Diversity in Design Is on the Rise

Do you think of Design as a STEM field? It is! Whether it be fashion design, editorial design, motion design, or illustration, the design field is built on STEM practices.

Design is where creativity is executed through STEM, making it a great outlet for artists to transform their ideas into something tangible. As is true in any STEM field, gender disparities are present in design…but they may not be what you expect.

Unlike many other STEM fields, women make up most of the design field, representing about 61% of designers. However, women account for less than 30% of creative directors. In other words, while women are represented in design, they are less likely to hold leadership roles in the industry. While there isn’t a lot of information about how non-binary artists show up in the design field, there could definitely be more diverse gender representation in the field, among both designers and leadership.

The good news is that gender-diverse designers are on the rise in leadership roles. Compared to 29% today, only 3% of creative directors were women in 2008. This alarming statistic inspired the 3% movement, an organization dedicated to addressing this disparity.

There is still work to do to improve representation in STEM, including in design. In the meantime, women and non-binary artists are defying expectations and making waves with their designs.

Making Bold Statements Through Design

Giulia Fagundes is an illustrator, designer, and art director from São Paulo, Brazil. From illustrating book covers to creating powerful designs that address social issues, Fagundes brings her ideas to life in vibrant and unique ways. She first realized that she was interested in pursuing design as a career through a visual communications course. “[I became] interested in joining the technical visual communication course and it was only through this experience that it became clear to me how design is connected to society’s needs,” Fagundes reflects.

She encountered the lack of representation in the field firsthand at one of her first jobs in design. “I was the only woman inside the studio,” she shares about the male-founded studio she first worked at. While working there, she won the 2020 Young Talent award from the Latin American Design Festival, which led to more work opportunities and design requests. “I just realized, okay maybe now it’s time to try to [branch] out from the studio and…try to do my own jobs.” Fagundes is now an independent designer and art director.

Fagundes has used design as a way to amplify her voice as an artist, as well as to empower and uplift Black voices and social issues. Her previous projects include designing album covers for Youtube to celebrate Black History Month. She also designed art for Skin Deep, a short film centered on stories of racism for EmpowerHer NYC.

Fashion Design and Environmentalism: Using STEM to Repurpose Fast Fashion Waste

It’s no secret that fast fashion plays a big role in environmental problems. The fast fashion industry produces 92 million tons of textile waste every year. MI Leggett is using design to combat this issue, while challenging gender norms in fashion.

Leggett is the founder and designer of Official Rebrand, a genderless clothing company that repurposes clothing that would otherwise be thrown away. “I started the brand when I came out publicly as non-binary,” Leggett shares. “Thinking about other people expressing themselves through queer fashion or genderless fashion…was a really helpful way to process my own coming out.”

In designing clothes that challenge the gender binary, Leggett’s brand allows people to find their unique style and voice. “Being able to explore new styles and seeing what works and doesn’t work is a freedom that we all deserve to have,” they voice.

STEM in Design

Design involves STEM in many different ways, from using math to determine the measurement and placement of elements, to utilizing engineering processes to make ideas a reality. “There’s a lot of math that goes into pattern-making and developing your process for designing stuff and having to do a size chart,” Leggett states.

Through repurposing clothes, Leggett commonly uses problem-solving and engineering skills to transform products into something new. “I’ll assess ‘what do I think is wrong with [the product]’ and what could I do to make it something that…my customer would want to wear,” they describe. “Then I figure out what’s the best way to redesign it [and] what’s the fastest or most efficient order to do things in.”

Engineering an efficient and effective process is especially important for Leggett, given that they are often repurposing pre-consumer waste. Pre-consumer waste is created by companies, as a result of production mistakes or items that didn’t sell well. Instead of letting these items go to waste, Leggett makes use of inventory that has a minor mistake such as a misprint, and creates something new. “You can come up with one way to redesign [the product] and you can do that same repurposing many, many times,” they explain about designing with pre-consumer waste.

While Fagundes’ work also involves math and engineering, she explains that even getting inspiration for her work involves STEM. “I love how STEM is completely related to…observation. For me, design is precisely about that,” Fagundes states.

“I highly value engaging in everyday activities that lead me to public spaces, such as attending street fairs, to observe trends that people are interested in,” she describes. Fagundes adds that she likes to think outside the box about what is possible with design and continue expanding on what she is capable of. “I also enjoy experimenting with manual visual techniques that utilize the fundamentals of physics,” she expresses.

STEM shows up in design in ways that you may not expect. While there are tangible applications of math and technology, engineering plays a big role in the creative side of design. STEM principles like problem-solving, trial and error, and observation are also ingrained in the design field.

Building Community to Challenge Disparities

While it has been improving in recent years, women and non-binary designers are still underrepresented in leadership. “If I went to any meeting alone, [people] used to ask me, ‘Okay, where are the others?’” Fagundes reflects. “They couldn’t see me as a partner. For me, the small things were super memorable,” she states about the microaggressions she experienced.

In a world where gender bias shows up everywhere, including in STEM, Leggett emphasizes the importance of building a community to lean on. “One thing that’s helped me break into an industry [that] I wasn’t even necessarily trained to be in at all is the friends who helped me learn new skills, and were patient, and shared resources,” they state, referring to their lack of training in running a design business. “Helping each other doesn’t have to be bad for business. Lifting each other up is such a central part of my work and the community of artists that I collaborate with,” they emphasize.

Fagundes also engages in collaboration with other Black or women designers as a way to build relationships and promote more diversity in the field. “By connecting and uplifting one another, we can create a supportive network that enables the sharing of values, projects, and personal experiences,” she asserts.

Entering the Design Field

Both Leggett and Fagundes encourage gender-diverse designers to follow their passion and bring their voice to the field. “Confidence is key,” Leggett expresses. “In addition to just informing yourself the best you can when making decisions, don’t discount your gut feelings or gut reactions.”

Fagundes adds that embracing your unique personality and traits is important and will only serve to highlight your voice in the design field. “Remember that your background, personal tastes, and life experiences are invaluable assets that shape your creative vision,” she emphasizes. “The design industry thrives on diversity and inclusion, and we wholeheartedly need more women like you to contribute your distinct talents and ideas. So, please don't hesitate to step into this space and make it your own.”

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Hailey Dickinson (she/her) is a freelance writer for Built By Girls and has been writing for the publication since January 2023. She is a creator passionate about using writing and digital platforms to build community, make connections, and ignite positive social change. Outside of writing for Built By Girls, she manages communications for organizations in the food education and community organizing sectors. She is a Communications Major at the University of Minnesota and will graduate in December 2023.