Women Designers You Should Know

When it comes to recognizable icons, few rival Nike’s Swoosh, designed by student designer Carolyn Davidson for $35. We unpack her quiet career, late recognition, and lasting influence with guest Sarah Williams, Co-CEO of Beardwood & Co. and President of AIGA NY. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join...

In this dual feature episode we take a celebratory look at Lorraine Wild’s influence as a writer, educator, and designer who helped shift graphic design from a formal practice to a cultural one, with personal insight from friend and fellow designer, Louise Sandhaus. Lorraine Wild resources: Green Dragon Office “More Than a Few Questions About Graphic Design Education” (1983) via Emigre archive Des...

Discover the untold story of Claire McCardell, the woman who invented casual wear, defied Dior, and changed the way American women dress (with insight from author Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, who finally put her name back on the label). Buy the Book: Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding...

This episode explores the remarkable career of Sharon Werner, founder of Werner Design Werks, and her candid reflections on misogyny, imposter syndrome, and staying small by choice. From childhood paper dolls to running a studio for nearly 35 years, Sharon’s story is filled with wit, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is p...

This designer-on-designer episode explores Clara Porset’s legacy of cultural modernism and political courage, with insights from interior designer Lindsey Colhoun, whose own work echoes Clara’s timeless use of natural materials and storytelling. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join this podcast and...

Ceramicist Rachel Saunders shares her self-taught creative journey—from leaving LA burnout behind to launching a soul-led business, shifting into retreats, and redefining success on her own terms. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesigners...

This deep-dive episode explores the jaw-dropping career of costume designer Edith Head—Hollywood’s most awarded woman—whose designs for stars like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly came with a trail of secrets, rivalries, and reinvention, with fashion enthusiast Darrian Wright joining for the ride. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding an...

This episode features designer and Jungalow founder Justina Blakeney as she opens up about work-life balance, her art show California Poppy , the impact of the LA fires, and the quiet courage it takes to keep evolving creatively.   Checkout her art show: California Poppy at The Art Wolf Checkout her latest book: Jungalow: Decorate Wild _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A C...

This episode features legendary designer and leader Maria Giudice, who shares her journey from Staten Island art kid to founding Hot Studio, navigating Facebook’s acquisition, and using design to shift culture, leadership, and the C-suite. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join this podcast and the Pa...

This dual feature episode explores the legacy of Tomoko Miho’s masterful use of space and quiet modernism, alongside Jessica Strelioff’s thoughtful approach to building timeless, soulful brands through her studio, Goodside. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon community:...

In this episode, multidisciplinary designer Alex Proba shares how persistence, daily creative rituals, and an unwavering belief in color have shaped her global design career—from posters and murals to pools and product lines. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon communit...

This episode we talk about the high-heeled rise, fall, and fierce reinvention of designer Tamara Mellon, co-founder of Jimmy Choo, whose resilience redefined what it means to be a woman in luxury fashion—with cultural insight from author Rachelle Bergstein. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People Join this...

This dual feature episode explores the legacy of Susan Kare, the designer behind the original Mac icons, with guests Amy and Jennifer Hood, the twin creatives behind Hoodzpah, known for their bold branding and empowering creative business strategies. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon community:...

This dual feature episode highlights the artistry of the Gee’s Bend Quilters , whose improvisational designs and cultural resilience transformed necessity into celebrated textile art, alongside Francine Thompson , Design Director at Hims & Hers, who shares insights on visual storytelling and building compelling brand narratives. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee T...

Mentorship isn’t just about giving advice—it can be a full-circle moment that shapes both the mentor and the mentee. In this episode, Jeanetta Gonzales , a celebrated surface designer, illustrator, and creative coach, shares how mentorship has impacted her career, why representation in design matters, and how guiding others can be just as transformative as being guided. _______ Support this podcas...

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, join us as Ti Chang, cofounder of CRAVE, shares how she’s revolutionizing the way we connect through design, pioneering the category of pleasure jewelry with elegant, empowering products that redefine intimacy and human connection. Ti Chang is a designer and cofounder of CRAVE , a brand known for pioneering pleasure jewelry. With a background in industrial design,...

This dual feature episode explores the visionary work of Nanna Ditzel—who designed furniture for movement, conversation, and mental well-being—alongside Kate Arends, founder of Wit & Delight, as we discuss how design shapes our emotions, interactions, and everyday lives. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and th...

Hear the extraordinary life of Elsa Schiaparelli. From her rebellious youth and surrealist collaborations to her iconic designs like the lobster dress and shocking pink, discover how Schiaparelli redefined fashion as art and left a legacy of daring innovation, with guest and fashion enthusiast, Darrian Wright. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered...

Explore the life and legacy of Mary Colter, a groundbreaking architect and interior designer who crafted iconic buildings at the Grand Canyon and beyond, blending Native American traditions with innovative architectural design, who also lost a home in a 1968 Eaton Canyon fire, which felt oddly topical. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice...

This episode didn't get nearly as many listens as it should, probably being that it was only episode 6, so now is a good time to push this rerun out into the world. Especially since LA is on fire, and I've been temporarily displaced by the fires. Enjoy! Renowned graphic designer Gail Anderson shares her journey from creating magazines in her youth to working at Rolling Stone and beyond, discussing...

Explore the extraordinary life and career of Mary Blair, the visionary artist behind Disney classics like Cinderella and It’s a Small World, whose bold use of color and modernist style transformed animation and design history, with special guest, Mike Asay. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon comm...

2024 has been a whirlwind year for Women Designers You Should Know, with 29 inspiring episodes celebrating groundbreaking women in design + 6 bonus episodes that dive into the layers between these stories. This recap dives into the podcast’s journey, from tackling the glaring absence of women in design education to uncovering recurring themes in their stories. Host Amber Asay explores why humanism...

This dual feature episode highlights Corita Kent’s journey from nun to Pop Art pioneer, using screen printing to champion love and justice, and Britt Rohr’s modern take on printmaking as the founder of Swell Press, blending craftsmanship and storytelling in her designs. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the...

Explore the life and legacy of graphic design pioneer Jacqueline Casey, whose bold, modernist posters defined MIT’s visual identity for decades — with insights from designer Michael Bierut, we uncover how Casey infused Swiss design principles with American ingenuity, led campus-wide design efforts, and created work that remains timeless and influential. _______ Support this podcast with a small do...

Discover the story of Marget Larsen, a trailblazing designer whose iconic Christmas boxes, bold typography, and fearless creativity shaped mid-century advertising and design in San Francisco right as the psychedelic / counterculture era was budding, with industry insights from guest Sean Adams, previous AIGA President, and Dean at Art Center. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy...