Did you know that most sneakers were designed around the male foot and those of women are different?
Karen Korellis Reuther does.
Reuther has worked in the design industry for more than 40 years. A former executive at the major apparel companies Reebok and Nike, she experienced firsthand the way the world has been designed and built largely by — and for — men.
Her new book, “MAN-MADE: How We Designed a World That Leaves Women Out, and How We Can Make It Right,” explores the ways that the old “shrink it and pink it” marketing strategy not only misses the mark but also fails — and even harms — women.
In an interview with the Gazette, which has been edited for clarity and length, Reuther discussed her book and how we can go about using design to improve the lives of all. Reuther is on the faculty of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, where she teaches in the Master’s in Design Engineering program.
