As we began working on this project of spotlighting woman-led design studios, we quickly realized that there were too many noteworthy studios to contain in a single article, and decided that the project warranted a multi-part series. (You can read part 1 here.) We repeatedly hear the question, “where are the women in industrial design?” Well, it appears many are starting their own studios! Here you will find a list of 20 woman-owned or woman-led design studios that you should support or hire to add a diverse perspective to your projects.
Anvil Studios
IG: @anvil_studios
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Treasure Hinds is co-founder and partner at Anvil Studios, a boutique industrial design studio located in Seattle, WA. Anvil Studios designs physical products for a wide range of industries, following a traditional industrial design process while tailoring each project specifically to the client’s needs.
“Shell” child carriers for Bell Sports by Anvil Studios
Blumline
IG: @theblumline
Blumline is an insights-based innovation studio led by Natasha Margot Blum, Principal Director and CEO. Based in Oakland, CA, Blumline offers a wide range of services including research and strategy, industrial design, service design, experience design, and more.
Blumline led research & design strategy for Nesos, a wearable earbud to treat rheumatoid arthritis
EGGS Design
IG: @eggsdesign
Ulla Sommerfelt is CEO of EGGS Design, an innovation consultancy based in Norway with additional offices in Denmark. EGGS works holistically to mesh human insights with technology, brand, and business and offers a range of services including UX design, service design, and industrial design.
Xplory X for Stokke
Leadoff Studio
IG: @leadoffstudio
Jessica Diatlo is the co-founder and head of product development at Leadoff Studio in New York City. Leadoff studio takes a user-centered approach to design innovative product experiences for clients.
Eco-friendly protective case for reusable PPE for CastleGrade
Troy Studio
IG: @juliatroydirects, @troy.studio
Julia Troy is Creative Director of Troy Studio in Stamford, CT, which offers product photography, video production, and creative direction for brands. Julia also works as an independent consultant in the areas of ideation, industrial design, design direction, and sprints.
Styling and photography by Troy Studio for Flow
Kinder MODERN / studiokinder
IG: @kindermodern, @femaledesigncouncil
Lora Appleton is the founder of kinder MODERN and studiokinder, a design studio that creates collections of furniture, objects, and rugs for children of all ages. Studiokinder translates the needs of growing children into useful, luxury furniture, and works alongside architects, interior designers, and developers. Lora Appleton is also the founder of the Female Design Council.
Residential Project w kinder GROUND Rug, Photographer: Dane Tashima
Ayana Patterson
Ayana Patterson is a luxury CMF and form designer focused primarily on the housewares and hospitality industries. Her services include design leadership, market research, CMF and form strategy, and brand strategy.
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RL 50 Mixology Box by Ayana Patterson for Ralph Lauren
OI Studio
IG: @oistudio_
BOA is the founder and creative director of OI Studio, a New Orleans, LA based design firm that creates bespoke furniture and home accessories using sustainable materials and processes. OI Studio’s design aesthetic is an intersection of reverence for nature, minimalism, and craftsmanship.
CHAD storage bed by OI Studio
Diagram
IG: @diagramoffice, @yahnopodcast
Diagram was founded by Miya Osaki and Tina Park, and is based in New York City. Diagram is dedicated to improving healthcare experiences by seeing through the eyes of the patient, leveraging tools of human-centered design, service design, user experience/interface design, and more.
Patient self-management app for Cahoots by Diagram
Interwoven
IG: @interwoven_design
Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman is the founder of Interwoven Design in Brooklyn, NY. Interwoven specializes in smart textile solutions and wearable technology, bridging the disciplines of fashion, engineering, materials science, and product design.
Fiber Optic Tutu for the Brooklyn Ballet
Catalano Design
IG: @catalanodesign
Carol Catalano is the founder of Catalano Design in Boston, MA. Catalano Design creates physical products for companies across a wide range of industries, and believes that good design is a balance of art, science, and craft, supported by user-centered research.
HE560 for HIFIMAN
Greater Good Studio
IG: @greatergoodstudio
Sara Cantor is the co-founder of Greater Good Studio, which has a mission to advance people-centered social change. Greater Good Studio is based in Chicago, IL and blends the structure of human-centered design with the relational nature of community engagement.
Creating equitable access to the Girl Scouts experience with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
Jennifer Linnane
Jennifer Linnane is a Boston, MA based designer offering industrial design, user centered design, user research and testing, and UX & visual design services. Her work spans a range of industries including medical and life science, consumer products, and industrial products.
Vectra Polaris Automated Pathology Imaging System for Perkin Elmer
Mottoform
IG: @mottoform
Elizabeth Salonen is the founder of Mottoform, an industrial design and consulting studio based in Canada. Mottoform has a broad range and works in the areas of product, textile/surface, housewares, and furniture design.
Suunto Lumi, first women-specific outdoor instrument for Suunto
Plot
Gill Wildman is co-founder and director at Plot, a strategic design agency that leverages user-centered research and design thinking to reimagine systems, digital products, and services. Plot is based in London, United Kingdom.
Workshop for Humane Regeneration in Hackney Wick, by Plot
Anke Salomon Product Design
IG: @salomonproductdesign
Anke Salomon is the founder of Anke Salomon Product Design in Berlin, Germany. Anke Salomon Product design works in close collaboration with clients for the process of conception, engineering and realization of products.
In-drawer knife organizer by Anke Salomon for Wüsthof
STBY
Geke van Dijk is co-founder and Strategy Director at STBY, a design research agency based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. STBY is an interdisciplinary team of creatives and social researchers and seeks to apply research for meaningful and positive transformation.
Design research projects for public space by STBY for the City of Amsterdam
PROWL
IG: @prowl__
PROWL is a design and material futures consultancy founded by Lauryn Menard and based in Oakland, CA. PROWL is on a collective mission to make the material world more sustainable. With a unique combination of material innovation and strategic foresight, PROWL helps their clients future-proof their businesses.
Photo by Smile Plastics
Observatory
IG: @observatorydesign
Ayako Takase is the co-founder and principal of Observatory, a multidisciplinary design studio in Providence, RI. Observatory has experience in a broad range of disciplines from furniture and personal care products to structural packaging and interface design.
Aria desk for Herman Miller
ProductLogic LLC
IG: @productlogic.llc
Merry Constantino is founder and principal of ProductLogic, a product design consultancy in Buffalo, NY. ProductLogic acts as an innovation partner to companies in a variety of sectors, offering a full range of services from market research to specifications and production.
Sanitizing Station for Allé Designs by ProductLogicLLC
Read Part 1 now—“20 Woman-led Industrial Design & Innovation Firms”
Source: core77