Offensive sexist pun is a puzzling contradiction

I was shocked by the tasteless and sexually offensive pun Broad Horizons on the cover of Design Week (DW 7 March). I was then puzzled by the contradiction with the editorial comment in the same issue which led on the question of sexism in design.

In my experience, individuals and groups which conclude that there is “little discrimination in the industry” are almost always complacent and deluding themselves; the fact that an issue of Design Week, dealing with five successful women, could be flagged with such a derogatory pun would seem to confirm my view.

I am sure that, as designers, we all share a vision that pays full attention to equal opportunities and that we would aim to avoid inadvertent sexism.

EH Billett

Brunel University College

Isleworth

Middlesex TW7 5DU