Women Designers You Should Know

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._______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______Sources:Book — Baseline ShiftDesign Observer Article by Sean AdamsCommunication Arts FeatureBook — Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots: California and Graphic Design by Louise SandhausAbout MargetMarget Larsen was a trailblazing designer and art director who transformed mid-20th-century advertising with her bold, unconventional approach. Born in San Francisco in 1922, Larsen began her career at I. Magnin, where she discovered her passion for typography and lettering while taking night classes at the California School of Fine Arts. She rose to prominence as the art director at Joseph Magnin, a trendsetting department store, where her iconic Christmas boxes turned gift packaging into collectible works of art. Larsen later joined the boutique agency Weiner & Gossage, where her groundbreaking ads combined witty copy with daring typography, earning national acclaim. From designing bread wrappers to creating fundraising sweatshirts for Beethoven enthusiasts, Larsen’s fearless creativity knew no bounds. Despite her immense contributions, Larsen’s name remains largely forgotten in design history, though her work continues to inspire with its playful wit and timeless innovation. She passed away in 1984, leaving behind a legacy that shaped advertising, packaging, and graphic design as we know it. About SeanSean Adams is a celebrated designer, author, and educator whose work has shaped the design industry for decades. As the Dean of the Visual Art and Communication Design Department at ArtCenter College of Design, Sean has mentored countless designers while championing the importance of design history and storytelling. He is the only two-term national president in AIGA’s 100-year history and a recipient of the prestigious AIGA Medal, the organization’s highest honor. Sean co-founded the renowned design firm AdamsMorioka, working with iconic clients like Disney, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and The Metropolitan Opera. He has authored several influential books, including The Designer’s Dictionary of Color and How Design Makes Us Think. As a passionate advocate for elevating overlooked figures in design history, Sean brings his expertise and insight to today’s conversation about Marget Larsen’s remarkable contributions to the field.Follow Sean:Instagram: @seanaadamsWebsite: AdamsMorioka.comLinkedIn: Sean Adams ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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 CoffeeThis show is powered by Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______ ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

(**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._______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay Important Links:Graphic Means DocumentaryNew Book — Briar Levit: On Design, Feminism, and Friendship_______Sources:Book — Baseline Shift by Briar LevitArticle — Cooperative Children's Book CenterAbout EllenEllen Raskin (1928–1984) was a trailblazing designer and author who seamlessly blended her expertise in graphic design with her passion for storytelling. Born in Milwaukee during the Great Depression, Raskin pursued a fine arts degree at the University of Wisconsin before launching a prolific career in New York City, where she designed over 1,000 book covers, including the original cover for A Wrinkle in Time. Later, she transitioned to writing, creating critically acclaimed children’s books known for their intricate plots and visual clues. Her most famous work, The Westing Game, won the Newbery Medal in 1979 and remains a beloved classic. Ellen’s books, including The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel) and Figgs & Phantoms, exemplify her unique ability to combine puzzles, humor, and thoughtful storytelling, leaving an enduring legacy in children’s literature. About BriarBriar Levit is a graphic designer, educator, and filmmaker whose work brings underrepresented voices in design history to light. With nearly two decades of teaching at Portland State University, Briar encourages her students to explore design’s role in shaping culture and amplifying diverse perspectives. She gained widespread acclaim for her documentary Graphic Means: A History of Graphic Design Production, which chronicles the evolution of design tools and highlights women’s significant contributions during the shift from manual to digital production. Briar’s feminist advocacy is further reflected in her book Baseline Shift, which celebrates the pivotal yet often overlooked roles of women in design. A former art director at Bitch magazine, she’s dedicated her career to showing how design can be a tool for activism, history, and cultural critique.Follow Briar:Instagram:  @briarlevitWebsite:  briarlevit.com ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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 CoffeeThis show is powered by Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______Sources:Documentary — Gray Matters: Architect and Designer Eileen Gray (2014)Book — Eileen Gray: Her Life and Work by Peter AdamBook — Eileen Gray: Design and Architecture 1878–1976 by Philippe Garner (Taschen)About EileenEileen Gray (1878–1976) was a groundbreaking designer and architect whose work pioneered modernism in the 20th century. Originally born in Ireland, she spent her career in France, becoming a self-taught architect and an innovator in furniture design. She's known for blending functionality with bold, avant-garde aesthetics. Her early career began with mastering lacquer work, a craft she honed despite its physical challenges, and she became a leading figure in Art Deco. Gray’s most iconic work is the E-1027 house, a modernist masterpiece designed with meticulous attention to detail and human-centered design principles. Despite her contributions, her achievements were often overshadowed by her male contemporaries, including the controversial vandalism of her work by Le Corbusier. Gray’s designs, like the Bibendum Chair, the E-1027 table and her modular lacquer screens, continue to inspire today. Rediscovered in her later years, she is now celebrated as a trailblazer who forged her own path, proving that vision and resilience can leave a lasting mark on the world of design. About EmilyEmily Farnham is the founder of Emily Farnham Architecture, a Los Angeles-based practice known for its innovative and holistic approach to residential design. With an impressive career that spans architecture, interiors, and custom design, Emily's projects balance aesthetics, function, and personalization. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia's School of Architecture. Before establishing her practice in 2014, Emily honed her skills at several leading design firms in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and San Francisco. This diverse background equipped her with the expertise to tackle projects of varying scales and complexities, from residential spaces to large-scale civic and educational buildings. Emily is a licensed architect in California and a LEED-accredited professional, known for her meticulous attention to detail and deep understanding of the construction process.Follow Emily:Instagram: @emilyfarnhamarchitectureWebsite: emilyfarnham.com  ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod