Interviews with Industry Experts - Charlotte Carbone
(she/her), October 2 2020
PERSONAL
1.How would you describe your gender identity?
I identify as a cisgender woman.
2.How do you feel about the attitudes towards gender today?
I think there has been progress compared to 5, 10, 50 years ago, but there is so
much work to be done still. Too many QTPOC lives are endangered on a daily basis.
3.What steps do you think are important for society to take to become more
gender inclusive?
Changes in legislation and education. Protect, hire, and engage with trans* folk. We
need laws that protect trans* folk from discrimination and violence. We need
education that validates trans* experiences and celebrates real trans* folk.
BRANDING
1.On scale of 1 to 10, how inclusive do you feel branding (packaging design,
logos etc.) is in today's western world?
An average 5/10.
2.Why have you chosen this score?
Because 5/10, the exact middle of the scale, quantifies the average treatment and
representation of trans* folk in North America. Until trans* people do not have to be
highlighted when they are included in fashion/music/entertainment/politics/society,
we have not achieved gender inclusivity.
3.What form of branding would you like to see more of?
A very broad question. I would like to see more honest, transparent branding.
4.Do you feel there has been progress towards branding with a more gender
inclusive direction? How?
Yes, there has been some progress. Many queer entrepreneurs have recognized the best way to get recognized in business, is to do it yourself. The few mainstream
companies that do take a gender inclusive stance, have done so for a limited period,
often to capitalize during Pride Month.
5.Below are images of different types of branding for skincare products. Which
appeal to you and why?
Strictly based on the imagery, as I know all of these products and already have a
bias, the Aesop branding I like the most. It is clean, simple, and organized. In
general though, I find all of these images very conservative. They are nothing I
haven’t seen before and can easily be replicated. They do not challenge or disrupt
branding or graphic design norms.
6.Are there any brands you have strong loyalty with and like to buy from that
consciously follow a more gender inclusive direction?
Yes – Hayley Elsaesser, The Phluid Project, and Fluide Beauty. All are independent
and are vocal about supporting queer folk in authentic, effective ways.
FASHION
1.How would you describe your style?
Quirky, colourful, and unpredictable.
2.When you dress, what are the main factors that direct your choices of outfit
(eg. comfort)?
My feelings – I have to feel great about my self-image or else I’ll change into
something else that may align with my confidence and mood better.
3.What clothing makes you feel confident?
Clothing that I’ve made, or clothing that has a good story attached to it.
4.On scale of 1 to 10, how inclusive do you feel fashion (clothing, accessories
etc.) is in today's western world?
Again, an average 5/10
5.Why have you chosen this score?
Because if you look overall at the industry, it does a mediocre job at inclusivity. It’s
not until you zoom in and critique specific people and companies that you can see
the best and worst examples.
6.What form of fashion would you like to see more of (such as gender neutral,
more bold colours, more skirts for men and so on)?
I don’t have any specific trends or products I want more of, because those are
merely symptoms of larger forces. What I want is the radical shift of the cultural
conscience, that makes fashion consumers and creators disrupt traditional systems
of power and inequality. Truly inclusive fashion does not play respectability politics,
but instead challenges and disrupts the gender binary.
7.Do you feel there has been progress towards fashion with a more gender
inclusive direction? How?
Yes there has been some progress, but my answer is the same as what I wrote
under the “BRANDING” portion. Queer people are creating for queer people,
while mainstream corporate companies will only pander to queer people when it is profitable.
USER EXPERIENCE
[ Definition the overall experience of a person using a product such as a website or
computer application, especially in terms of how easy or pleasing it is to use ]
1.What has your experience been with websites and social media platforms
when choosing your gender?
I identify as a cis-female, so I have never had to be nervous about self identifying.
2.Do you feel like social media is gender inclusive?
Vague. The UX/UI itself is doing the bare minimum, with their literal gender check
boxes when you sign up. There are many accounts of “shadow banning” and
unchecked harassment of trans* folk for example. Also, transphobia is rampant
on social media, which a whole separate issue.
8.Do you feel there has been progress towards user experience with a more
gender inclusive direction? How?
Again, the bare minimum. At most there is a trans* or non-binary check box, but
what does this accomplish? How does this serve trans* people better? Why does
this matter when UI/UX upholds the gender binary in other ways such as with
graphic design, wayfinding, and verbiage?
9.From best to worse, how would you compare gender inclusivity in branding,
fashion and user experience?
This is too broad. I simply cannot compare entire industries and their histories for a
best to worst list. Honestly, they all are problematic and need to do better. If I had to
choose a worst, fashion, simply because that is my professional field and I am better
informed about the industry conversations.
10. Which has progressed the most?
None.
11.Which has the most potential to progress?
All industries, all companies, have equal potential to be progressive. It is their own
decision whether to push what is acceptable, and to make social issues such as
transphobia and homophobia as a priority.
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