Gender Effects in Interactive Interface Design

Abstract

The growing interest in the impact of gender on technology brings attention to some concerns with regard to gender bias in design and its implications for the user experience. A first exploration with users of dating applications revealed that women felt frustrated using the most popular application and did not feel fully respected, indicating that their needs were not taken into consideration, possibly due to the misrepresentation of women in technology and, consequently, in the design of the experience. Thus, the purpose of this research was to explore the effects of gender biases in the design of mobile application. This research on gender, design, and online dating apps revealed gender differences in the appraisal of online dating experiences and in the definition of the design project's requirements. The investigation concentrated on the man-woman polarity and was composed of three user studies that mixed qualitative and quantitative data. The results revealed that women's needs are more likely to be neglected in dating apps, that there are some statistically significant differences in how men and women take decisions while designing dating applications that point to gender bias in design, and proved the feasibility of employing gender-neutral tools during the design process.