The Identity Clinic x Made by Boto®
- Eva Krane
- Sep 9
- 4 min read
Interview with Storm Hassett on Gender-Affirming Design
At Made by Boto®, we believe design is never neutral. The way spaces are shaped — and the way people move through them — communicates care, safety, and belonging. For transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse communities, design choices can have profound impacts, especially in healthcare environments where affirmation is vital.
I had the privilege of speaking with Storm Hassett, Director of the Gender Identity Clinic, who is at the forefront of gender-affirming healthcare in Australia. Storm shares how the built environment and design can reinforce dignity, reduce anxiety, and ensure that every person feels recognised and respected when accessing care.
Your clinic plays a critical role in supporting transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. How do you see the built environment — especially signage — influencing a person’s sense of safety and affirmation when accessing services?
I know what it feels like to walk into spaces and feel like you do not belong. Growing up in foster care, in homes that were volatile and unsafe, there were nights my little brother and I literally slept outside waiting for a door that never opened. That feeling of invisibility stays with you. At The Identity Clinic, we want every sign, every door, every wall to send the opposite message: you belong here, you are safe here, you matter. Signage is more than practical, it is emotional. Seeing yourself reflected, even in the smallest detail, can soften the weight of anxiety and remind you that you are not alone.
In healthcare settings, wayfinding can either reduce or heighten anxiety. What principles do you believe should guide signage design in gender-affirming spaces?
For me, the guiding principles are clarity, neutrality, and affirmation. Confusing directions do not just get you lost, they make you feel disoriented and unseen. Neutrality means signage does not assume or exclude anyone. And affirmation is about small but intentional cues such as pronouns respected, inclusive symbols, and language that does not pathologise identity. At The Identity Clinic, wayfinding is never just about getting from point A to B. It is about saying we see you, we thought of you, and you belong here.
Lived experience is central to your work. How does your team ensure that the voices, values, and needs of the community are reflected in every touchpoint of the clinic, from intake to the physical space?
I grew up protecting my siblings before I ever really knew what safety felt like. That shaped everything about who I am. At The Identity Clinic, every single person on our team is queer and neurodivergent. We do not theorise about what affirming care should look like, we live it. From intake forms to waiting rooms, we design with the knowledge of what it feels like to be misgendered, dismissed, or made invisible. And we are always listening to our community, co-designing and adapting. Our clinic is not just for the community, it is the community.
Beyond inclusive language, how can behaviour and visual design communicate gender-affirming care without reinforcing stereotypes?
Stereotypes cut deep. Too often people are expected to look or act a certain way to be “valid.” At our clinic, we work hard to ensure design and behaviour do not put anyone into boxes. That means no pink and blue binaries, no tokenistic rainbow branding that feels performative. Instead, we lean into behaviour such as asking pronouns every time, never assuming, and listening deeply. Visual design should be a doorway that opens possibilities, not one that limits them.
Cognitive and sensory accessibility is often overlooked in signage. How might clinics like yours benefit from designs that also consider neurodiverse individuals and people with mixed abilities?
As a neurodivergent-run clinic, this is not abstract for us, it is personal. Harsh lights, cluttered spaces, or walls of overwhelming text can shut people out before they have even reached a clinician. We focus on sensory-friendly colour palettes, clear fonts, and simple, accessible symbols. That kind of design reduces overwhelm. It helps neurodiverse folks feel held, and honestly, it makes the environment better for everyone. Accessibility is not an afterthought, it is the heartbeat of belonging.
Do you see opportunities for healthcare providers to collaborate with design studios like Made by Boto® to co-create signage and wayfinding systems that reflect lived experience?
Absolutely. Healthcare cannot hold this responsibility alone. When we collaborate with design studios, we are able to pair affirming clinical care with creative environments that feel intentional and safe. When design meets lived experience, dignity is the outcome. Doors, signage, and spaces become more than functional, they become invitations. Partnerships like this are how we build futures where our community does not just survive, but thrives.
Many people accessing gender-affirming healthcare have faced environments that feel clinical or alienating. What small but powerful changes in design or otherwise have you seen make the biggest difference?
It is often the small things that create the biggest sigh of relief. An intake form that asks for chosen name and pronouns. A waiting room wall covered in art made by queer creators. Even lighting that is softer and more welcoming. I have watched people’s shoulders drop just from those cues. To some, they might seem minor. But when you have spent your life being rejected or erased, those little affirmations mean the world.
Looking ahead, what does your vision of an ideal gender-affirming healthcare environment look like, and what elements are most crucial to help bring that to life?
My vision is simple: a place where no one feels alone, unsafe, or unseen. A clinic where design, language, and care work together to hold people in joy and safety. Where every sign whispers you are valid, every wall says you belong, and every interaction reinforces we are with you. The most important ingredient is not a material one, it is intention. If we keep our community at the centre of every decision, the environment itself becomes an act of care and affirmation.
Storm’s perspective reminds us that inclusive design is not just about accessibility or compliance — it is about care. Every choice, from the words on a door to the colour of a wall, has the power to affirm identity and restore dignity.
At Made by Boto®, we are proud to collaborate with leaders like Storm to create signage and wayfinding systems that reflect lived experience and foster environments where everyone belongs. Links for more info below.
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