Mujeres Mexicanas del Diseño Gráfico: Showcasing the Current Women Creative Directors of Graphic Design in Mexico City

Abstract

Designer and researcher Flor Alexandra Barajas followed the model of The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) for the development of this research-based thesis. The AIGA Women’s Leadership Initiative model works around three goals: to celebrate the achievements of women in design; to cultivate awareness of gender-related issues; to build knowledge, leadership skills, and connections facilitating relationships within and beyond the design industry.

This research-based thesis project documents the exploratory social research study, the environmental graphic design of an interactive traveling exhibition called Designing Perspectives, and a collaborative manifesto, titled ¡Porque soy Mexicana!. Barajas designed these two creative outcomes to celebrate the mutual influence and support of each Mexican woman designer who participated in the exploratory research study.

This project intends to highlight cultural identity awareness by encouraging knowledge of contemporary Mexican women in graphic design in Mexico City. The intention being that future generations of up-and-coming worldwide designers will be able to identify these Mexican women's creative directors and view them as inspiration for their design practices.

The interactive traveling exhibition, Designing Perspectives, generates and continues the conversation about the interconnectedness of gender equality and diversity in the design industry in Mexico City. Therefore, Designing Perspectives has fulfilled the objective of being an interactive traveling exhibition because it is part of the Inédito exhibition at Design Week Mexico in Mexico City. The Inédito exhibition is an international exhibition part of Design Week Mexico hosted in Mexico City from October 9, 2020, to February 8, 2021, at the Espacio CDMX art and design gallery. The main goal of Designing Perspectives is to recognize contemporary Mexican designers and, in doing so, confront the male-dominated field of design by generating awareness and instigating productive conversations while the audience is immersed in the interactive exhibition.