Women Designers You Should Know

049. Carolyn Davidson and Sarah Williams: The Woman Behind the Swoosh

When it comes to recognizable icons, few rival Nike’s Swoosh, designed by student designer Carolyn Davidson for $35. We unpack her quiet career, late recognition, and lasting influence with guest Sarah Williams, Co-CEO of Beardwood & Co. and President of AIGA NY. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/womendesignerspod] This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People [https://nicepeople.com/] Join this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow [https://www.patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow] Have a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay [https://intro.co/amberasay] _______ About Carolyn Davidson: We’re pulling back the curtain on one of design’s most enduring marks: the Nike Swoosh. In 1971, Portland State University student Carolyn Davidson sketched a fluid, wing-like “stripe” directly over a shoe drawing—a fast, simple symbol that Phil Knight didn’t love at first but chose under production pressure. She invoiced $35, kept freelancing for the scrappy company as it rebranded from Blue Ribbon Sports to Nike, and later stepped away from the spotlight. Years afterward, Nike surprised her with a gold Swoosh ring and stock—an act of overdue recognition that grew to life-changing value. We trace Davidson’s process, her broader early contributions beyond the logo, and how the Swoosh eventually stood alone without the wordmark.   About Sarah Williams: Sarah Williams is Co-CEO of Beardwood & Co. and President of AIGA New York. She joined Beardwood early (2006) after starting at Landor and rose to co-owner, leading brand programs for companies like Danone and Colgate while advancing mentorship and access across the NYC design community. Follow Sarah: Instagram: @_sarah_aw_ [https://www.instagram.com/_sarah_a_w_/#] Beardwood & Co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardwoodco/ https://beardwood.com/ ____ View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below: Instagram: Amber Asay [https://www.instagram.com/amberasay] Instagram: Women Designers Pod [https://www.instagram.com/womendesignerspod]

048. Lorraine Wild: Redefining Design Education (w/ Louise Sandhaus)

In this dual feature episode we take a celebratory look at Lorraine Wild’s influence as a writer, educator, and designer who helped shift graphic design from a formal practice to a cultural one, with personal insight from friend and fellow designer, Louise Sandhaus. Lorraine Wild resources: Green Dragon Office [http://www.greendragonoffice.com/] “More Than a Few Questions About Graphic Design Education” (1983) via Emigre archive [https://www.emigre.com/Essays/Magazine/ThatwasThenandThisisNowButWhatisNext] Design Observer Archive – Lorraine Wild [https://designobserver.com/authors/lorraine-wild/]   Louise Sandhaus links: Buy Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots [https://amzn.to/3Hs7LO5] _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/womendesignerspod] This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People [https://nicepeople.com/] Join this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow [https://www.patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow] Have a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay [https://intro.co/amberasay] _______ About Lorraine: Lorraine Wild is a Canadian-born graphic designer, educator, and writer whose work has shaped the trajectory of contemporary design. After studying at Cranbrook and Yale, she launched a career that bridged cultural criticism, publishing, and pedagogy. At CalArts, she reimagined graphic design education to focus on personal voice and authorship, mentoring generations of now-prominent designers. Through her studio Green Dragon Office, she’s known for crafting visually rich books and catalogs for artists, architects, and cultural institutions, always rooted in research, narrative, and materiality. About Louise: Louise Sandhaus is a Los Angeles–based graphic designer, educator, and historian. A former director of the CalArts Graphic Design Program, she’s the founder of Louise Sandhaus Design (LSD) and co-founder of the initiative “The People’s Graphic Design Archive.” Her celebrated book Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots helped redefine how we archive and celebrate California graphic design. Known for her bold, joyful aesthetic and deep commitment to inclusive design history, Louise has been a vocal advocate for amplifying overlooked voices in the field — especially women.   ____ View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below: Instagram: Amber Asay [https://www.instagram.com/amberasay] Instagram: Women Designers Pod [https://www.instagram.com/womendesignerspod]

047. Claire McCardell: Inventor of Casual Fashion (w/ Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson)

Discover the untold story of Claire McCardell, the woman who invented casual wear, defied Dior, and changed the way American women dress (with insight from author Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, who finally put her name back on the label). Buy the Book: Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free [https://amzn.to/3IYra9B] _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/womendesignerspod] This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People [https://nicepeople.com/] Join this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow [https://www.patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow] Have a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay [https://intro.co/amberasay] _______ About Claire: Claire McCardell put zippers on the side so women could dress themselves. She gave us pockets when men said we didn’t need them. She invented the wrap dress before Diane von Furstenberg and made ballet flats a thing—during wartime, using Capezio dance shoes. At a time when women were being arrested for wearing pants, Claire McCardell was designing clothing that made women feel powerful, stylish, and free. While Dior was cinching waists and romanticizing restriction, Claire was pioneering what became known as the “American Look”—comfortable, functional, and modern. Her name was once as big as Chanel’s, and she was the first designer to have her name on a ready-to-wear label. So why don’t we remember her? Find out on this week’s episode.   About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson is an award-winning journalist and author based in Baltimore. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, The Washington Post, and more. Her debut book, Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free, was published in June 2025 to wide acclaim, including praise from The New York Times Book Review, which called it “the linchpin I didn’t know I needed.”   ____ View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below: Instagram: Amber Asay [https://www.instagram.com/amberasay] Instagram: Women Designers Pod [https://www.instagram.com/womendesignerspod]

046: Sharon Werner: Imposter Syndrome

This episode explores the remarkable career of Sharon Werner, founder of Werner Design Werks, and her candid reflections on misogyny, imposter syndrome, and staying small by choice. From childhood paper dolls to running a studio for nearly 35 years, Sharon’s story is filled with wit, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/womendesignerspod] This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People [https://nicepeople.com/] Join this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow [https://www.patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow] Have a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay [https://intro.co/amberasay] _______ About Sharon: Sharon Werner is the founder of Werner Design Werks, an award-winning design studio in Minneapolis known for its bold, thoughtful branding and packaging work. With nearly 35 years at the helm, Sharon has worked with clients ranging from Target and Nick at Nite to Moët Hennessy and Planned Parenthood. Her studio is known for its collaborative approach, small-team mindset, and deep respect for craft and storytelling. Follow Sharon: Website: wdw.com [https://wdw.com/] Instagram: @wernerdesignwerks [https://www.instagram.com/wernerdesignwerks/] Sharon's Instagram: @sharon_werner660 [https://www.instagram.com/sharon_werner660/#] ____ View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below: Instagram: Amber Asay [https://www.instagram.com/amberasay] Instagram: Women Designers Pod [https://www.instagram.com/womendesignerspod]

045. Clara Porset and Lindsey Colhoun: Frida Kahlo’s Favorite Chair

This designer-on-designer episode explores Clara Porset’s legacy of cultural modernism and political courage, with insights from interior designer Lindsey Colhoun, whose own work echoes Clara’s timeless use of natural materials and storytelling. _______ Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/womendesignerspod] This show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice People [https://nicepeople.com/] Join this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow [https://www.patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknow] Have a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay [https://intro.co/amberasay] _______ About Clara: Clara Porset (1895–1981) was a Cuban-born, Mexican-adopted designer known for fusing modernist principles with indigenous Mexican craft and materials. Trained at Columbia University, the École des Beaux-Arts, and influenced by the Bauhaus, she developed a design philosophy centered on functionality, ethics, and cultural identity. Forced into political exile from Cuba, she found her voice in Mexico — redefining the field of interior design, mentoring students, and designing iconic furniture like the Butaca chair, which remains on display in Frida Kahlo’s home. Her work lives on in warm, handmade modernism and in the generations of designers she inspired. About Lindsey: Lindsey Colhoun is the Founder and Creative Director of her eponymous interior design studio, where she creates warm, livable sanctuaries that merge functionality, style, and sustainability. A Los Angeles native raised in a historic Frank Gehry home, Lindsey was immersed in architecture and interiors from a young age — influenced by her mother, also an interior designer. Today, she works with celebrities, Hollywood executives, and discerning clients, known for her timeless Southern California aesthetic and thoughtful, layered spaces that reflect the personalities and lifestyles of the people who live in them. Follow Lindsey: Website: lindseycolhoun.com [https://www.lindseycolhoun.com/] Instagram: @lindseycolhoundesign [https://www.instagram.com/lindseycolhoundesign/?hl=en] ____ View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below: Instagram: Amber Asay [https://www.instagram.com/amberasay] Instagram: Women Designers Pod [https://www.instagram.com/womendesignerspod]