Graphic design isn’t just about how things look, it helps define the cultural language we all live in. That’s why the people behind the work hold real power to shape culture and conversation. So, who’s holding the pen in this industry?

It’s not easy to pin down exact statistics on women’s division of labor in the graphic design industry, as contract types vary widely, freelance work is common, and there’s no universally agreed-upon definition of the field. Still, the numbers we do have point to a concerning gap. According to a 2019 report by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, women comprise almost 60% of design graduates, but only 11% hold leadership or creative decision-making roles. Moreover, The Design Council’s 2022 Design Economy report showed that only 23% of the designers identify as female. 

Even though the available statistics focus on career paths, education is also a concern. For example, Valeryia Herasimava, Visual Communication Designer at Velvele, pointed out that all her key professors were male, despite being in a classroom full of female students. This created a noticeable lack of female role models during her studies.

Rebecca Pailes-Friedman points out that gender equality is now part of the conversation in the design world, yet the glass ceiling hasn’t cracked. Women remain underrepresented, face real barriers to promotion, and continue to earn less than their male colleagues. Alessandra Langit adds that outdated stereotypes, like the idea that women are too emotional or less decisive, are still very much present. Just recently, a tweet from India sparked discussion after a male graphic designer said he was finally working in an office “without drama and politics,” thanks to the absence of women.

THE EVERYDAY BARRIERS 

Because the field is male-dominated, women face different yet specific challenges. For example, while women initially face problems with a lack of mentorship and female role models, the disproportionate burden of caregiving often becomes an issue later, especially in an industry shaped mainly by men for men, who are not socially expected to take on primary caregiving roles.

The industry's working conditions can be traced back to the characteristics of the industrial era. Çağıl Aygen, founder of Velvele, distinguishes studios from agencies. According to him, agencies operate under conditions shaped after the Second World War, prioritizing quantity over quality, thanks to Industrial Revolution. This leaves little room for mentorship and creates long working hours, which is not precisely ideal for work-life balance.

For example, Abbey Bamford found that many women in their early thirties take a break from work for childbearing, and most do not return. Nat Maher, founder of Kerning the Gap, explains this is mainly because design agencies often fail to provide a healthy work-life balance. According to her, employees are expected work 70-hour weeks, constantly pitch new projects, and pull all-nighters. On top of that, societal expectations still place the primary caregiving responsibility on women, making it even harder to keep up.

As a young woman in the industry, Öykü Odaman, graphic designer of Velvele approaches the issue from a personal perspective. She believes that while women are more present than before, big names and recognition still tend to go to men. Because women aren’t as visible in the industry, the recognition and opportunities that come with visibility often go to men. For her, visibility isn’t just about personal recognition. It’s a way to help shift the industry’s culture toward something more inclusive and fair.

PUSHING THINGS FORWARD

However, cultural industries like graphic design are making greater efforts to close the gender pay gap. While full equality hasn't been achieved yet, small but meaningful progress is underway. In the UK, for instance, women in cultural sectors earned 89.1 pence for every £1 earned by men in April 2024—up from 74.4 pence in 2022. By comparison, women in finance earned 78 pence for every £1 earned by men in 2024.

Valeryia Herasimava shared her experience of entering the industry. She said that while she was looking for a mentor, her employer was looking for a senior. Her employer kept changing what she had designed, and she believes this had more do with her inexperience than with her being a woman. Yet, one thing is clear: mentorship was missing.

Now, there are digital archives and feminist zines that actively provide visibility for women, such as Design by Women and Ladies Wine Design. These not only give space but also discuss intersectionality issues in the sector, such as queer women, mothers, women of color, and provide mentorship for the newcomers. 

Studios need to focus on providing mentorship as much as work. For example, Çağıl Aygen, with an academic background in teaching at university both in Türkiye and Italy over years, has set aside specific time for mentorship in his studio. This is a critical point for him, as no one was leading him at the beginning of his career, and he had to learn everything himself. 

It’s also possible to take meaningful steps to keep equality in focus. I asked Çağıl Aygen what those steps could look like. 

"If you are a designer, always ask about the principles and actions your workplace upholds regarding gender equality. If you’re part of a minority group, don’t hesitate to make your unique voice heard. By doing so, you can point out issues that might go unnoticed by those around you. This way, we can each create meaningful awareness on an individual level.

If you are an entrepreneur looking for professional design services or creative consultancy, always check whether the companies you work with transparently share their teams on their websites. Choose agencies that aren’t afraid to link to their team members’ individual social profiles. Make sure the studio you work with always gives proper credit in their projects, not just a list of names, but a clear breakdown of each person’s role. Because the reality is, studios like ours and others like us still hold only a small share of the industry."

To sum up, changing gender dynamics in design starts with small steps like mentorship, fair pay, giving credit, and real equality at work. Even customers can play a part by simply asking, “Who made this?” When people care about the designers, the industry has no choice but to step up, too.

Illustrations by Ece Erten