In the science-fiction masterpiece 'The Left Hand of Dark', Ursula K. Le Guin explores profound themes such as identity, gender and loneliness. Set on Gethen, an ice-covered planet, the novel tells the mission of Ambassador Genly Ai, sent to include the world in the interplanetary alliance. Ai clashes with a culture that challenges the conventions related to masculinity and femininity: Gethenians are in fact androgynous beings, free from gender constraints.
The book is a fantastic thought experiment, which forces the reader to constantly change their perspective and to question our convictions and preconceptions. What better exercise for designers!
