Dr. Gene Bawden

Biography

Gene Bawden is a communication designer and Deputy Head of the Design Department at Monash University’s MADA. His research focuses on design practice that intertwines material, visual, and spatial narratives, particularly within Australian domestic spaces characterized by cultural belonging, social alignment, and gendered expectations. Bawden interrogates historical contexts that reveal the gendered spatial alliances and the semiotic constraints prevalent in Australia’s Western-centric domestic environment. He is a member of the XYX Lab at Monash University, which facilitates Design Thinking processes aimed at mitigating gender inequity in urban environments. His work has contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the context of education and social equity in design. Bawden is actively involved in collaborative projects that explore gender-sensitive approaches to design and community engagement, and he teaches the 'Design Thinking' unit in Monash’s MBA program, emphasizing the integration of critical thinking in design methodologies.

Research Interests