Future Knowledge In Through the Side Door
Aug 13, 2025
Erin Malone, a leading professor in Interaction Design at California College of the Arts and author of 'In Through the Side Door,' joins designer Abby Covert for an enlightening chat. They dive into the overlooked legacy of women pioneers in user experience and interaction design. From the early days of desktop computers to today’s digital era, Malone highlights their crucial but often hidden contributions. The conversation also tackles the ongoing fight for equity in tech and the challenges of documenting these influential narratives.
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Missing Histories Prompt New Research
- Erin Malone realized there was no comprehensive history of women in interaction design and switched projects to fill that gap.
- She researched widely across archives, interviews, and the Wayback Machine to recover hidden stories.
Combine Archives And Interviews
- Use diverse primary sources like archived websites and oral interviews to reconstruct understudied histories.
- Combine digital archives with interviews to surface people absent from published accounts.
Iterate Structure Heavily
- When organizing broad biographical content, iterate structure repeatedly until themes emerge.
- Test groupings like time, role, and influence to find the clearest narrative arc.
