Contributions of women designers have long been overshadowed by their male counterparts, but a new tome published by Phaidon and the luxury fashion group Kering, is shining an overdue spotlight on creatives of the fairer sex from the past and present. Titled ‘Woman Made: Great Women Designers’, the comprehensive new book highlights an array of lighting, furniture, product design and textiles with the goal of inspiring the new generation of female creatives. The partnership with Kering also marks the launch of a new digital portal where free content and resources will also be available for all to access.
Woman Made: Great Women Designers
The book itself features over 200 designers from the world, ranging from icons like Lucienne Day, Lina Bo Bardi and Ray Eames to trailblazers such as Lindsey Adelman, Kazuyo Sejima and India Madhavi, along with a wide array of up and comers including ceramicist Dina Nur Satti, textile designer Hiroko Takeda and furniture designer Lani Adeoye. Authored by Jane Hall, an academic, activist and founding member of the UK-based art collective, Assemble, the book notably features practitioners from over 50 countries across the globe.
‘Woman Made is a celebration; an attempt to broaden the locations and institutions that we look to for design,’ Hall says, ‘I hope readers find joy in an amazing history of creation.’
The book will also be enriched by a series of exclusive content, including filmed studio visits with creative director Mette Hay, lighting designer Rosie Li and furniture designer Mimi Shodeinde and a series of panel discussions that will connect designers to students at design institutions in the United States. Adeoye will speak at Tennessee State University on 9 November 2021, Patricia Urquiola at Rhode Island School of Design in February 2022 and Nada Debs will speak at Savannah College of Art and Design in April 2022.
Phaidon CEO Keith Fox says, ‘Phaidon is proud to champion the work of pioneering women in product design from all over the globe. Following the breakout success of Great Women Artists in 2019, we are delighted to partner with Kering to further spotlight the profound impact women have had and continue to have in the creative arts.’
‘A platform celebrating women in the arts’
To ensure the long lasting impact made by the pioneering tome, Kering has launched the Women In Motion Design Scholarship - an award of $25,000 to support one outstanding undergraduate women designer currently enrolled in an accredited university in the United States. Students pursuing a curriculum focused on product, textile, furniture or lighting design will be eligible for the scholarship, which in turn will support college tuition and fees for the 2022-23 year. Applications for this open on 1 November 2021.
‘We are thrilled to be partnering again with Phaidon on a platform that celebrates women in the arts. Woman Made flips the script on what historically is a patriarchal industry, and shines a spotlight on the most extraordinary objects made by women over the last 100 years,’ says Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas. ‘This partnership is a testament to Kering’s ongoing commitment to women empowerment, and aligns beautifully with our Women In Motion program. Through this initiative, we not only honor the contributions of talented women, but offer a platform to educate and inspire others.’ §
