Designing for Intersectional Inclusion in Computing

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is essential because it creates a more inclusive environment that benefits individuals, organisations and society as a whole. To gain a comprehensive understanding of DEI in computing, it is important to apply an intersectional lens to explore the complexities and nuances of the issues and possible solutions to these. This study aims to provide new knowledge about intersectionality in the computing field. According to the design and creation research strategy, we have developed a prototype for a website called “DiversIT”, which aims to help increase inclusion by facilitating a supportive peer community and raising awareness. Then, 17 students and professionals in the field were involved in five rounds of usability tests and design iterations. DiversIT, designed to address intersectional perspectives in the computing community, led to a promising high-fidelity prototype in terms of increasing DEI in computing. According to our investigation, the impact of intersectionality needs to be acknowledged in the computing field.