Non-accessible spaces in arts and design education often leave marginalized individuals feeling drained, stressed, and burdened by the emotional labour required to navigate environments structured around dominant norms.

This Master’s thesis explores these dynamics through the creation of Material Girl, a persona deliberately designed to oppose the idealized norms of workshop culture. By positioning Material Girl within these spaces, the study experiments with alternative strategies for challenging institutionalized assumptions, hierarchies, and discrimination.

The approach emphasizes maintaining personal well-being while engaging critically with inaccessible or exclusionary practices. Insights from this exploration highlight the tensions between adaptation and resistance, demonstrating how individuals can contest normative expectations without sacrificing emotional health.

The project contributes to ongoing discussions about equity, representation, and the affective dimensions of participation in creative educational and occupational spaces.