Valentina D’Efilippo - Visualizing gender stereotypes

This is a very interesting graphic arts book project on gender stereotypes - centered around colors and objects. More impressions can be viewed on Valentina’s website along with a digitalized version of the first book. I found this at DataVisualization.

Visualizing gender stereotypes

Valentina D’Efilippo, an italian designer residing in London has published her self-initiated research project “Visualizing gender stereotypes. Valentina’s description goes:

“Visualizing gender stereotypes” is a personal research into gender stereotypes focusing on how children become aware of these and how they receive stereotyped messages through visual communication. I chose this topic because we all are daily influenced – positively or negatively – by stereotypes.

I am well aware of the complex nature of the field of stereotypes, and with this project I aim not to provide any conclusions to this issue, nor to break stereotypes completely. As a graphic designer I merely want to demonstrate an alternative approach to this topic and to emphasise my point of view concerning gender equality.

The outcome are two nicely crafted books:

1. “Visualizing gender stereotypes” illustrates the findings collected during a workshop, which was conducted in an Italian summer school with 42 children.
2. “Sam: Breaking gender Stereotypes” aims to communicate a positive message on gender equality through diversity. As a result of the info-design project, this book provides a response to children’s ideas of gender and offers them an image of genders without stereotypes.

See her website for more, and to view the first book online.

Here are some images:

A personal research into gender stereotypes focusing on how children become aware of these and how they receive stereotyped messages through visual communication. The first outcome is an infographic book which explores male and female identity as seen through the eyes of children, while the second outcome is an illustrated book for young kids that strives to communicate genders equality.

Outcome 1: Visualizing gender stereotypes.
The 200 pages hand-binded book illustrates the findings collected during a workshop conducted in an Italian summer school involving 42 children.

Outcome 2: Sam. A book about gender Stereotypes.
The experimental format of the book breaks the two separate worlds: male and female. The two characters, Samuel and Samantha communicate a positive message on gender equality through diversity. As a result of the info-design project, this illustrated book provides a response to children’s ideas of gender and offers them an image of genders without stereotypes.

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Tags: info graphic, self initiated, print, illustration, gender roles, stereotypes, art, Sam, A book about gender Stereotypes, children, Valentina D’Efilippo, Visualizing gender stereotypes, graphic arts