Design
The fierce femmes of design: our favourite women designers
June 2024We always admire the incredible achievements of women across so many different fields, and design is no exception. The 2019 AIGA Design Census revealed that 61% of designers are women. This reflects the huge contribution of women in shaping the design industry, making their mark on products, spaces and experiences. Here’s a selection of some of our favourite female designers, including a few hidden gems you might not have heard of.
Susan Kare
“Within a year, she had designed the whole visual language of the original Macintosh”
Susan Kare is an American graphic designer and a total tech legend. She’s to pixel art and computer interface design what Andy Warhol is to pop-art. She was tasked with creating hand-drawn icons and font elements for the next Macintosh computer in ‘82. She had no experience in computer graphics whatsoever, but she brought her skills from mosaics, needlepoint, and pointillism to the table.
Within a year, she'd designed the whole visual language of the original Macintosh, with icons like Lasso, Grabber, and Paint Bucket that we still use today. As of 2022, Kare heads a digital design practice in San Francisco and sells limited-edition, signed fine-art prints. Could she be any cooler? We don’t think so!
Tomoko Miho
“Master of the dramatic understatement”
Tomoko Miho is a design powerhouse. Her posters, catalogues, logos, and architectural signage are famous for their graceful and harmonious flow and her designs consist of clean lines and subtle complexity.
Her incredible knack for perspective and space has earned her props as a "master of the dramatic understatement" from the likes of artist John Massey. Miho's legacy continues to inspire contemporary designers, and her works are housed in prestigious institutions like MoMA, the Library of Congress, and Cooper Hewitt.
Dorothy Hayes
“Her life’s work was aimed at giving marginalised designers a seat at the table”
In 60s NYC, Dorothy Hayes spearheaded a movement to put Black designers in the spotlight with her iconic "Black Artist in Graphic Communication" exhibition, featuring the work of 49 talented artists, including Dorothy Akubuiro, Josephine Jones, and Diane Dillion.
Hayes would go on to found Dorothy's Door, a commercial art and design company. Respect for her life’s work, which was aimed at giving marginalised designers a seat at the table and a chance to shine. Her push for more diversity and inclusivity still echoes today.
Bea Feitler
“Despite not getting the spotlight she deserved, Feitler's impact in the '60s was massive”
Bea Feitler began working as an art assistant at Harper's Bazaar in 1961, where she later became art director and made history by featuring Black supermodel Donyale Luna on the cover. In ‘72 Feitler co-launched Ms. magazine with Gloria Steinem, where her bold editorial design reflected feminist and political themes of the time.
Despite not getting the spotlight she deserved, Feitler's impact in the '60s was massive. Through her innovative and inclusive design, she showcased a wide range of women’s issues, including lesbian rights and visibility, paving the way for increased representation of Black women in fashion magazines.
Ilonka Karasz
“Karasz shaped the very fabric of American design”
Ilonka Karasz is a huge but overlooked figure in 20th-century design. Her incredible career of over 60 years boasts masterpieces across textile, furniture, interior, wallpaper, ceramic, silver, and graphic design.
Karasz shaped the very fabric of American design. By the 30s, she was a household name in the textile world. She also dabbled in avant-garde magazine covers, children's book illustrations, and even map-making. You might recognise her iconic cover illustrations for the New Yorker magazine.
Header image: Detail of Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting, 1638–39 by Artemisia Gentileschi, another pioneering female (Baroque) artist and early feminist icon, renowned for her powerful depictions of women and her remarkable resilience in a male-dominated art world.
