Master’s Thesis
FH JOANNEUM, Graz (AT), 2025

This thesis explores how historically marginalised feminine design principles can foster inclusion, emotional resonance and alternative modes of spatial experience in exhibitions. Combining feminist theory with expert interviews, the project questions dominant communication norms in museum and exhibition design.

For the practical component, I conceived a temporary exhibition about firefighting, reframing this traditionally male-coded field through a consciously feminine lens across thirteen stations. The project strengthened my understanding of how exhibition design can influence narratives, perception, and belonging, and reinforced my commitment to feminist and socially engaged practice.

A row of rotary telephones shares personal accounts of encounters with firefighters. The low-tech interface foregrounds interpersonal connection and everyday storytelling rather than heroic imagery.

RECLAIMING FEMININITY IN EXHIBITION DESIGN

An oversized smartphone introduces visitors to the German “nora” emergency call app. The interface can be explored directly on the object or via QR code on personal devices, combining clear interaction with accessible information.

A softly lit listening space presents reflective audio testimonies from firefighters. The reduced environment invites slow engagement and emotional connection, centring lived experience over spectacle.

A three-dimensional infographic made from paired matchsticks visualises gender distribution in the German firefighting service. The tactile format turns abstract statistics into an immediate, spatial experience of imbalance.