van Remmen JS, Scherb D, Stauch J, Wartzack S, Miehling J (2026)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Book Volume: 12
Article Number: e18
Current engineering design practices often overlook gender-specific needs, leading to usability deficits and safety risks – particularly for women. This paper introduces a modular framework that systematically integrates gender-specific requirements into the entire product development process. Drawing from empirical studies and existing design standards, the framework addresses four core deficits: biased data, inadequate requirement definitions, low awareness of gender sensitivity in engineering and the lack of integration in existing development models. Structured into five modules – ranging from context analysis to implementation – it offers practical tools for capturing physiological and psychosocial gender differences, aligning user requirements with inclusive design solutions and validating outcomes through gender-aware evaluation methods. Designed for compatibility with established frameworks such as VDI 2221 and ISO 9241-210, the framework enables seamless integration into industrial workflows. It supports more equitable, usable and market-relevant products while promoting diversity as a driver of innovation. Future research will focus on empirical validation and digital tool integration to further enhance its industrial applicability.
APA:
van Remmen, J.S., Scherb, D., Stauch, J., Wartzack, S., & Miehling, J. (2026). A modular framework for integrating gender-specific requirements into product development. Design Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.1017/dsj.2026.10065
MLA:
van Remmen, Judith Sophie, et al. "A modular framework for integrating gender-specific requirements into product development." Design Science 12 (2026).
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