have been rad to at least see a couple of women included in this list.
kateperris2
11,495 PointsMeagan, I agree. I will check out the female designers you mentioned.
Unsubscribed User
3,532 PointsI was just about to post a similar concern! Thanks for bringing your thoughts to the conversation. For an industry that has such an issue keeping women in tech it would be great to see some of the content on Treehouse revised to include a more inclusive and diverse representation of the field and what it could amount to. Gender, ethnicity, class, dis/ability, and sexuality are factors excluded from the discussion in those revered as "pioneers" of the field. Who is represented (white able-bodied cis men) plays a huge part of one's perceived success in an industry. Incorporating an anti-oppressive framework could really benefit the curriculum.
Jacie Fortune
8,969 PointsGood point Meagan. Additionally, with the exception of 1 guest instructor, all the teachers on Treehouse are male as well. While the instruction is great, I'd like to see more parity gender-wise as well.
nicolabell
18,212 PointsOh god, so glad to see that others have pointed this out, but not that it was two years ago and no amendments have been made to this course X(
Brittany Cooper
73 PointsExactly what I was thinking the entire time. I'm definitely going to checkout the female designers you mentioned - thank you for posting about this!
hannahannah
3,092 Pointsso true. thank you for writing it!
4 Answers
Hannah Taylor
2,407 PointsI agree with the OP, Anna is wrong... A level playing field just reinforces the disparities that exist in society. There's a huge amount of benefit to be gained by being deliberately anti-bias with respect to the curriculum being taught anywhere that teaches skills and knowledge for an industry that is hugely disparate, whatever the industry.
Anna Grais
12,743 PointsA designer is a designer, no matter the gender. This video is about great designers and their work, it is not about what gender they are. I believe it is important to be able to separate a persons work, personality and appearance , since they aren't related. One shouldn't affect the other. For example, when focusing on a persons appearance (how they look, their gender etc.), don't let that have an influence on what you think about their personality or work.
And in this case, where we are supposed to focus on great designers work, don't focus on their gender, just assume that it is a coincidence. Just as you said, there are a lot of great female designers, so therefor gender is irrelevant, since clearly your gender doesn't determine your potential as a designer.
Assume that when these videos was made, that he just wanted to design a video that served the purpose of informing the viewer about great designers and their work - assume that just like he didn't think about making sure to mention female designers, neither did he aim to only mention male designers.
He most likely just mentioned designers that have inspired him the most.
Valerie Herdt
967 PointsIt's about representation and great designers being able to get the spotlight they deserve. Often times very talented artists/scientists/etc. get overshadowed by white men in their field and it is very disheartening. Representation is so unbelievable important. Hopefully you can see that now, years later.
"Why is representation important in the workplace?
It allows others to strive for better, like a beacon of hope. Those representations soon become pillars of confidence, creating space for the underrepresented, harboring what has always been to them a mere possibility of a proper chance of being seen."
Codye Watson
16,835 PointsThis reminds me of an discussion my co-workers had with a client. Should it be a man or women holding the globe. Should they be African-American, Indian, Asian, White, etc? I agree with Anna. We should all be transparent about gender and look at what these artist actually are doing. At the end of the day, it's about great design - not arguing about gender. And if you have to absolutely beat it to the ground. Here's great women graphic designers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_Davidson (Designed the Nike logo)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Kare (Designed Mac Interfaces)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Scher (Designed 150 Album Covers for CBS Records; Designed Windows 8 logo and Office 2010 logo)
Graphic design is not about gender. Graphic design is about graphic design.
dean jackson
5,153 Points2.5 billion years intelligent life has existed and, oh look, 4-5 americans from the last century. Yawn. Nothing against Americans at all, but there's 'great' and there's great. A few corporate logos, a typeface and some chairs. Someone shoot me. As for why no women, thats what you took from this? Why is gender important? Hardly Di vinci were they. Genuinely feel like ive learned nothing apart from how to BS a little more
Thas Eagans
Courses Plus Student 2,533 PointsThas Eagans
Courses Plus Student 2,533 PointsI know of two, and assuming that you're a designer, that makes three. :)
</TREagans>