Design has many faces, but it is all too rare to see a female face in it. That is why, on the occasion of Women's Day, we give the floor to talented female designers and present the profiles of 9 designers whose designs you will find in our offer. We hope that their stories will be a source of inspiration for generations to come.
Patricia Urquiola - architect and designer
Patricia Urquiola, a celebrated Spanish architect and designer, has garnered countless accolades for her groundbreaking designs showcased at prestigious global exhibitions. Her creative philosophy is a captivating blend of humanism, technology, and sociological understanding. For each new product, she starts by forging a deep, empathetic connection with the user – the human being who will ultimately benefit from the design is always her primary focus. Urquiola thrives on discovering unexpected links between the familiar and the unexplored, a skill she undeniably masters with exceptional grace.
Throughout her distinguished career, she has collaborated with leading global brands including Alessi, Kartell and Foscarini.
Mette Thomsen - founder of Design Letters
Mette Thomsen's journey began as a design journalist, fueling a lifelong passion for beautiful aesthetics...and a deep appreciation for typography. It seems only natural, then, that when she founded her brand in Denmark in 2009, she chose to focus on exactly that: exquisite design rooted in letters.
In 2011, she unveiled her first collection of now-iconic monochrome mugs, adorned with minimalist lettering. These pieces featured letter shapes meticulously hand-designed in 1937 by Arne Jacobsen himself – a legendary figure in the world of design and one of Denmark's most celebrated creatives.
As the brand expanded, experimenting with new approaches and vibrant colors, letters and typography remained steadfastly at its core, woven into its very DNA. Consequently, to this day, the designs from Design Letters continue to delight anyone with a love for the alphabet and a passion for exceptional design. ;)
Trine Andersen, creator of the LIVING brand
Looking at Ferm Living's impressive and diverse collection, it's surprising to learn that it all began with...wallpaper. In 2005, Danish art director Trine Andersen was decorating her new home and struggled to find wallpaper designs that truly resonated with her vision. Embracing her own creative talent, she designed a wallpaper herself, showcased it at an interior design fair, and discovered... that it was precisely what others were searching for too. This sparked the creation of Ferm Living, a brand dedicated from the outset to crafting cozy, warm, and inviting home environments. Trine Andersen believes a home is far more than simply the sum of its possessions. In fact, the brand's name itself is derived from her grandmother's phrase "ferm på fingrene," used to express admiration for someone who "had a good hand" or was particularly skilled.
Today, Ferm Living is a global brand found in homes around the world. As the founder herself explains:
Over the years, we have developed a clean, Scandinavian aesthetic with references to 1950s and 1960s design. But we don't limit ourselves to just that. We also love bold accents, vibrant colours and a shot of energy, so we urge our customers to improvise and combine the classics with a touch of madness.
Rachel Griffin - Muuto designer
Rachel Griffin is an American designer who founded Earnest Studio and boasts collaborations with many big brands like Muuto. She focuses mainly on designing lamps, furniture and small accessories. But you can see her roots in every project - as she started out as a graphic designer who designed exhibitions and books for several years. She is fascinated by simple, graphic, three-dimensional structures that stand out clearly in space.
She says:
My work explores themes of modularity and multiplicity, driven by a fascination for simple, flexible structures with a forthright attitude toward material. I am interested in three-dimensional works which are simultaneously graphic in nature, informed both by my background in graphic design, and by a desire to create objects that contribute to composing simple, bold environments.
Camilla Shram - founder of the Humdakin brand
As often happens in the stories of globally successful companies, chance played a significant role. While studying law, Camilla Schram launched a company providing home cleaning services. However, she offered her clients a unique approach – transforming cleaning into an experience that went beyond simple maintenance. Interestingly, she observed that her clients didn't clean regularly themselves, but rather waited for her scheduled visits. Determined to change this, she set out to create distinctive and innovative cleaning (and later, home care) products unlike anything on the market, products that would be enjoyable to use and encourage people to maintain a consistently clean home. These hypoallergenic products, created with a deep respect for the environment, are beautifully packaged and boast exceptional fragrances. As a result, the Humdakin brand became a recipe for success and cleanliness, and today Camilla brings tidiness and stunning scents to homes far beyond Denmark's borders.
Helen Hjorth - creator of Done by Deer
The brand name Done by Deer is certainly no coincidence. The name of its founder, Helene Hjorth, actually translates to "deer" in Danish. This Danish brand focuses on creating children's accessories that simplify and enrich the daily lives of both children and parents. Everything designed by Helene and her team is intended to be playful, stimulating for young minds, and user-friendly for parents. The primary mission of Done by Deer is to capture the latest design trends and transform them into enduring designs that bring joy to children.
Miriam Mirri - Italian design for Alessi
Miriam Mirri is a renowned Italian designer who, from her acclaimed Milan studio, has been crafting designs for some of the world's most prestigious brands, including the iconic Alessi, for many years.
Her work uniquely blends a profound understanding of materials, construction, and the physics of objects with an imaginative and innovative approach to form. Everything she creates exudes an uncommon lightness, revealing a playful spirit in both form and color, while also demonstrating careful consideration for the object's practical application. This is precisely why her designs are so highly valued within the design community and celebrated at international exhibitions.
Zaha Hadid - architect with a passion for design
Zaha Hadid stands as a powerful example of an artist who shattered the glass ceiling. Born in Iraq in the 1950s, she displayed immense strength and unwavering determination from the very beginning, pursuing her dream education and sharing her distinctive vision of architecture and design with the world. After relocating to the UK for her studies, she quickly developed her signature style, characterized by an innovative, futuristic approach and deconstructivist thinking. However, due to the high costs of her projects and technical challenges, many of her designs initially remained unbuilt, or were only realized posthumously.
Fortunately, she did receive well-deserved recognition during her lifetime, becoming the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Architecture"! Today, we can admire her architectural creations in 44 countries across the globe.
However, the world of architecture isn't the only one indebted to her creative genius. Her portfolio also includes numerous design-focused utility projects created for global brands like Alessi.
Aino Aalto - solo but in duet
Aino Marsio-Aalto, a Finnish architect and designer, stands as one of the pioneers of Scandinavian design. Yet, she has often remained in the shadow of her celebrated husband, Alvar Aalto. During the early 20th century, an era when it was virtually impossible for a woman to establish her own architectural practice, Aino and Alvar worked side by side, their collaboration so intertwined that distinguishing their individual contributions today proves challenging.
Despite being less widely recognized, Aino Aalto was an incredibly prolific designer. She frequently collaborated with Alvar, specializing in interior design. However, they also embraced competition, participating in the same design contests, particularly when their individual visions for joint projects diverged. In 1935, Aalto, alongside Maire Gullichsen and Nils Gustav-Hahl, co-founded Artek, a company that continues to produce iconic furniture and interior accessories to this day.
Aino's most renowned creation, the Bölgeblick glass collection, beautifully marries functionality with a deep appreciation for nature. Its design was inspired by the concentric ripples formed on the water's surface when a stone is tossed in. The glasses in the collection are easily stackable for convenient storage. They remain a beloved offering from the iittala brand.
As in many other professions historically dominated by men, women designers and architects often faced exclusion or were relegated to subordinate roles. Their work was too often assessed through a patriarchal lens, which either defined them solely by their gender or attributed their contributions to their "more famous" husbands, brothers, or fathers.
Despite these significant obstacles, the female designers we highlight here have created remarkable pieces in a world that often tried to silence them. Their talent, creativity, and unwavering determination have paved the way for generations to come. We are therefore incredibly grateful that today we can admire their designs, draw inspiration from their vision, and revel in the beauty they have brought into our lives.
