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TARRA: A platform for women who create

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A recent study by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture showed that only 15% of licensed architects around the world are female, despite an even split of male to female students in architecture schools. Likewise, 2011’s A List Apart Survey, a survey created for and about web designers, showed that 81.6% of those asked were male, although 68% thought there was “definitely not” a gender bias in the industry.

Interestingly, as late as 2007, Google would still autocorrect “she invented” searches to read “he invented”.

These are INSANE statistics, but this gender imbalance isn’t isolated to just architecture and web design. It spans across all creative disciplines - graphic design, furniture design, industrial design, leather working, blacksmithing, woodworking, jewelry, rug making, print making, etc. Where are all the women? Here's an interesting side note; as late as 2007, Google would still autocorrect “she invented” searches to read “he invented”.

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Walk into any classroom in the western world and you’ll see a 50/50 mix of male and female students. Turn your attention to the front of the classroom though, or down the road at the creative agencies and that cosy gender balance starts to distort. What the hell is going wrong?

That’s what TARRA wants to know. And this gargantuous gender divide in the creative sector is what it's challenging through an open platform where “Women Who Create” can network, collaborate, find inspiration and learn about the experience of design as career. TARRA is helping to cultivate a more diverse demographic throughout the creative community, its ultimate aim being to provide the 35% of female students who DO NOT become licensed architects a means to connect with, and learn from, the 15% who do.

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The main ways TARRA is fulfilling its aims, is by highlighting the exceptional work of women in the creative industries with a series of case studies and stories celebrating their achievements, and by expanding the visibility of, and opportunity for, women’s contribution to design environments across multiple industries.

Although the idea for TARRA came about in 2013, the platform eventually launched in early 2016 and as such it’s still in its infancy. For now, advocates can sign up for the newsletter, follow the platform on social media, share ideas and spread the word. But stay tuned for the first roster of programming which is likely to launch in 2017. In the run up the team is keen to hear feedback from its members community about they’d like to see and what kind of support they need. 2017 will also hopefully bring with it TARRA’s mentoring programme which will enable industry role models to advise those less sure of themselves through portfolio reviews, educational events, Q&A forums and apprenticeship-style courses (the exact format is yet to be decided).

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Kate Bailey, one of TARRA’s founding authors, knows that reversing the creative sector’s pervasive gender imbalance isn’t going to happen overnight. Speaking about it with Creativepool she said; “It needs to be addressed in a multitude of ways. It is important to question the internal and external forces that perpetuate a story of inequality. It’s also important to learn from and cheer-like-hell for those women who, knowingly or not, cross the line in the sand.

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Bailey has already seen small cracks of hope permeate through the industry, with more women winning major design awards over the last couple of years, and more art and design exhibitions emerging which feature the second sex. Industry trends seem to indicate a shift in direction as well - American and European craft industries are going through a resurgence and there has been an increase in small businesses as well as women-owned business as a result of this. But, as she points out; “It’s a tiny sliver compared to what it should be.”

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To celebrate the work done so far, the platform hosted TARRA 2016: A New Conversation two weeks ago. The three-day event included a panel discussion with renowned architect and jewellry designer Jenny Wu, Ellen Bruss, creative director of Ellen Bruss Design; and lighting/furniture designer Elish Warlop, as well as a film night, launch party and a pop up shop. More than 500 women joined the celebrations in Colorado, and many more events like this are planned in the future.

It’s a shame that TARRA’s efforts are necessary in 2016, but necessary they are and we applaud everything these guys are doing to try and put an end to a shocking truth inherent in the creative world. So please, if you’re a designer who is a woman, or if you’re an advocate of all those who are, signup and help others get the place you’re at. It’s statistically likely this inequality is prevalent in your own workplace, take a look around, question and challenge - just like TARRA.

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