To me, feminism is not a gender war. It is about sowing the seeds of wisdom and wholeness for humanity. It is about growing the wise, feminine partnership with the masculine within ourselves and in the outer world. Ultimately, I envision an empowered society, a partnership beyond gender, between people, so the feminine is lived by every body.
— ene enttje storm
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. Hermeneutic Phenomenology as a Method for Reflection in User-
Centered Designing
2.1 Inclusive Typography and Feminist Design Ethics
2.2 Low Impact web design and my personal choice
2.3 About the Arial® System Font
2.4 About the Palatino Linotype System Font
2.5 Accessibility & WAVE Web Evaluation Tool
3. Low Impact Webdesign – B/W photos and tools
4. Sustainable Domain Endings – no more .com!
5. Resources made ready for your inspiration
2. HERMENEUTIC PHENOMENOLOGY AS A METHOD FOR REFLECTION IN USER-CENTERED DESIGNING
“Hermeneutic phenomenology …is a descriptive (phenomenological) methodology because it wants to be attentive to how things appear, it wants to let things speak for themselves; it is an interpretive (hermeneutic) methodology because it claims that there are no such things as uninterpreted phenomena. … the (phenomenological) “facts” of lived experiences are always already meaningfully (hermeneutically) experienced [and] need to be captured in language[…]” (Van Manen, Max (1990). Researching Lived Experience.)
In gratitude for having the privilege of being able to dive into 5 years of research, reflecting, considering, and reconsidering, surrendering, leaning into the journey, not the goal, I proudly present this website. It is meticulously made after having consciously cared for every possible detail. In a fast-moving world where measurable goals, action, and speediness still are honored as the primary values in society, I send my heartfelt gratitude to Stella Boess, Delft University of Technology, and David Durling, Staffordshire University. Their work and research elevated this project – and somehow I never felt alone in this process. (Believe it or not: there are some people out there, who are nerdier than me!).
As a part of the HUN+ project, this site is now alive on the ‘World Wild Web’, created and made possible by Earth-friendly, socio-economic, and/or female-founded companies and designers + yours sincerely; 1 crazy Buddhist yogini, who once and a while enjoys playing around outside her cave.
2.1 INCLUSIVE TYPOGRAPHY AND FEMINIST DESIGN ETHICS
Every font has a story. Every typeface carries the cultural marks of its makers, along with the stories of the political and cultural moment in which they were designed—but to date, those histories have been largely devoid of experiences from Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) designers. Graphic design is and has always been, a predominantly white industry (and its leaders are mostly male). According to AIGA’s 2019 Design Survey, only 29% of the 9,429 respondents identified as a designer of color, with only 3% identifying as Black. During the last 5 years of studying trends and arts of typography, I am happy to have witnessed the rise of diversity in the area of typography. Still, there is a long way to go.
2.2 PRIORITIZING LOW-IMPACT
Especially when a designer wishes to prioritize low-impact website projects with system fonts and avoid loading heavy Google fonts or Adobe Typekit fonts, because they increase the loading time of the website, there are only very few system fonts to choose from. Most of them are designed by white male designers. In an ideal world, I would be able to choose a system font created by multiple diverse and/or BIPOC designers. As a conscious creatrix, I have reflected for several years on how to prioritize those different values. As it is right now I haven´t yet found a solution on how to apply both values “low impact” and “diversity” in webdesign typography. But at least you can trust, that my decisions are based on research and an enlightened perspective down to the slightest possible detail.
The way things are in the world today, I believe we have to make an extra effort to better the balance. But, on the other hand, if we try to better the balance by excluding our history or the excellent work of white male artists, just because they are white male artists, then I fear we´re on the wrong track. To me inclusion means inclusion, and I believe the best place to start is just being aware, being careful, considering, and taking care of the details. Wonder more, wonder why and how we can do better for the future.
As a result of my one-pointed mindset that insists on caring for subtle details, here is my personal final choice; Hello ‘back to basics’, beauty and simplicity, and goodbye heavy-loaded website attachments and new, fancy designer fonts. As a dedicated typography enthusiast, who often falls in love with curves and crispy crafts created by the world’s most excellent diverse designers, I had to learn to love and to let go: The types for this site are set with a ‘low impact living – high impact giving’ mantra in mind. Visiting and browsing the site, you will simply load specific system fonts to lower the environmental impact. Digging deeper, I finally found 2 system fonts that harmonize and support each other. Furthermore, they resonate with my values in every way. My choice is to honor 2 of the most profound typography designers, who historically inspired aspiring typography designers and still do today.
2.3 ARIAL® SYSTEM FONT
The system font is set as a tribute and in memory of Patricia Saunders | 1933-2019. Patricia Saunders (then Patricia Mullett) in the Monotype Drawing Office in 1955, aged 22. © Monotype Archives. I am featuring the Arial® typeface as a tribute to her important work as a role model for women in type design. “Patricia will long be remembered as a role model for aspiring women type designers, and her contributions to type design will continue to inspire further generations working in this field,” Prof. Fiona Ross and Dr. Alice Savoie write in their 29 June 2019. Source: University Of Reading.
2.4 PALATINO LINOTYPE SYSTEM FONT
The bodytext is set in Herman Zapf´s Palatino. Out of a very, very narrow palette of available system fonts, I found Palatino suitable because of Herman Zapf´s love for the arts of calligraphy. His dedication and sense of detail shine through Palatino and this light touches my heart. Honoring the profound arts of a white male artist combined with the profound arts of a I want to send an ‘inclusive signal’, honour anhy. Hermann Zapf (German: [tsapf]; 8 November 1918 – 4 June 2015) was a German type designer and calligrapher who lived in Darmstadt, Germany. He was married to the calligrapher and typeface designer Gudrun Zapf-von Hesse. Named after the 16th-century Italian master of calligraphy Giambattista Palatino, Palatino is based on the humanist types of the Italian Renaissance, which mirror the letters formed by a broad nib pen reflecting Zapf’s expertise as a calligrapher. Its capital ‘Y’ is in the unusual ‘palm Y’ style, inspired by the Greek letter upsilon, a trait found in some of the earliest versions of the letter such as that of Aldus Manutius. Unlike most Renaissance typeface revivals, which tend to have delicate proportions such as a low x-height (short lower-case letters and longer ascenders and descenders), Palatino has larger proportions, increasing legibility.
2.5 ACCESSIBILITY
During every web design process, I use the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool. A suite of evaluation tools that helps authors make their web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
3. LOW IMPACT WEBDESIGN
Hurrah! This web page is cleaner than 80 % of web pages tested. The internet can be a dirty place to spend energy and time. Data transfer requires electricity, which creates carbon emissions — and this (also) leads to climate change. In spite of the fact that trying to solve the carbon problem is like peeing in your pants on an icy day, as long as the lungs of Mother Earth, our soil, is choking (and this is what we really should care about), trying to reduce carbon is better than doing nothing. This Low Impact Website reduces data transfer by up to 70% in comparison to our regular website.
To achieve this, I added a few tools and principles.
- Monitoring every page on projects by implementing a Website Carbon Calculator.
- All images are B/W or monochrome colors. This website loads a minimized version of all images, which decreases the loading speed and environmental impact of the site.
- Loading system fonts Instead of load-heavy, fancy designer fonts, as described above.
- Rarely using video, but when it happens this site compresses all data to the greatest extent possible.
4. SUSTAINABLE DOMAIN ENDINGS
I decided to challenge ‘normal’, conventional and commercial by quitting local and commercial domain endings like .dk and .com. Instead, I made a conscious choice hosting my projects at .org, .eco, and .ngo domains, which all support a greater cause. For example, the .org domain is managed by the non-profit Public Interest Registry (PIR), an organization whose mission is to support its parent non-profit the Internet Society (ISOC). As part of its charter, PIR supports ISOC’s efforts to ensure the open development, evolution, and use of the internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. More than 50% of the proceeds from each .org domain registration contributes to keeping the internet open, free, and accessible to all. There are many reasons to choose a .org, but I am proud that my online presence is supporting efforts to expand Internet access and helping to make the Internet a better place for all.
FEEL INSPIRED BUT OVERWHELMED?
If you feel inspired to build your next web project or change your current for the better, you might feel overwhelmed and don´t know where to start. I guess, I more than understand! Here is my advice for you: start asking yourself, what is the smallest possible change with the biggest impact, you are able to make today, right now? My guess is, that one of your answers might be: to change your choice of typography on your website. Start diving into the readymade resources below or connect with me for personal consulting.
5. RESOURCES READY FOR YOU
Alphabettes → Future Fonts → How To Support Black Type Designers → Queer Design Club → Typequality → Type With Pride → Vocal Type → WAVE, The Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool → Website Carbon Calculator → Women Who Code → Women Who Design →