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The designers bringing gender equality to space

Vulva Spaceship by WBF Aeronautics, Germany

Germany – While space exploration has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, feminist collective Wer Braucht Feminismus? (WBF?) is challenging this norm with its conceptual Vulva Spaceship. The design aims to be ‘symbolically inclusive’, drawing upon the fact that conventional spacecraft design is inherently phallic. The collective is currently running a petition on Change.org calling for the European Space Agency to consider the project when designing the future of space exploration.

The provocative statement comes at a time when outer space is becoming a legitimate destination for tourism, retail and business ventures. By breaking through the norms of Extraterrestrial Innovation as a male-dominated sector, WBF? is raising questions about how we can make this nascent space more inclusive from the word go. ‘We want to restore gender equality to the cosmos,' says Dr Lucia Hartmann, head of WBF Aeronautics and inventor of the Vulva Spaceship.

By bringing public attention to design equity in space, the project points to a future in which all genders actively take part in – and inform – intergalactic innovation.

Strategic opportunity

As space becomes a more realistic environment for business ventures, organisations have a responsibility to provide inclusive and accessible education to encourage more diverse teams

A beauty brand spotlights an unusual hero ingredient

S'eau Prima, US

New York – Combining science and beauty, premium skincare brand S’eau Prima is using hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to boost wellbeing while improving appearance.

The brand’s first product, the Foundational Face Mist, contains the acid, which is a naturally occurring molecule found in white blood cells that activates the immune system's healing response. Commonly used as a non-toxic wound ointment for scrapes and cuts, laboratory produced HOCI also has many beauty benefits. When applied to the face, for example, the ingredient can help improve the moisture barrier, cleanse and soothe the skin, and protect against environmental stressors. To guarantee the highest purity and potency, S'eau Prima's HOCl formula is made entirely using a proprietary high conversion electrolysis procedure.

As consumers look for skincare products that are backed by hard science and research, S’eau Prima’s medical approach resonates with the emerging trend for Certified Wellness.

Strategic opportunity

To improve consumer perceptions, beauty companies should consider teaming up with healthcare companies to produce research and fund medical causes

Planned Parenthood releases playlists for self-care

New York – Tone is an audio series created by Black, Latinx and non-binary wellness experts with the mission of delivering affirmations and mental health resources to those in these communities.

Launched by non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood in partnership with Refinery29, the series addresses how social and political issues have an outsized impact on members of underserved communities. The playlists, which are available on major podcast platforms, tackle racism, class and gender issues via music, elevating marginalised talent and voices to provide a space for communal healing.

‘We know that stress hits differently for Black and Latino communities, especially in the past couple of years amid hardships like the Covid pandemic and relentless attacks on our bodies and our rights,’ explains Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood.

By using the medium of sound to create meaningful dialogues about social challenges, the series is showcasing how Connective Audio continues to surge.

Tone by Planned Parenthood, US

Strategic opportunity

To help give back to communities of the global majority, companies must provide a platform for those groups to help implement lasting structural change

Stat: Men across the world are still sceptical about feminism

The Land of New Football by Nike, Europe

Despite continuing gender inequalities in global societies, many men still have negative perceptions about feminism. According to a study by Ipsos and The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, 26% of men across the world think that feminism does more harm than good.

When participants were asked whether they agree or disagree with a series of statements with a gender bias, the statements with the highest level of agreement were that traditional masculinity is under threat (29%) and that men have lost out due to feminism (19%). Nearly a fifth of people think feminism has led to men losing economic, political or social power (19%). Considering these figures, it’s evident that there is still a lot of work to be done to change individual mindsets to reflect more equitable societies.

As the conflict between Women’s Futures and New Masculinity prevails, business leaders have a responsibility to create ongoing opportunities, awareness and access for people of all genders.

Strategic opportunity

Businesses across sectors must work towards breaking down toxic masculinity. Merge media and learning resources to educate the world on why gender equality benefits all genders – not just women

Futures100 designed by Sam Davies for the Future Laboratory

Nominate your Futures 100 Innovators

As we develop our Futures 100 Innovators longlist for 2022, we’re calling on you – our community of members and readers – to nominate those individuals who are transforming industries, creating opportunities or disrupting the status quo.

Each month, we reveal 10 new names in our longlist for the Futures 100 Innovators Awards – a global line-up of 100 innovators, disruptors, activists and change-makers working across sectors ranging from Beauty to Food & Drink, Luxury, Retail and Youth culture – with January and February’s lists already live.

But it’s not only for us, The Future Laboratory and LS:N Global analysts, to decide: we are calling for our wider community to contribute to this year’s long-list by nominating your own innovators. Just tell us who they are, what they’re doing to shape the future, and any links where we can find out more about their projects or work, via: [email protected]

After 10 months, our complete Futures 100 Innovators list will be presented to a panel of industry judges who will select and award their 10 leading innovators, revealed in October 2022.

To partner with us on this year’s Futures 100 Innovators Awards, get in touch with Jonny Ayres via: jayres@thefuturelaboratory.com