Intersectional

Design
Thinking
: The Guidebook

Mesh
Methodology
What is our approach?

Our approach highlights the cross-section between intersectional

thinking and reflective methods within mesh-like scopes. Influenced by
Tim Ingold’s ‘textilic’ approach, it is a design approach that queers the
binaries and enhances a more communicative, inter-subjective and
dialogic practice.

In our approach, we embrace 6 core values, which are: Intersectionality,

Communicative, Critical, Queer, Participatory, and Longevity. We believe, when
applied in combination, these values will encourage and help one approach
design with a feminist thinking. We encourage approaching the methods with
an open mind, because they are based on a completely new outlook to design
processes. Think of it like a mesh. It is never too late to be mindful and
reflective of the consequences of your design choices, therefore our approach
boosts-creativity as it is holistic, reflective and actionable for any state of your
design journey.

Why our approach?

Derived from and reflected upon the misogyny phenomena in contemporary

context, we introduce our concept as a means of normalizing feminist design
thinking in our everyday practices.

As female intersectional designers, we are on a journey to evolve a new

outlook on design processes to remedy and prevent the overlook on “passive
sexism” culture that subltly lingers within our design processes, thinking and
methodologies. This embodies from the way we approach a design project, to
the methods that help shape our designs, and everything in between like
forming habits of training our reflective and critical thinking skills.

How-To:
From
start to ∞ 1_ Place yourself in a mindset that imagines the design
state as forever-evolving, mesh-like process.

2_ The only step is a starting point. Get a sense of how

you feel at this very moment of your process, and pick
from the selection of moods accordingly. A personalized
set of method cards will be generated for your needs,
and you can choose from the selection your starting
point. Along with each method card, pair it with a few
value cards to further reflect and iterate on each selected
value points.

3_ Extend and sequence a Mesh that suits your own

path. Continue and repeat step 2 with your team by
trying out the other method cards from your custom set,
or come up with new methods and become a contributor
to the community. Create your own path through the
Mesh approach, and continue building your net-like
journey.

Excited
Silent Silent They
Sherlock Sherlock
Action Action
Immerse yourself inside of your user’s environment, try to Imagine your user group is a non-male group. Break the notion of
shadow and mirror their behaviour when iterating on your always thinking of the uncertained group as a male group and use
designs. Reflect on their essential needs towards the Ethics of the male term to represent THEM instead.
Care value.

Key points Key points

Actions speak louder If your user is
than words. Take time non-male; non-white;
to stay low and let non-human, will the
things unfold in itself. Definition of “Ethics of Care” needs change? What
can your design solve
Spend some time to shadow your Designing with intentional “Ethics of Care” means to study or their essential needs?
user in their usual dynamics over observe your users in their usual environment in order to pin
time, and imagine how ethical your point their essential needs in a design that stays true to Write down every ideas which you
design plays into their routine. accommodate to their needs, and not to produce designs for think is possible, and examine it by
personal profit. project ideas into reality.
Deadend
Back to Back to They Burst your
future future bubble
B

Action Action Action

B B

A C
List your possible/existing idea(s) and note down every possible Imagine your user group is a non-male group. Break the notion of Exchange viewpoints with non-designers who are not related to
consequences or impacts they could bring. Think of the whole B A always thinking of the uncertained group as a male group and use your project about your ideas. Try to break a bit of the design
process like a net, place your idea in the center, and diffuse the Your

idea
the male term to represent THEM instead. bubble and think of how could you include more perspectives and
possible consequences while shaping the net. A B
reflect on them.

B B

Key points B
Key points Key points
Try to think of your If your user is Try to embrace
ideas in a holistic non-male; non-white; different approaches of
picture. List every non-human, will the thinking about the idea,
possibilities regardless
of the positive or
Diagram example needs change? What
can your design solve
and appreciate it.
negetive value in a Place your idea in the center, and imagine the possible impacts or their essential needs?
common social sense. results your idea would bring to certain environment or group of
Try to put more attention on how people that you think are relavant to your idea. Try to push your Write down every ideas which you How to get inspired and get
things could connect, and be more imagination and branch out more until you have a clearer vision of think is possible, and examine it by constructive feedback effectively?
cautious of your design impact. the holistic picture around your idea. project ideas into reality. Making notes if it’s necessary.
Intersectionality

Intersectional
Intersectional

Intersectional
Materiality Systemic Interlace

Reflective Questions Reflective Questions Reflective Questions

- To what extent have I considered
and applied the natural environment
as a key factor in your design?
- How would my design change when
taking account it’s environmental
impact?
- How do I reflect the essence of my
project its final form?
- How can I pay respects to the
complexities and consequences
behind my project?
- How have I considered topics like
gender and race as a cross-section to
my design?
- How interdisciplinary is my current
design and how could I make it more
considerable?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action

Queer

Transitional Holistic Thinking Openness

Reflective Questions Reflective Questions Reflective Questions

- To what extent have I embraced the
the state of my design as being
always open to iterations?
- What do I consider as a “finished”
state for my design, and why would I
declare a stop to the process?
- How have I considered the
“secondary” aspects or features of
my design angle?
- To what extent have I tried to
breakfree the traditional expectations
of my type of design?
- How have I kept an open-mind
throughout my design process?
- Have I considered spontaneous
alterations to my design - why or why
not?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action

Queer

Queer

Queer
Inclusivity
Diversity Ethics of Care Intrinsic

Reflective Questions Reflective Questions Reflective Questions

- How have I fully considered different
racial and gender factors to my
design approach?
- How have I engaged a variety of
Inclusive
- In my journey to expand my - To what extent have I considered
horizons of inclusivity, to what extent the essential problem in my design
does it truly consider the empathic thinking?
aspects of my users? - How did I come to find the problem

Inclusive

Inclusive
people in my design process and how - How have I built my designs based or focus of the project and does it
could I better the experience? on satisfying the emotional aspect truly reflect the essential issues
from my users? present?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action

Free
Meditate & Meditate & Silent Silent
Mediate Mediate Sherlock Sherlock
Decisions you’ve Decisions made
made so far by “gut feeling”
1 1
Action Action
Set free of rational thinking and practice your intuition. Tune in 2 2 Immerse yourself inside of your user’s environment, try to
with your senses and emotions, then let your gut-feeling drive you shadow and mirror their behaviour when iterating on your
at this moment. What is it telling you to do? Trust it and follow designs. Reflect on their essential needs towards the Ethics of
through your design intuitively. 3 3 Care value.

4 4

Key points 5 5 Key points

Compare the decisions Actions speak louder
you made by logic than words. Take time
thinking versus the to stay low and let
decisions made by
your “gut feeling”. How
Diagram Example things unfold in itself. Definition of “Ethics of Care”
is it different? Designing with the intentional “Ethics of Care” means to study or Spend some time to shadow your Designing with intentional “Ethics of Care” means to study or
observe your users in their usual environment in order to pin user in their usual dynamics over observe your users in their usual environment in order to pin
point their essential needs and a design that stays true to time, and imagine how ethical your point their essential needs in a design that stays true to
Relax and let your senses open accommodate to their needs, and not solely to produce for design plays into their routine. accommodate to their needs, and not to produce designs for
doors, enjoy the flow. personal profit. personal profit.
Clueless
Back to Back to Meditate & Meditate &
future future Mediate Mediate
Decisions you’ve Decisions made
B
made so far by “gut feeling”
1 1
Action Action
B
B

A
C
List your possible/existing idea(s) and note down every possible Set free of rational thinking and practice your intuition. Tune in 2 2
consequences or impacts they could bring. Think of the whole B
A
with your senses and emotions, then let your gut-feeling drive you
process like a net, place your idea in the center, and diffuse the Your

idea
at this moment. What is it telling you to do? Trust it and follow
possible consequences while shaping the net. A
through your design intuitively. 3 3
B

A
4 4
B B

Key points B
Key points 5 5
Try to think of your Compare the decisions
ideas in a holistic you made by logic
picture. List every thinking versus the
possibilities regardless Diagram example decisions made by
your “gut feeling”. How
Diagram Example
of the positive or
negetive value in a Place your idea in the center, and imagine the possible impacts or is it different? Designing with the intentional “Ethics of Care” means to study or
common social sense. results your idea would bring to certain environment or group of observe your users in their usual environment in order to pin
Try to put more attention on how people that you think are relavant to your idea. Try to push your point their essential needs and a design that stays true to
things could connect, and be more imagination and branch out more until you have a clearer vision of Relax and let your senses open accommodate to their needs, and not solely to produce for
cautious of your design impact. the holistic picture around your idea. doors, enjoy the flow. personal profit.
Communicative
Communicative

Communicative

Communicative
Language Medium Interactivity

Reflective Questions Reflective Questions Reflective Questions

- At this moment, what kind of
atmosphere do the language of my
design shape?
- How approachable, understandable
and appropriate is the language I
have chosen for my users?
- How does the medium or format
from my design helps the flow of the
conversation?
- How can I improve the engagement
and quality of the conversations with
my audience?
- How effective are the affordances
functioning in my design?
- How adaptable is the usability when
considering its users with different
abilities?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action

Participatory
Regularity Engagement Balanced Roles
Participatory

Reflective Questions
- To what extent do I give my
potential users the chance to build
designs collaboratively?
- What stops me from keeping my
user in line with my design process?
Participatory
Reflective Questions
- In what ways have I managed to
keep my participants comfortable
and engaged throughout the
designing moments of exchange?
Participatory
Reflective Questions
- How and why do I assign different
people their roles in a participative
setting?
- Do I think participants in this
assignment have equal opportunities
to contribute their input?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action

On-Track
Ping-Pong Burst your
bubble
Action Action
Talk about your project with the other designers who are outside Exchange viewpoints with non-designers who are not related to
of your team. Quick-fire style, ask them how do they view your your project about your ideas. Try to break a bit of the design
idea/design, and to challenge your perspective with reflective bubble and think of how could you include more perspectives and
questions. reflect on them.

Key points Key points

Peer reviews help you Try to embrace
polish your project, different approaches of
practice to ping-pong thinking about the idea,
often throughout your and appreciate it.
process.

How to get inspired and get

Answer and evaluate your project constructive feedback effectively?
to the challenging reflective points. Making notes if it’s necessary.
Lost
Ping-Pong Perfectly Perfectly
Imperfect Imperfect
Action Action
Talk about your project with the other designers who are outside Evaluate and rethink the “flaws” of your design/idea. Try to
of your team. Quick-fire style, ask them how do they view your embrace it and build up your idea spontaneously from it. You
idea/design, and to challenge your perspective with reflective might just find a moment of creativity and the beauty in the
questions. “imperfect”.

Key points Key points

Peer reviews help you Break free from the
polish your project, obsession of “perfect
practice to ping-pong design”.
often throughout your
process.
Exercise example
Take 10 pictures of the ways your users are misusing your design.
Leave space for letting flaws grow From this reflect and evaluate the new angles that these misuse
their own leaves. Embrace the may uncover. You may use these new angles as a new ideation
Answer and evaluate your project misuse and reflect on new angles point for further iterations or seperate projects.
to the challenging reflective points. from it.
Critical

Intuition Expansive Seperative

Reflective Questions Reflective Questions Reflective Questions

- How much do I take into - How does the overlook of other senses - How does my design differ from
consideration my ‘gut-feeling’ when (visual, auditorial, tactile, etc.) or knowledge, those similar solutions that already
making decisions in my design? limit the experience of my design? exists?

- What would be the reason to go - How could I better the experience of - How can I approach my design
against my intuitions? my design when I become mindful of focus from a new angle, and in that
expanding my scopes beyond the bring a new outlook to the current
traditional focus of my design area? situation?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action

Critical

Critical

Critical
Sustainability
Sustainability

Sustainability

Sustainability
responsibility Profound Impact Continuality

Reflective Questions Reflective Questions Reflective Questions

- To what extent do I believe my
design contributes to ecological
responisilities?
- How would considerations of the
ecological factor help my design
perform better for longevity?
- What is to me a success of my
design?
- What might stop or limit me from
contributing more from my design
beyond what is expected?
- How do I envision my design to
continue its life and evolve in a
designerly and non-designerly
aspect?
- Is it self-sustaining as it, or does it
require constant iteration by the
designer?

Guiding action Guiding action Guiding action