Contacts from primary research

Performer at LUA
Head of Mancnubian Collective (no reply)
Iamcollective
Girl Gang (no reply)
Girls That Gig who went on to suggest @ExcessiveHuman and @GracefoolCollective to look at She Does Digital who lead me to statistics Lippy Mag from Leeds University WomensDesign HallofFemmes

Zine or posters?

Looking at 3 very different zines,
-one named 'Freak' from the early 90's from Salford Zine Library
-Sister zine
-Polyester zine

Despite all having a lot in common such as giving a space for women to discuss problems of their generation and free DIY layouts, they have a lot of content. Obtaining that much interview content or submissions in this amount of time worries me a little as they are very text heavy- posters can directly link to my critical writing piece and still have a lot of research undertaken for them without relying on others so much.

I am confused as wether to use quotes within my critical writing instead of interviewing or asking people for their inputs as it has proven difficult to get any answers so far. Need my tutorial to know wether to create this zine or create modern revolutionary feminist posters that will also be based on my essay findings.

Statistics on gender gap in 17/18

'...the bias towards men was far greater in figures relating to the creative industries specifically. In 2016, 63 per cent of job roles were filled by men and 37 per cent by women. In comparison, men made up 53 per cent of workers across the whole of the UK and women 47 per cent.

The figures did show some improvement. A report that looked more closely at employment within each sector showed that the number of women working in design and designer fashion increased by 23 per cent between 2015 and 2016 – the second highest increase across all of the nine creative industries sub-sectors after advertising and marketing.'The issue of gender inequality in design has been a much-discussed topic of late. Industry studies have found a huge disparity in pay, as well problems relating to long hours and childcare. Figures from the 2016 Women in Architecture survey released earlier this year showed salary discrepancies of up to £55,000 between female employees and their male counterparts, and widespread discrimination in the workplace and on site.

https://www.dezeen.com/2017/08/07/lack-diversity-uk-creative-industries-revealed-government-report-dcms-digital-culture-media-sport/

In my presentation I suggested that if graphic design history were revised to include more of the accomplishments of female graphic designers, it would be one part of the process of achieving equal industry status for female graphic designers. Knowing that the reason female graphic designers rarely appear in our history books is due to the way that history is made, rather than a lack of actual contribution, could help the industry realise its goal of gender equality.

https://www.designhistorysociety.org/blog/view/feature-where-are-the-women-gender-disparities-in-graphic-design-history

COP Practical initial ideas

As discussed within my proposal presentation, creating a zine ( in homage to classic riot grrl zines of the 90s I have looked at throughout my reading) that contain excerpts through quotes obtained by speaking and contacting female artists is the ideal outcome alongside my critical writing as it relates directly to the content of the writing. Creating this would also be in the true style of a zine, a 'safe space' for women artists to speak freely about their views and experiences in the creative industry as a woman in the modern day. This is what I want to find out, the state of the gender gap currently. Although this is the ultimate goal, obtaining this much information has already proved slow due to non responses and not being able to get an answer at networking events I have attended so far.

Today I will contact more female artists, such as in last years PPP in which I got 3 really great interviews from artists I admire. However, a project I planned to do after handing in COP was to create posters in the style of See Red Women's Workshop and Guerilla Girls influenced by the research I had obtained for COP, making modern posters reflecting the current situations and struggles. However, this could be a second option to produce alongside the critical writing piece. Need to discuss in COP tutorials.

 

A poster from this year, still seem to be similar issues

Working in the style of Guerilla Girl's posters especially as they weren't expecting to still be making an impact beyond 5 years and yet are still going! Whichever practical project I choose I want to represent those I have researched and spoke to to represent the struggles of todays gender gap within the creative industry (which I haven't found the answer for just yet)

Artists to contact- Robin Eisenberg (as she responded last year), Harleyanj (responded last year), Girl Gang (not yet replied), Girls That Gig, OK Collective, Polyester zine, Mushpit zine, Maisie Cousins...

COP Presentation feedback

Address this is a conflict between two areas, underground movements and 'girl power' mass marketing in contemporary culture- synthesise the two

Was advised I may not need to get primary research through interviews and contacting people but I want to do this as I am genuinely interested in putting myself out there and finding out, as well as collating information through research. Having content I have obtained for the zine practical would be ideal and truer to the form.

Zines editorial designs are utopian creating this 'safe space'

These collectives brands, zines and girl power merch like all branded products have symbolic meaning of belonging to their audience.

Does 'girl power' marketing undermine the revolutionaries?

Organising my research questions

What do I want to know?
The current state of gender equality within the creative industries- I keep hearing so many rumours and feel lost/confused about the answer to this

There have been multiple revolutions, waves of feminism and mass marketing of feminism, has this had an impact?- such a broad amount of empowering women groups and collectives, more than ever, is it working?

Why do we still need 'girl' collectives, 'girl power' branding?- west is currently the platform to help and influence other countries that have backwards views on roles of women and inequality.

Is there still a gender gap in graphic design, why?- need to get my primary research from the women in the industries now

How do I find out?
Through networking/speaking to artists at events that I can have a face to face conversation with
Emailing and getting in touch with artists- graphic designers and performers in particular as this is where there seems to be the gap

Keeping in touch with collectives

Reading existing interviews that support my question

Watching documentaries such as 'The F Word and Me' that give me an insight in to where I may not be able to get (speaking to heads of studios/famous female musicians)

Statistics/documentaries/films/books/interviews/visits

-How has girl power influenced the creative industry/what legacy has it left
-how females post third wave feminism have used creative industry to rebel gender discrimination
-Female gender rebellion
How women are rebelling gender roles through the creative industry 'ill slap on my lipstick chapter' discuss norms of femininity warped by pop culture. Use punks and drag queens as past references, 'Paris is burning'. Page 164
Breakthroughs such as punk girls/riot grrls/designers women collectives
-How music branding/promotion defines whole movements and sub cultures
-Third wave feminism, riot grrrl movement, less women in design industry,gender pay gap-why?
Lack of women in industry, tie to the third wave/riot grrrl movement, use it for this purpose
-women used to advertise, why? Comptoir kitchen, sailor jerrys, revs de cuba,
Talk to all gals on courses make a zine and distribute

Design for female audiences eg missguided, pop music branding
Visual femininity- is it changing?
Sex appeal in graphic design- moral or not?
Design for subcultures
Marina Electra heart archetypes
Lush make up training
-----Zines!-----
Ties in to mushpit/polyester zines, girl gang,zine fairs,shocking pink zine

'Fourth Wave' excerpt

An artists personal perspective on a 'fourth wave' feminist and what it is, really inspiring for my essay conclusion

https://the-dots.com/projects/drugstore-romeos-140664

Initial critical writing title/questions

How have girl power movements impacted the creative industry til this day and what has changed?
How have 'girl power' movements from third wave feminism shaped the creative industry for women today?
How has ‘girl power’ impacted contemporary culture in the creative industries?
What legacy has ‘girl power’ left on contemporary culture within the creative industries?
What affect has ‘girl power’ had on contemporary popular culture?
What is the legacy of third wave feminism/'girl power' in the design industries today?

Argument: Mention design kids lecturer's answer about the problem becoming a problem, only asking her to speak because she is a woman rather than it being about her work 'token female'