Two Female Graphic Designers, and Reflections.
This mornÂing, buried in the comÂments of this post about 8 inspiÂraÂtional designÂers, most of whom I’d heard of, I found a link to this post about 7 inspiÂraÂtional female designÂers, most of whom I hadn’t heard of, but had seen some of the work before. There I found two female designÂers, in parÂticÂuÂlar, who’s work really hit me, and I think I’d like to follow.
ConÂsider them documented:
MarÂian Bantjes:
Her handÂwritÂten typogÂraÂphy, swirly flourÂishes, and work with ball point pens (no kidÂding!) made me an instant fan. She has an incredÂiÂbly conÂveÂnient secÂtion in her “About Me” that includes answers to FreÂquently Asked stuÂdent quesÂtions, that allows you to learn a lot about her, and her inspiÂraÂtions, influÂences and References.

Laura Smith
Retro, Art Deco, illusÂtraÂtions and typogÂraÂphy… I love the colÂors and the style here and on her site. These things make me happy!

To be fair, on the first post, I really liked ItalÂian Graphic Artist Alberto Seveso and Logo Designer GraÂham Smith. But in lookÂing at the roundup of 7 females, I realÂized that in all the lisÂtenÂing and readÂing I’ve done in the last couÂple of years, the menÂtion of boys in the podÂcasts far outÂweighs the menÂtion of girls.
In disÂcussing this with Prof. Benjy, he attribÂutes this to 3 things that have absolutely nothÂing to do with talÂent or abilÂity, which are at least equal in men and women. 1. Male’s comÂpetÂiÂtiveÂness and drive to be #1, while Women are more prone to work coopÂerÂaÂtively, 2. Male disÂcrimÂiÂnaÂtion, and 3. The woman’s posÂsesÂsion of the uterus. This third one is changÂing as men become more involved in the lives of their chilÂdren. There may be more than this, these are just the things that are immeÂdiÂately clear to him, and make perÂfect sense to me.
It has nothÂing to do with the idea that boys are betÂter than girls, it’s just that girl’s names tend to get lost in the jumble.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really angry about this. It’s just the way it is. There are women out there, fanÂtasÂtic, talÂented women like Laura Smith and MarÂian BanÂtÂjes, for me to up to. It’s just a matÂter of findÂing them, and maybe becomÂing one myself. Both are things I plan to do.
So, the moral of this story? It pays to look in the comÂments of the blogs you read
ps. If you are angry about the oppresÂsion of women in the world of art– Benjy says check out GuerÂrilla Girls. And I ask that you put that anger to betÂter use than to just comÂplain about it.




i wish there were more sites like this. very inforÂmaÂtive and enjoyable.