Beyond the Archive: Interaction Design for Visibility and Reflection in Women’s Sports History A Research through Design Study of Feminist and Participatory Museum Interaction Design

Abstract

Visibility in sports history is not merely about who is represented and who’s stories are brought to light from the archives, it is also a matter of question for design. This master’s thesis explores how interaction design, grounded in Feminist HCI and participatory design methodologies, can be an active participant in challenging the dominant narratives and concurrently encourage reflection in public museum spaces. Using a Research through Design (RtD) approach, this study documents the design and development of a physical, interactive installation exhibited at Gothenburgs Sports Museum. The artifact utilizes a playful, analogue spinning wheel mechanism to present hidden narratives of women’s sports history. Based on qualitative evaluations, this research conceptualizes four transferable key factors that constitute the study’s design knowledge: (1) Tangible and Playful Interaction as an entry point to complex themes, (2) Chance-Based Content Selection to subvert traditional user control and mirror the fragmented reality of marginalized history, (3) Emotional Engagement as a Catalyst for Reflection, demonstrating how productive discomfort triggers personal awareness, and (4) Visibility through Framing, which underscores that design framing structures should be treated as a core mechanism for shaping visibility and meaning-making.