Women Designers You Should Know

For hundreds of years, society has systematically kept women from rising to their full potential—whether through laws denying them the right to own property, vote, or even open a bank account without a man’s signature—and today, I'm diving into the receipts. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon com...

(**Trigger Warning: This episode discusses Suicide) This dual feature episode celebrates Ellen Raskin’s transformation from a prolific book designer to an award-winning author, seamlessly blending design and storytelling in works like The Westing Game . Briar Levit shares her own journey as a designer and author, using mediums like film, exhibitions, and publications to champion stories that inspi...

This dual feature episode explores Eileen Gray’s journey from interior design to groundbreaking modernist architecture, including the challenges of vandalism, loss, and rediscovery, alongside Emily Farnham’s dedication to preserving architectural history and working on both Mandy Moore and Lilly Collin's Mid-Century homes. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This sh...

This TRIPLE feature episode delves into the life of Agnes Martin, whose serene abstract expressionist art was born from a strict, meditative process and a journey of balancing inner turmoil. Michelle and Ellen, co-founders of Nature, share their layered stories of changing creative disciplines, finding balance, and embracing risks in their own design process. _______ Support this podcast with a sm...

67% of creative professionals reported experiencing burnout, with women more likely to report feeling overwhelmed by their work environments. Badal Patel opens up about how she struggled with creative burnout, and what she does now to prevent it from happening.  _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon...

A dual feature episode exploring Ray Eames' transformative impact on mid-century design and Amanda Jane Jones' reflections on creativity, authorship, and the lessons we can draw from Ray's life. _______ 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: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow Have a 1:1 mento...

Learn the untold story of architect and furniture designer, Charlotte Perriand, whose innovative designs and fearless independence reshaped modern interiors and how she escaped Le Corbusier's shadow, with insights from special guest Adi Goodrich, spatial designer, who reflects on how Charlotte's legacy continues to inspire today's designers. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy...

Hear how Susan Skarsgard built her career from calligraphy to founding the GM Design Archive, blending art, design, and education to leave her mark on both the art and automotive worlds. _______ 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: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow Have a 1:1 mentor call w...

This dual feature episode highlights Elaine Lustig Cohen’s self-taught rise to modernist graphic design and fine art, alongside Steven Heller’s efforts to rewrite design history by amplifying the contributions of women like Elaine. _______ 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: patreon.com/womende...

Uncover the fascinating story of Zelda Wynn Valdes, whose mastery of the mermaid silhouette led to her creation of the iconic Playboy Bunny costume, with insights from special guest Tobi Ashiru. _______ 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: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow Have a 1:1 mento...

(**Trigger Warning: This episode discusses an explicit Murder) A brutal massacre at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin estate, where love, scandal, racism, paranoia, and murder intersect in a story that few have heard, involving the murder of his mistress, Martha Borthwick Cheney, at his beloved home he designed for their love. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This sh...

This dual feature episode highlights both Lella Vignelli and Giorgia Lupi and their focus on human connection through design. Lella Vignelli's multi-hyphenate modernist design, along with Giorgia Lupi’s innovative approach to data visualization. _______ 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: patre...

Host, Amber Asay, explores the male designers who have either championed or dismissed the contributions of women in the design world. From Le Corbusier’s undermining of female collaborators to Paul Rand’s advocacy for Lella Vignelli, we dive into the varying dynamics of support—or lack thereof—among iconic male figures in design. Tune in to hear who lifted women up and who left them in the shadows...

In this double feature, discover how Anni Albers revolutionized the traditional craft of weaving into a modern art form as a Bauhaus trailblazer, while Marian Bantjes shares her creative journey of transforming ornamental graphic design into a contemporary storytelling medium. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast...

This dual feature episode highlights Phyllis Madonna’s fearless and eccentric design vision for the Madonna Inn, alongside branding expert Emily Heyward’s journey co-founding Red Antler and her insights into building iconic brands, including the lasting cultural impact of the Madonna Inn. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join t...

Host Amber Asay dives into the untold stories of design power couples where the husbands received most of the credit, exploring how history has often overlooked the equally brilliant contributions of their wives. (This new bonus series, called "Extra Sketches" will be where we explore common themes and trends within women designer stories.) _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy M...

This dual feature episode spotlights Betty Cooke, the minimalist jewelry designer known for her sculptural creations, alongside Ellen Lupton, celebrated graphic designer and author, who reflects on Cooke’s influence and shares insights from her own legendary career in design and education. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join...

This dual feature episode highlights Louise Fili, the iconic designer celebrated for her exquisite typography and branding, alongside Kevin Cantrell, a master of lettering and typography, who shares how her work has shaped his own career and creative philosophy. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon...

This dual feature episode explores the life of Iris Apfel, a globe-trotting icon whose design career spans interiors, textiles, and fashion, alongside Adam Vicarel, a designer and lettering artist whose work is deeply inspired by his love of travel and storytelling. Together, they demonstrate how the experiences of the world can shape bold, creative visions. _______ Support this podcast with a sma...

Discover the captivating and untold story of Ann Lowe, the brilliant designer behind Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress, as we delve into her legacy with fashion historian and author, Elizabeth Way, who has researched and written about Ann Lowe's life. _______ 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: pa...

This TRIPLE feature episode explores the groundbreaking career of Venezuelan graphic designer Karmele Leizaola, whose pioneering work shaped the nation’s design identity. Guests Faride Mereb and Oriana Nuzzi, Venezuelan designers now based in Brooklyn, share their research on Leizaola’s legacy and reflect on how her vision continues to influence contemporary design and their own creative journeys....

Renowned designer Pum Lefebure shares her journey from her artistic roots in Bangkok to co-founding Design Army in Washington, D.C. She discusses her experiences leading high-profile campaigns for clients like the Washington Ballet, her philosophy on creativity and design, and the challenges of balancing her roles as a business owner, creative visionary, and mother. Listen in as Pum reflects on th...

This dual feature episode celebrates the trailblazing career of Norma Merrick Sklarek, the first Black woman licensed in architecture in New York and California, whose work broke barriers and paved the way for future generations. Guest Tobi Ashiru, a Black architectural designer and educator, shares how Norma’s legacy has inspired her own journey and shaped her perspective on diversity in design....

New Bonus Episode series! The topic for the first one is all about Persistence, submit your story and listen to host, Amber Asay's own story of Persistence on this episode. _______ 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: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow Have a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay...

This dual feature episode explores Muriel Cooper’s groundbreaking innovations in user interface and information design at MIT, alongside Kelli Anderson’s boundary-pushing work in paper art and design, inspired by Cooper’s merging of technology and creativity. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee This show is powered by Nice People Join this podcast and the Patreon co...