Summary
In her talk, Tamara from Longmont, Colorado discusses the complexities of identity and bodily modifications in the context of her research experiences across different cultures. Having adapted her appearance for various professional contexts, she reflects on a specific instance in Tokyo where she removed her piercings in preparation for meetings, only to find her colleague embracing a more casual style. This experience prompts Tamara to consider the intricate relationship between personal authenticity and professional expectations. She highlights the broader implications for women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals who often modify their appearances for protection or to navigate spaces not designed with them in mind. Ultimately, she realizes that her various adaptations have allowed her to explore and embody new facets of her identity, leading her to a moment of humility and empowerment as she prepared to engage with customers.
Key Insights
-
•
Navigating cultural norms often requires modifying one's appearance.
-
•
Bodily modifications can stem from a place of respect and a desire for connection.
-
•
Minorities frequently adapt their bodies to protect themselves in unwelcoming spaces.
-
•
Acts of modification can serve as expressions of agency and defiance against social constraints.
-
•
Personal identity is dynamic and should be approached with flexibility rather than rigidity.
Notable Quotes
"I had been part of large sales pitches but then I joined a California casual tech company."
"What to do now?"
"The acts of bodily modification...may seem inauthentic, maybe even a betrayal of my unique self."
"At times such modification comes from a place of respect and an attempt to lessen the distance between ourselves and our research participants."
"I'm the one working in the design department."
"How dare he refer to me as a lady."
"Whatever image I had attempted to create was at best tenuous."
"I have learned not to hold on too tightly to the ideas I've constructed about myself."
More Videos
"Organizations can't help but be reflected in their design, as seen in how banking websites are structured."
Sheryl Cababa Alexis OhThinking in systems to address climate with Sheryl Cababa
June 12, 2024
"Right now, AI is a great automated assist; it is not yet an insight generator."
Louis Rosenfeld Billy Carlson Jon Fukuda Maria TaylorHow AI will Change DesignOps Tooling
October 3, 2023
"The majority of consumers say that it's important that the companies they buy from actively promote diversity inclusion."
Kelly DernAI as a Design Partner: How to Get the Most Out of AI Tools to Scale Your Process
October 3, 2023
"A community-focused design process empowers local voices."
Ariel KennanTheme Two Intro
November 17, 2022
"The reality is that Design must step forward to educate and advocate within organizations."
Dave Malouf Meredith Black Farid SabitovThe Past, Present, and Future of DesignOps: a 2-part DesignOps Community Call (Part 1)
February 17, 2022
"The best way to understand something is to become part of it."
Sarah RinkRemote User Research: Dos and Don'ts from the Virtual Field
June 11, 2020
"Accessibility is useful for everyone, and there’s an inevitable future where all of us will need accessible products."
Sam ProulxMobile Accessibility: Why Moving Accessibility Beyond the Desktop is Critical in a Mobile-first World
September 8, 2022
"We needed an efficient way to get in touch with non-English speakers."
Wyatt HaymanGlobal Research Panels
August 8, 2020
"This unusual tool started to raise the use of productivity-oriented tools."
Elizabeth ChurchillExploring Cadence: You, Your Team, and Your Enterprise
June 8, 2017
