Conducted research and developed digital prototypes on inclusive writing with journalists for the Dutch NGO De Echte Gendercritici.

Within this project, I helped the NGO De Echte Gendercritici with their mission to make the journalism landscape more inclusive through writing and by developing different prototypes to test crucial assumptions on desirability and viability.

Through MakerLab (NL)

THE QUESTION

For MakerLab, I worked with De (echte) gender critici on the question of how we can bring about positive change in the reporting on trans people.

‍De (echte) gender critici is an intersectional grassroots organization that aims to address transphobia in the media through education, research, activism, and advocacy.

IMPACT

I developed and tested an interactive language tool using generative AI for copywriters, designed to help them incorporate inclusive language into their daily routines. The tool was hosted on a website, allowing copywriters to check their own texts for inclusive language and to reflect on their own biases in the process.The initial aim was to foster positive change in reporting on trans people and in the use of inclusive and gender-neutral language. In the end, we discovered that organizations such as municipalities—who need to communicate with a broad audience—are likely key stakeholders and potential problem owners.

FOLLOW UP

Equalwrites got proposed to de echte gender critici as tool for their own development as NGO and tool for copywriter.

VALUE PROPOSITION 

Equalwrites is a potential solution for people working in written media; in the experimental phase, we are exploring how to give them more confidence to write about trans people without hesitation.

With Equalwrites, writers can enrich their texts with inclusive language. We have developed the first version of an inclusive language expert, specialized in improving language. It is capable of rewriting articles, statements, or sentences produced by writers.

PARTICIPANTS DURING THE RESEARCH 

  • Journalists from public newspapers
  • Gemeente Delft
  • NGO - de echte gendercritisi

DESIGN PROCESS

Phase 1

Kick Off

Briefing with the client

Phase 2

Problem Discovery

Interviews with private and public newspapers to uncover the problems and chances seen with inclusive writing

Phase 3

Concept development

Developing three different concepts based on the chances seen in the interviews

Phase 4

Testing on desirability digitaal en fysiek

Using the Value propositions in an AB testing format to find out which solutions might actually work

Phase 5

Analyse testing and develop further

Further development of the value proposition

Phase 6

Present to the NGO

The whole process had feedback loops, however in the end we discussed the prcess, the value proposition and following steps.

QUOTES

De echte gender critisi

(NL) ''Het is fijn om een tool te hebben die ze daadwerkelijk kunnen gebruiken, in plaats van dat je ze achteraf alleen maar vertelt dat ze het verkeerd doen."

(ENG) "It’s nice to have a tool they can actually use, rather than just telling them afterwards that they did it wrong."

Journalist

(NL) "Ik wist helemaal niet dat je dat anders moet zeggen"

(ENG) "Ik wist helemaal niet dat je dat anders moet zeggen"

Gemeente Coywriter

"Ik zou het willen gebruiken binnen onze andere tool, de B2-checker."