Inspiring women!
In honour of International Women’s Day (March 8th) we decided to celebrate women in the design community that have inspired and motivated us throughout our creative journey.
Jessica Walsh graphic designer, art director and illustrator
I have had a massive girl crush on Jessica Walsh since college, before she became half of Sagmeister & Walsh (after just two years and at the age of 25 BTW). Walsh began coding at the age of eleven, and since then, with her killer work ethic (and talent) has been bossing it in all things branding, typography and art installation. Her signature style blends handcraft, photography and paint with digital design to create a bold and provocative result.
Jessica Hische lettering artist, author and procrastiworker
Jessica Hische, where to start? I’m not sure if it’s enough to say inspired, I think it’s fairer to say envious. Her work is beautifully detailed, and worst of all? She makes it look effortless!
Hische has worked with clients such as Penguin Books, The New York Times, Tiffany & Co., OXFAM America, American Express, Target, Victoria’s Secret, Chronicle Books, Nike, Samsung, and Wired Magazine. She was also honoured with the Young Gun award of the Art Directors Club of New York.
Emma Isaacs owner and global CEO of Business Chicks
Not going to lie, Emma is new to my radar and I’m so very disappointed it took me so long.
Isaacs was 18 when she bought her first business, a recruitment company called Staff It. When she was 25, she went to her first Business Chicks event and later bought the business. Under Isaacs' direction, Business Chicks has hosted speakers including Sir Richard Branson, Nicole Kidman, Jamie Oliver, Bob Geldof and Arianna Huffington.
When Isaacs first bought Business Chicks she thought that the networking group would be a side job to her recruitment agency. It was from this, that Business Chicks has become a large business community for women in Australia. With over 44000 members, Business Chicks is one of the only networks of its kind in Australia, hosting regular events that strive to empower women.
Isaacs was previously the president of the Sydney chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organisation. She has also sat on the board for The Hunger Project. Isaacs now writes a column for the Business Chicks magazine. #GOALS
Cindy Sherman photographer and film director
Cindy Sherman has been an inspiration since first being introduced to her in Photography class and went on to influence my thesis in college.
Sherman's work is often linked to feminism, since her photos call attention to the objectification of women in the media. Sherman's 1981 series Centerfolds contains pseudo-voyeuristic images of young women. Her 2008 series Society Pictures addresses the obsession with female youth and beauty in American society. Her most recent series, the 2016 Imitation of Life, explores the glamour that can be found within mature women. By using stylized, vintage costumes and heavy makeup, Sherman is rendered as a subject that looks almost artificial, aside from her conspicuously-placed, aged hands, which point to the reality behind the illusion.
Paula Scher graphic designer, painter, educator
Paula Scher is an American graphic designer, painter and art educator in design and is considered one of the most influential graphic designers in the world! Described as the “master conjurer of the instantly familiar,” Scher straddles the line between pop culture and fine art in her work. And most notably, served as the first female principal at Pentagram!
Scher has a vast portfolio, having worked for clients such as The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City Ballet, Microsoft: Windows 8 logo, and contributed to numerous issues of Print. Scher was also profiled in the first season of the Netflix docu-series Abstract: The Art of Design. Is any wonder she has won countless awards!?
This is just a small handful of the amazing women out there kicking ass smashing goals! Comment below who your favourite inspiring women are. Happy International Women’s Day!
