This work is about empowering women and honoring those who’ve broken barriers in the design world—those who weren’t handed a seat at the table, but built one anyway. Although women make up more than 60% of the graphic design workforce, they rarely hold top leadership roles. Many step away—not from lack of passion, but because the industry isn’t designed for them to thrive. From limited support during pregnancy to unequal pay and advancement opportunities, the glass ceiling is very real—and still unshattered for many. Design is about solving problems and telling stories that reflect real life. When women are excluded from leadership, we lose valuable voices and perspectives that shape culture. Diverse leadership in design leads to more inclusive, empathetic, and innovative outcomes. Empowering women isn’t just right—it’s smart.
Representation fuels ambition. Having visible female role models proves that success is possible. Whether it's a creative director, professor, or public figure, women are inspired when they see others who look like them in positions of power. Without that visibility, many never even dream it’s within reach.
Let’s recognize three women whose work has transformed modern design:
Paula Scher, a true icon of typographic innovation, was the first female principal at Pentagram. Her bold, expressive style shaped major brands like Citibank and Microsoft, and her leadership redefined what corporate design could look like—with edge, power, and clarity. One of the most impressive things I’ve seen is her map murals. They are so intricate and detailed that you could spend a whole lot of time reading the map’s streets and addresses. She has a variety of different works, ranging from typographic band posters and visually driven album covers. My favorite of her works is the Leonard Bernstein album cover. She mastered the technique of the stained glass and the type is beautifully done. She has a series of band posters that I think highlight her variety and range of skills and styles. Her type in these two especially are just breath taking and captivating.
Carol Davidson, a trailblazer in information design, revolutionized how we interpret data visually. She’s known for making the complex accessible—translating statistics into storytelling. Her work reminds us that good design doesn’t just look good—it informs, influences, and empowers.Her early work as a designer started when she made a 35$ logo for Nike in 1964.Since then, Nike has revamped and grown as a company. Carol’s first initial logo stuck with Nike throughout their history and has become an iconic symbol in design. This all shows us that sometimes simplicity is good, it can really make something worth a life-time. If you can make something that is time-less than I would say you are successful.
April Greiman, one of the first designers to embrace computer technology, fused digital tools with expressive, postmodern style. She challenged the grid system and blurred the lines between graphic design and fine art—paving the way for how digital design is practiced today. Some of her most impressive works come from her time at the post office, and when she was working with the 1984 LA Summer Olympics. She has an array of works that play with both the digital aspects of design but she still includes physical elements that make her style unique.
These women didn’t wait for permission. They moved forward, and their work continues to inspire generations of designers—especially women, like me.
This project is personal. As a young woman entering this industry, I want my work to speak louder than my gender. I want fair opportunities based on skill, creativity, and potential—not stereotypes. I want to be part of a design culture that lifts women up, not one that quietly pushes them out. The Vision is more than a presentation. It’s a reminder: Women in design are not a minority—they are the majority of the workforce. We deserve to be seen, credited, and celebrated. Let’s amplify the voices of women, past and present, and give future creatives the inspiration they need to lead boldly. Thank you for being here. Let’s keep pushing. Let’s make space. Let’s recognize those who came before us, and pave the way for those who come next.
Let’s see The Vision—and let’s bring it to life.
Video credits:
Edited and put together by me.
Images:
The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago
Stock Images by Adobe and Getty
Various art works by April Greinman, Paula Scher, and Carol Davidson