This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the groundbreaking work and legacies of women who navigated male-dominated professions to create iconic designs that continue to stand the test of time. From bygone eras to today, we’ve selected a few of our favourites, from Ray Eames to Kazuyo Sejima. Explore the work and stories of these women, whose trailblazing spirit and determination helped shape the design landscape. Their influence continues to define new approaches to creativity, architecture, furniture and product design across generations.

"What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts." - Ray Eames

"What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts." - Ray Eames

Ray Eames (1912 - 1988)

Ray Eames (Bernice Alexandra “Ray” Kaiser) was an American designer, artist and filmmaker who made significant contributions to industrial design, architecture and furniture. Alongside her husband, Charles Eames, she helped create some of the most recognisable designs of modernism, including the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.

A trailblazer in a largely male-dominated industry, Ray Eames helped redefine the role of women in design. Her collaborative and multidisciplinary practice produced enduring work that continues to influence the way we think about furniture, architecture and design today.

Ray Eames by Peter Stackpole

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

Charlotte Perriand (1903 - 1999)

Charlotte Perriand was a French architect, designer, and pioneer of modern furniture design. She believed that design should be functional, affordable, and accessible to everyone and her design contributions helped shape the course of 20th-century design.

As a young Parisian designer, Perriand applied to work under the tutelage of the renowned architect, Le Corbusier. His response? “We don’t embroider cushions here.” Despite the misogynistic sentiment, Perriand’s visionary innovation would soon claim Le Corbusier’s attention.  

Her iconic designs include the LC4 Chaise Lounge and the Grand Confort Easy Chair. 

LC3 Grand Confort