Celebrating women's groundbreaking contributions in design history.

 Today, women make up approximately half of the graphic design industry, but history has largely forgotten the powerful achievements of the women who first pioneered the field. Get to know some of the amazing women who helped pave the way.

 
CIPE PINELES

ART DIRECTOR | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Cipe Pineles was one of the first independent female graphic designers in America, the first female member of the prestigious Art Directors Club, and the first woman inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.

HER WORK

 

DOROTHY HAYES

Graphic Designer   |  Educator

Dorothy Hayes moved to New York City in 1957 to pursue a career in graphic design. She attended Cooper Union School of Art and the New York Institute of Advertising. She exhibited & lectured widely in the ensuring decades and is noted for organizing the Black Artist in Graphic Communication exhibition.

HER WORK

 
 

Born in 1894, Stepanova paved the way for modern day graphic design with her use of bold type & photomontage. She was associated with the Constructivist movement and aimed to create revolutionary & societal change through her work –which had a strong impact on early Soviet visual culture.

VARVARA STEPANOVA

GRAPHIC DESIGNER | TEXTILE DESIGNER

HER WORK

 
 

CAROL TWOMBLY

TYPE DESIGNER | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Carol Twombly is a designer best known for her typographic design. She worked as a type designer at Adobe Systems from 1988 through 1999, during which time she designed, or contributed to the design of, many typefaces, including Trajan, Myriad and Adobe Caslon.

HER WORK

 
 

SYLVIA HARRIS

DESIGN STRATEGIST | INFORMATION DESIGNER

Sylvia Harris was a groundbreaking design strategist and pioneer in government and nonprofit design work. She believed that designers have an incredible impact for social good. She was passionate about the power of public service design and worked to create accessible, informative design for all.

HER WORK

 
 

RAY EAMES

DESIGNER | ART DIRECTOR

Ray Eames was a powerhouse designer and creative partner of the Eames Office. Ray was responsible for the majority of the Eames’ graphic & commercial work and produced designs for the journal of Arts & Architecture and Eames furniture advertisements at Herman Miller.    

HER WORK

 
 

Gail Anderson is an award winning creative director & designer who has taught at the School of Visual Arts for over 25 years. Anderson is one of the few woman of color who joins the mere 3% female creative directors in the design industry.  She was a former art director at Rolling Stone magazine for 14 years, author, world-lecturer, and a visionary behind many NYC broadway theater graphics. 

GAIL ANDERSON

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | EDUCATOR

HER WORK

 
 

APRIL GREIMAN

GRAPHIC DESIGNER | ARTIST

April Greiman is a postmodern designer who was one of the first to truly embrace computer technology as a design tool. She ushered in a new experimental wave of design during the late 70s and early 80s.  She explored digital image manipulation techniques and complex, layered work that challenged traditional expectations of design.  

HER WORK

 
 

HER STORY CONTINUES

We aim to seek out and recognize the under-represented women of the design world. This list will grow as we continue to add new stories. 

Know an inspiring designer you'd like to see featured?