To celebrate it being the 100-year anniversary of millions of women from around the world getting the vote, our Digital Agency in Leeds decided to share some of the female designers who have had an incredible impact on the design industry in the last century!
Margaret Calvert (1939-present)
Widely considered as the mother of modern day information design, Margaret’s most significant achievement was her redesign of the UK’s entire road sign system. Working alongside Jock Kinneir, she replaced the chaotic mix of different typefaces and symbols in order to make road signs on our motorways and eventually roads across the country clearer and safer.
Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999)
Charlotte was one of the most influential furniture designers of the early modern movement. She is famous for her achievements as a woman during an extremely male-dominated era of architecture and design. Her work aimed to create functional living spaces and believed better design helps to create a better society. Her tubular steel chairs are what she remains remembered for today.
Ray Eames (1912-1988)
One half of a husband and wife duo, Ray Eames’ is credited with influencing the emergence of American modern design during the mid-20th century. Her first mass-manufactured product was a moulded plywood leg splint, which would go on to have 150,00, orders from the US Navy by the end of World War Two. Her 1956 Lounge Chair became the must-have centrepiece of an aspiring CEO’s office during the 1960s and 70s.
Susan Kare (1954-present)
Widely considered to be one of the pioneers of computer-based iconography Susan Kare arguably helped to shape what the language of user interfaces looks like today while she was working at Apple in the 1980s. Her archive of graph paper drawings displaying her original ideas for the Macintosh interface were recently acquired by MoMA.
If you’re interested in working with a group of inspiring and creative female designers – you’re in luck! Our own Leeds-based design studio is 3:1 girls (sorry, Will!) so just give us a call on 0113 255 7285 or pop us an email on [email protected]!