Design is a universal preoccupation and a purposeful act of facilitating a better quality of life. Design has been accused of historically being gender blind, where all processes, products, and functions have been studied and designed from and for a predominantly male world view. Nowhere is this more acutely observed than in the creation of built environments, including the disciplines of architecture and urban design. Space is politically and socio-culturally charged; we occupy space in our homes and offices in the manner in which we are conditioned to. We design and use everyday objects also from the same perspective, which privileges the cis-male.
 
Fortuitously, in the evolution of the design discourse, we are at a time where gender as a concept is becoming integral to the various dimensions of design processes and outcomes. In recent years, with increased awareness and efforts from various individuals and organisations, there has been a surfacing of an inquiry about gendered notions of design. Nuances of gendered dynamics that shape everyday perceptions, design, and use of built environments have been explored by several design disciplines including film making, critical art practice and theater. They are trying to bring out women’s struggles to find agency, resist patriarchal structures and defy stereotypical roles assigned by society. In public space design, the needs of gender minorities are beginning to be addressed- from the design of toilets to the way we perceive masculine and feminine public spaces. These works are often conceived by feminist thinkers as an attempt to shift societal paradigms by bringing in the experiences from the non cis-males’ world views. One of the emerging strands of inquiry is bringing out voices of gender minorities in different (design) professions and archiving their histories, experiences and narratives. The other off-shoot is breaking barriers in manifesting and exploring sexualities and gender identities without inhibition or embarrassment.

A third, albeit less explored dimension is the phenomena of ‘gendering’, which focuses on the processes and outcomes of conforming to the dominant gender norms in society and attempts to transform them. These outcomes include everyday social interactions and the design of objects and spaces that facilitate them- at home, at work, in public transport, on the streets and everywhere. There is still a huge lacuna in research and design application in this crucial area, especially in India. It is time to explore how intersection of design with gender affects social perception as well as consumer experience; time to explore what it means to be architects and designers in a society that needs to grapple with and assimilate into itself the complex nuances of gender norms and identities. The Feminist Collective in Architecture (FCA) attempts to bring these issues to the fore by delving into the multifaceted relationship between gender and design related disciplines such as the built environment, visual and performing arts, crafts, and films.

The proposed Forum ‘Built Environment, Design and Gender’ hopes to critically reflect on dynamics of existing design paradigms, issues of practical methodologies & tools for the design process, and feminist practices of crafts and technology, among others. The Forum will include a host of activities that engage in awareness creation, knowledge-sharing and production of new knowledge. Through these, the Forum will question the pre-dominant position of gender neutrality, discuss the present design climate in India, and ask questions such as: What are feminist design approaches and methods? What are the historical contributions of Indian women designers and craftspersons? What are the best practices for integrating gender considerations in design? What are the emerging considerations and examples of gender response in contemporary built environments? What are the experiences of gender minorities within the landscape of design practice? 
The Forum is envisioned as a platform that brings together diverse voices from design practice, academia, and advocacy groups; it aspires to espouse innovative approaches that shape a gender equitable future in the sphere of design. It is hoped that through panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, art installations and networking opportunities, participants will gain new insights, forge collaborations, invigorate their perspective on feminist work force, and contribute to a collective vision that embraces and celebrates the richness of gender diversity in design.