Women Designers You Should Know

Amber Asay
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Women Designers You Should Know

Redesigning history by celebrating women. Amber Asay (host and designer) highlights groundbreaking contributions of women designers who have shaped the world we live in today. From graphic designers to architects, industrial designers to fashion icons, we explore the inspiring stories of the women who came before us, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. There's a dual approach in each episode, with a designer as a featured guest, we'll uncover the remarkable journey of a historical figure, shedding light on their innovative designs, their challenges, and their triumphs. The goal is to make these extraordinary women household names, ensuring that their legacies are rightfully celebrated and recognized for their profound impact on design history.

  1. 028. Jacqueline Casey: Shaping the MIT Style (w/ Michael Bierut)

    4 DAYS AGO

    028. Jacqueline Casey: Shaping the MIT Style (w/ Michael Bierut)

    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.

    43 min
  2. 027. Marget Larsen: Revolutionizing Mid-Century Advertising (w/ Sean Adams)

    DEC 10

    027. Marget Larsen: Revolutionizing Mid-Century Advertising (w/ Sean Adams)

    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.

    46 min
  3. Extra Sketches: The Oppression of Women

    DEC 3 · BONUS

    Extra Sketches: The Oppression of Women

    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, we’re diving into the receipts.

    14 min
  4. 026. Ellen Raskin and Briar Levit: Storytelling through Design and Writing

    NOV 26

    026. Ellen Raskin and Briar Levit: Storytelling through Design and Writing

    (**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 inspire.

    45 min
  5. 025. Eileen Gray and Emily Farnham: Protecting Stories in Modernist Architecture

    NOV 19

    025. Eileen Gray and Emily Farnham: Protecting Stories in Modernist Architecture

    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.

    1h 6m
  6. 024. Agnes Martin and Michelle & Ellen: Creative Risks, Process, and Balance

    NOV 12

    024. Agnes Martin and Michelle & Ellen: Creative Risks, Process, and Balance

    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.

    1h 21m
  7. Design Dialogues: Creative Burnout (w/ Badal Patel)

    NOV 5 · BONUS

    Design Dialogues: Creative Burnout (w/ Badal Patel)

    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.

    35 min
  8. 023. Ray Eames and Amanda Jane Jones: Modernism and Motherhood

    OCT 29

    023. Ray Eames and Amanda Jane Jones: Modernism and Motherhood

    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.

    45 min
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4.9
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

Redesigning history by celebrating women. Amber Asay (host and designer) highlights groundbreaking contributions of women designers who have shaped the world we live in today. From graphic designers to architects, industrial designers to fashion icons, we explore the inspiring stories of the women who came before us, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. There's a dual approach in each episode, with a designer as a featured guest, we'll uncover the remarkable journey of a historical figure, shedding light on their innovative designs, their challenges, and their triumphs. The goal is to make these extraordinary women household names, ensuring that their legacies are rightfully celebrated and recognized for their profound impact on design history.

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