40 Amazing Female Role Models for Web Designers
It’s no secret that there’s a large difference in the ratio of males to females in the web design industry, but that’s not to say there isn’t any amazingly talented female designers out there. This post rounds up 40 of the most notable and prominent female designers, who can be seen as perfect role models for anyone currently working their way up in their web design career. Watch out, here come the girls!
Selene M. Bowlby
- Name: Selene M. Bowlby
- Website: idesignstudios.com
- Twitter: @idesignstudios
Emma Taylor
- Name: Emma Taylor
- Website: twigglegraphics.com
- Twitter: @emtaylor
Sarah Parmenter
- Name: Sarah Parmenter
- Website: youknowwhodesign.com
- Twitter: @sazzy
Veerle Pieters
- Name: Veerle Pieters
- Website: veerle.duoh.com
- Twitter: @vpieters
Niki Brown
- Name: Niki Brown
- Website: nikibrown.com
- Twitter: @nikibrown
Grace Smith
- Name: Grace Smith
- Website: postscript5.co.uk
- Twitter: @gracesmith
Adelle Charles
- Name: Adelle Charles
- Website: fuelyourcreativity.com
- Twitter: @adellecharles
Sarah Whinnem
- Name: Sarah Whinnem
- Website: madysondesigns.com
- Twitter: @madysondesigns
Kris Colvin
- Name: Kris Colvin
- Website: kriscolvin.com
- Twitter: @kriscolvin
Kayla Knight
- Name: Kayla Knight
- Website: kaylaknight.com
- Twitter: @kaylamaeknight
Ashley Baxter
- Name: Ashley Baxter
- Website: iamashley.co.uk
- Twitter: @rockers_delight
Shannon Farrell
- Name: Shannon Farrell
- Website: shannonfarrell.com
- Twitter: @dolceshan
Jenna Smith
- Name: Jenna Smith
- Website: growldesign.co.uk
- Twitter: @jjenzz
Stephanie Sullivan
- Name: Stephanie Sullivan
- Website: w3conversions.com
- Twitter: @stefsull
Meagan Fisher
- Name: Meagan Fisher
- Website: owltastic.com
- Twitter: @meaganfisher
Jen Germann
- Name: Jen Germann
- Website: jengermann.com
- Twitter: @germanny
Jina Bolton
- Name: Jina Bolton
- Website: sushiandrobots.com
- Twitter: @jina
Mindy Wagner
- Name: Mindy Wagner
- Website: mindywagner.net
- Twitter: @graphicsgirl
Krissy Gogel
- Name: Krissy Gogel
- Website: 6bdesign.com
- Twitter: @6bdesign
Liz Andrade
- Name: Liz Andrade
- Website: cmdshiftdesign.com
- Twitter: @cmdshiftdesign
Jennifer Farley
- Name: Jennifer Farley
- Website: laughingliondesign.net
- Twitter: @laughing_lion
Lauren Marie Krause
- Name: Lauren Marie Krause
- Website: creativecurio.com
- Twitter: @creativecurio
Tina Roth Eisenberg
- Name: Tina Roth Eisenberg
- Website: swissmiss.com
- Twitter: @swissmiss
Tracey Grady
- Name: Tracey Grady
- Website: traceygrady.com
- Twitter: @traceygr
Vivien Anayi
- Name: Vivien Anayi
- Website: inspirationbit.com
- Twitter: @inspirationbit
Randa Clay
- Name: Randa Clay
- Website: randaclay.com
- Twitter: @randaclay
Antonea Nabors
- Name: Antonea Nabors
- Website: velvetant.net
- Twitter: @antonea
Larissa Meek
- Name: Larissa Meek
- Website: larissameek.com
- Twitter: @larissameek
Lea Alcantara
- Name: Lea Alcantara
- Website: lealea.net
- Twitter: @lealea
Jan Cavan
- Name: Jan Cavan
- Website: dawghousedesignstudio.com
- Twitter: @mj12982
Cindy Li
- Name: Cindy Li
- Website: cindyli.com
- Twitter: @cindyli
Gisele Jaquenod
- Name: Gisele Jaquenod
- Website: giselejaquenod.com.ar
- Twitter: @giselejaquenod
Inayaili de León
Kat Neville
- Name: Kat Neville
- Website: safetygoat.co.uk
- Twitter: @kassy4
Eva-Lotta Lamm
- Name: Eva-Lotte Lamm
- Website: eva-lotta.net
- Twitter: @evalottchen
Sabrina Dent
- Name: Sabrina Dent
- Website: sabrinadent.com
- Twitter: @sabrinadent
Tanya Merone
- Name: Tanya Merone
- Website: tanyamerone.com
- Twitter: @tanyamerone
Alyssa Tucker
- Name: Alyssa Tucker
- Website: alyssatucker.com
- Twitter: @dizzyvapor
Natalie Jost
- Name: Natalie Jost
- Website: nataliejost.com
- Twitter: @natalie
Ali Felski
- Name: Ali Felski
- Website: alifelski.com
- Twitter: @felskia
Cindy Li rocks my cotton socks.
Great Post! I love all these women, they are awesome! My heroes :)
Thanks Chris it was very sweet of you to capture this on your site! I found out via a friend’s tweet. :)
Wooow, very beautty this sites…
Great post Chris; this is an awesome collection of designers.
I’ve been an admirer of the work of Grace Smith, Krissy Gogel and Tanya Merone for some time now and it’s great to see them featured here.
what about: http://www.amymahon.com
Great read! Great role models!
Thank you so much for the mention Chris! I feel incredibly honored to be included on a list with all of these talented ladies :)
Thanks for adding me on this list! Some really talented ladies here. :)
Yay! Thanks for adding me to this list, Chris :)
I wish I had my new site up and running by now though—time to stop procrastinating, I guess!
Amazing talents here, great list here!
Very awesome round-up Chris! Thanks for including me in this list! I haven’t heard of some of these awesome ladies! It is always great to find new designers to take interest in female or not!
Some extremely talented designers there Chris. Great round-up!
Great read! Great role models!
Great stuff, I love the feel and design of all these designers.
We would be privileged for you all to join our community of freelance designers – http://blur-designs.net
Good work!!
I’m not sure why you make the distinction of “female” role models, its a funny way of grouping sites, perhaps have a list of talented designers who wear blue jeans? If there is a gifted designer, and they make a good role model, their gender doesn’t come into it. Yes, I am a man, however my wife agrees with me.
Jon, within the conference industry, a lot of folks talk about how there is a lack of female speakers on tech topics, etc. That’s why this list is so important for women in the web design industry – it may seem a shallow way to group folks to outsiders, but gender is definitely still a factor in context of pay, management roles and other areas where women continue to hit a glass ceiling.
WoW :) Great female web designers. . Thanks for sharing this nice post.
While I love what you do Chris, I have to agree with Jon above. I think this is a bit of a daft post.
Lists like these are just perpetuating gender stereotypes. You might think that a list of Female Designers is doing the exact opposite, but not at all. When did you last see a list of “Top 40 Male Web designers?” Only a guy would have written a post like this. If a woman had put together this list, it would simply have been titled “40 Amazing Role Models” with no focus on gender.
If you’re a good designer, you should be feel proud to make a list of “Top designers” regardless of gender. Looking at it with a gender bias is frankly an outdated attitude.
In 2009, surely we can do better than this?
I disagree. As a woman I did appreciate this article. Being a female web developer, I’ve encountered situations countless times where men on a project (and sometimes even other women) fail to realize that I am a legitimate developer and just assume I’m a marketing person or some such thing, and therefore don’t respect my ability to write sweet code or my contributions to the project.
Yes, gender shouldn’t matter but the fact is that it does still matter. And maybe it always will. So, yes, this post is encouraging.
They probably don’t respect your ability to write “sweet code” because your quality of work is below their standards. You’ve just confused your lack of skills with your gender is all.
I agree with Jon, and Matt because female web designers should be seen as normal; nonetheless, it is inspiring to see so many females becoming successful. It makes me hopeful for my future as a web designer.
just amazing ladies, what can we say ;)
Nice compilation – nice to see female web designers and developers – good one
Bien por esta copilación de mujeres éxitosas no pensaba que hubiera mujeres dedicadas tan a fondo en le webdesign.
Chris, this is the neatest list I’ve ever been included in, so thanks very much!! I have created a Twitter List of all these wonderful female role models at http://twitter.com/KrisColvin/female-role-models-web should anyone want to follow everyone at one fell swoop. :-)
Great list of amazing women! Thank you for writing this!
Hey Chris, thanks for including me on this list and promoting so many inspiring designers.
I’m sure we all agree a designer’s gender shouldn’t matter, but the reality is it does. Women are a small minority in web companies (A List Apart’s 2008 survey has us at about 16%) and you rarely see women speaking at big conferences. Not because we’re being discriminated against, but because there just aren’t as many of us out there. We’ve got to get more young women excited about web design so they’ll join us and even up the ranks. Lists like this can’t hurt.
One note, my website is actually http://mindywagner.net, although Interior Design could have been a fun second job ;)
great list, more please
We used Jen Germann (listed above) to design http://www.zooproperty.com and I just wanted to say what a absolute joy she was to work with. I follow a few of the designers here (Veerle an Sarah P) but this really is a very talented list.
Kudos to everyone and Congratulations to all the girls and particularly Jen Germann – an outstanding designer and a joy to work with.
This is an amazing roundup of talent and I’m so honored (though probably not worthy) to be included. Thanks!
I’ve been involved in IT for many, many years. I love that finally wome are making a strong statement in the geeky, male-dominated world of online design. Keep it up sisters!!!
Hmm impressive list and yeah these designers are really good…
Nice designs ;) Better start an english blog (Instead of blogging on my own language) Love the list, always enjoy inspiration :)
hi chris! wow.. these ladies did a really great job.. thanks again!
hi there…you have done a great work, great collection thanks and keep it up
dam Chris!!! nice post :D are you searching for a girlfriend? :D just kidding… impressive collection and amazing works. Nice job
Wow, there is some really amazing work here, thanks for sharing. I have to make sure I step up my game. ;-)
Sorry, majority are designing the same boring looking standard websites, just a few make creative ones.
Inspiring list…Thanks!
l need a wife who can code and speaks about web design. this is perfect list. well done
jan cavan is very talented, very rare skills for a woman here in the philippines!mabuhay jan cavan!
41. Debbie Millman :)
Hi Chris
I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only come across this post now. I think I was away on holidays when you posted it. Thank you very very much for including me in this list of lovely designers. I’m honoured to be included.
What an awesome post! Thank you for presenting such a unique topic.
Great list … and really nice to see an example of each of their web designs as a snapshot too …
If you explore work of these ladies, you will be amazed, They all have good mind in designing.A wonderful work is done.
Sneh Roy, too can be included in this list, She’s a great artist & also has a taste for perfection
Visit her blog @ http://www.littleboxofideas.com/
@Vidit Kothari : I agree with you…
Hello Chris Spooner and all of you, I posted it in my blog, please visit http://www.nusantarawalk.com
I am from Indonesia, and I hope it can give inspiration to indonesia woman specially
Thank you very much….
Thank you so much for listing me!! I am very proud of being together with so many amazing women :D
Hugs!
Correct me if i’m wrong, but didn’t Sam Brown (Massive Blue) design/build the sites associated with Ashley Baxter?
It gives inspiration to know that there are much female webdesigners out there ! hope to be a very good one myself someday !