This article has previously appeared on the ADLIB Blog.
I’m a brand identity designer and founder of Design Bench Studio, a creative practice based in South London. My background is in graphic design. I currently focus on working with local communities, tech-for-good entrepreneurs, and social change businesses.
We help clients define their voice and visual identity and work with the them at the very start of their ventures or business ideas. The “bench” in the studio name reflects the horizontal and open design approach, which has helped us build meaningful partnerships and create work that is purpose-first. Our studio values are designed to mirror the values of the people we work with.
Anyone working in design will have unique contributions to bring into our industry. It would be hard to define this according to gender alone without looking into cultural norms, access to education and resources. As in many industries where there is still a gender pay gap we will need to address a few issues before we can quantify fair contributions.
In terms of perspective, women will certainly have their lived experience lens to add to the industry, and this will be the same for people who identify as women and non-binary people. From my experience with working with all-women teams in design I have seen a more intentional focus on inclusivity and empathy across creative outputs as well as in the ways of working and workplace culture. I have felt more supported and influenced to grow mindfully in all-female teams.
It’s also worth asking—what unique perspectives do men bring? That’s not a question I hear answered a lot by men in design.
Start before you feel ready. Waiting for the “perfect” moment can hold you back, and the truth is, you’ll learn more by doing—even if it’s messy. Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also where the best lessons happen. You’ll grow more from an imperfect starting point, as long as you adapt and learn along the way, correcting and owning your mistakes. A little embarrassment goes a long way.
The biggest challenge has been tackling my own self-doubt and limiting beliefs—questions like, “Do I deserve to be here?” or “Have I done enough to prove my worth?”. This is, in part, the female experience overall in the work environment, I feel.
I have (somewhat) overcome this with support form a coach and by learning to ask for what I really want from a workplace. Building confidence is hard and I believe we all need some external help and support from mentors and peers to face those challenges.
Role models are hugely important – they show us what’s possible and that success can take many forms. Seeing women lead authentically in the creative industry has been so inspiring and was a big reason for starting the ffsc.club. The club is structured around soft networking events and story-sharing for women in the creative industries.
Role models can help us draw strength from their stories in order to carve out your own path.
Ana is the founder behind Female Founders Sharing Circle, an open-source directory and initiative designed for knowledge exchange between female founders in the creative industries and beyond.
Their next ‘soft networking’ event is scheduled for 20th of March in the CIC space at the Bussey Building, Peckham for a 7PM start.
Check out the event and community here.
If you’re inspired by the stories and wisdom shared in our ‘Women In Design’ series and would like to contribute your own experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Creatives at all levels, please email us and your story could be the next we feature.
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