Center for German and European Studies

Design is political: Gender, Power and Digital Systems

Monday, March 9, 2026
12:00 - 1:30 pm ET (US)
Zoom Webinar

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About the Event

Digital systems are not neutral, and neither is design. This webinar explores how power relations and gendered assumptions are reflected in digital design and actively shaped through design decisions. Drawing on examples from digital design practice and research, it shows how interfaces, data and AI can reproduce or challenge existing power structures. The talk argues for a reflective design practice that understands designers as key actors in shaping digital and social realities.

About the Speaker

Head shot of Claudia Herling looking at the cameraClaudia Herling is a designer and researcher working at the intersection of gender, digital design and interactive systems. Her work focuses on gender bias, user-centered design and the societal impact of digital technologies. She is currently involved in a research project at Bielefeld University on interactive technologies for gender-specific health, supporting the development of digital health solutions that account for sex and gender differences in data, design and use. She teaches at universities, leads international research and design projects, and is Chair of the international Gender Design Network (iGDN).