Endüstriyel Tasarım Öğrencilerinin Bakış Açısından Otomotiv Endüstrisinin Teknik Bilgi ve Tasarımcı-Mühendis İlişkisi Üzerinden Toplumsal Cinsiyetlendirilmesi

Abstract

This study explores gender relations in automotive design from the perspective of industrial design students. It draws on two automotive projects carried out collaboratively with industry in the final year design studio, in order to understand how industrial students, in light of their experiences in these two projects, see automotive industry, which is identified as male-dominated and perceived to be ‘suitable’ for men, as an area they can work in the future. Interviews were carried out with 20 women and 11 men students around two main questions. Focusing on the experiences of students in the studio projects, the first set of questions ask to what extent and how gender had a role in setting up the project team, in relations with the collaborating firm and other experts consulted during the projects, and in the division of work within the team. Second set of questions investigated the perspectives of the students on automotive industry as well as the impact of carrying out an automotive design project during the undergraduate education on this perspective. Findings show that according to industrial design students, automotive design is gendered through technology and the relationships with engineers, who are considered as the authentic experts on technology within this industry; and this view has a significant impact on the students’ expectations from the automotive industry in relation to their future career prospects.