XXEquals

Jemma Sawyer is the Founder of ILOH, the UK's first shopping platform for sexual wellness products designed exclusively by women. In a sector traditionally monopolised by men, Jemma set out to explore the intersection of FemTech and female design innovation. Our conversation with Jemma covers everything from her background as a Stylist and Consultant to her founder journey, the societal stigma around sexual health products, and how ILOH is designed to tackle the shame around pleasure products.

In this episode we speak to Lilu Co-Founder and CEO, Adriana Vazquez. Adriana has been named one of the top 30 Femtech Healthcare Influencers in 2019 and has won multiple awards for her work at Lilu. Adriana and her co-founder are YC and NSF I-Corps fellows and their patent was recognised as Philadelphia's invention of the year in 2019. Our conversation with Adriana covers everything from what inspired Lilu, the struggles of being a founder and a person of colour, and what steps Adriana had to take to fund and grow Lilu.

In this episode we speak to XXEquals core team member and Senior Insight and Innovation Consultant at KD, Lucy Baldwin. Lucy  has over a decade's worth of experience in the design industry with a strong interest in people and their needs. Our conversation gets under the skin of the Baby Boomer generation, where the term ‘Greynaissance' came from and how we can be more innovative in this space and cater for this often overlooked and underserved generation.

Abby Covert is an Information Architect, writer and community organiser. served as President of IA Institute, co-chair of IA Summit, and Executive Producer of IDEA. She is a founding faculty member of SVA's Products of Design program, Design Operations Summit and Advancing Research Conference. She invented World IA Day, bringing IA education to thousands in local communities annually. In our latest XXEquals podcast, we speak to Information Architect, Writer and Community Organiser, Abby Covert. Our conversation explores Abby's introduction into information architecture, how the craft and theory of diagrams led to the inspiration of her new book 'Stuck', and, Abby also shares the advice that she would give to her 25-year-old self.

In our latest XXEquals podcast we meet Bristol based Film-maker and Co-Founder of the production company, Falling Films, Maria Webb. Maria and our CEO, Merle Hall, discuss the broad spectrum of often negative experiences of menstruators, from the synthetic experience of the pill, to receiving inadequate medical support. Maria shares how after experiencing problems with her own menstrual cycle, she set out to change the way we talk and think about women's health by telling her story through the film, Fake Blood. Tune in now to find out more. As referenced in the podcast: Lara Briden: https://www.larabriden.com/ Podcast with Verso Biosense: https://www.xxequals.com/in-conversation-with-joseph-cefai-head-of-product-development-at-verso-biosense/ Maria's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__mariamakes__/

In this episode, we talk to PhD Researcher. Christine Madla. Christine is currently at the UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, focusing on how males and females respond differently to medicines. She founded Sex in Science early this year to address the sex and gender research gap in science, health care and wellbeing. Join Merle and Christine as they discuss all things sex and gender, how major stages of female life such as the menopause can be overlooked in clinical studies, and the importance of using sex as a biological variable.

In this episode, we talk to Sophie Patel, R&D Prototyping Manager at No7 Beauty Company. Sophie is a human first and research and prototyping professional second. Her pronouns are she/her and she in unapologetically both a woman and brown. Those intersections are shaping how she is trying to drive action in creating equity in her corner of the beauty industry, while continuously learning and listening to marginalised people so that she can advocate for you when you are not in the room. Join Merle and Sophie as they discuss Sophie's journey into packaging design, being passionate about what you do, and embracing her full identity in work and life.

In this episode we talk to Senior UX Researcher, Efi Chatzopoulou. With a strong behavioural science edge, Efi helps organisations get to the most effective solutions by asking the right questions. She believes that adding behaviour science into product design can really make magic happen, which is why she's on a mission to help organisations add human-centredness to user-centred processes. Join Merle and Efi as they discuss the challenges of being working mothers, what we can do to create a more equitable future, and the importance of allies.

In this episode we talk to Joseph Cefai, Head of Product Development at Verso Biosense. Joseph is a biochemist by training, but an engineer by DNA. His work is defined by the consumer focus he brings to it, he is passionate about the work he does, choosing challenges over mundane and working exclusively on products that break new ground. Our conversation covers everything from the science of fertility, to the reality of women being disadvantaged within the healthcare system and why women should start complaining more.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Industrial Designer, Entrepreneur and Activist, Ti Chang. Ti is also the Co-Founder and VP of Design at tech-savvy, luxury sex toy company, CRAVE, and the Chair of the Women in Design section of Industrial Designers Society of America. Our conversation with Ti covers everything from the growth of CRAVE, genderization within the industrial design industry and how to stop the perpetual cycle of barriers for women within sexual health. Ti also shares her advice for women currently graduating, about to take their first step into design industry.

In this episode we talk to Founder & Creative Director of Morrama, Jo Barnard. Jo shares her experiences, from design student, to founding an agency in 2014, what this transition means as a leader, and how and why she advocates for gender diversity within the workplace.

In this episode we talk to Sam Simister - GEN M Founder, and Future Development Director at Innocent. GEN M is an organisation, aimed at improving the lives of women going through the menopause; providing resources, events and a space for women. Merle and Sam discuss the motivations behind GEN M and the future of the organisation.

In this episode CEO, Merle Hall, talks to industrial design recruiter and Design Truth host, Brad Harper. Brad and Merle discuss the landscape of recruitment for the design industry, and what steps need to be taken to increase diversity.

In this episode, KD CEO, Merle Hall, talks to founder of Kerning The Gap, Nat Maher. After starting in 2015, Kerning The Gap is a nationwide programme that runs throughout the UK, aiming to empower women in the design and creative industries to get to senior level via annual mentoring schemes and a strong community network. Merle and Nat unpick and explore some of the many barriers faced by women in the design industry, discussing what change is needed on an industry wide level.

In this episode, KD CEO, Merle Hall, talks to Women of Wearables Founder, Marija Butkovic. Women of Wearables is a leading global organisation aiming to support, connect, and mentor women and allies in emerging technologies such as wearables, IoT, and health tech. Marija and Merle explore the inspiration behind WoW's global 20,000 strong community, and the future for women in tech.

In this episode CEO, Merle Hall, talks to some of our XXEquals team members, Design Consultant, Hayley Maynard, Junior Designer, Alex Dodl, and Marketing Manager, Sorrell Walsh. The team share their inspirations for the XXEquals initiative, what areas they're excited for the team to work on, and what designing with women in mind means to them.