Every designer’s journey looks different.
Some arrive with a clear plan. Others follow curiosity and build as they go. Some lead studios, some work independently, and some reshape their creative careers alongside major life changes.
For International Women’s Day, we asked designers and creative leaders in the Dribbble community a question:
What does being a woman in design mean to you?
Their responses reveal something powerful: there is no single definition. Instead, there are stories of leadership, experimentation, resilience, and designing careers on their own terms.
Here are a few voices from the community.
Choosing your own path
Irene Neyman
When illustrator Irene Neyman began freelancing, she didn’t have a roadmap.
“I didn’t have a specific plan, mostly just ambition and a desire to dive headfirst into what I love,” she says. Originally from Odesa, Ukraine, Irene moved to Canada and built her creative career largely from scratch. “All I really had in the beginning was my work. No connections, no ‘right’ path.”
Then came a major life shift: becoming a mother.
“It didn’t slow down my career, it reformatted it,” she explains. “I became much more intentional about what I spend my time on, which projects I take on, and why I do what I do in the first place.”
Along with her illustration work, Irene now coaches freelancers and writes a newsletter that shares the realities of creative work.
“Many creatives, and often women, get stuck not because they lack skill, but because no one told them how to run a business.”
For Irene, being a woman in design comes down to choice.
“The choice to be visible, not ‘safe.’ To build a career on your own terms, with a baby, being an immigrant, with your own voice and goals.”
Building creative culture
Miné Day, MUTI Studio
For Miné Day, co-founder and director at illustration studio MUTI, leadership in design is about something deeper than creative output.
“Running a design studio has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life,” she says. “As a woman, I’ve had to unlearn the idea that I need to prove my worth.”
Instead, the studio prioritizes collaboration and trust.
That philosophy carries through MUTI’s projects, from the imaginative Twelve Dancing Princesses, part of the studio’s ‘Darkly Ever After’ series inspired by lesser-known Brothers Grimm tales, to large-scale illustration work like ‘The Sahara for Flying Eye Books’ Earth’s Incredible Places’ series.
The team also embraces experimentation through self-initiated projects, such as Fragments of an Adventure, a teaser for their animated film ‘The Wizard.’
For Miné, creating space for exploration is essential, both creatively and culturally.
Women supporting women
José de Wal
Designer José de Wal reflects on her journey with gratitude.
“To be honest, my experience as a woman in design has been mostly positive, and I think that in itself is something worth celebrating.”
One of the most fulfilling parts of her work today is collaborating with other women.
“I find immense inspiration in partnering with female founders, helping them translate their passion into visual stories.”
From thoughtful brand identities like Chocovin and Laken Skincare to elegant packaging systems like Nolah Wines, José’s work often centers around businesses built by women.
“There is a unique and wonderful synergy that happens when women support and elevate each other’s businesses.”
Trusting your voice
Anna Krestovskaya
For designer Anna Krestovskaya, being a woman in design has meant learning to trust her instincts.
“There were times I made myself smaller. More ‘acceptable.’ But I learned that ideas only become powerful when you stop shrinking them.”
Anna has worked on commercial visual systems and identity projects and is now also exploring more experimental personal work focused on systems and user experience.
Her philosophy is simple: create honestly and follow the ideas that feel meaningful.
“In design and in life, I choose to grow. And I choose to be myself.”
Designing life and work together
Bella Meillenia
For designer Bella Meillenia, motherhood reshaped how she approaches creative work.
“Designing has always been part of me, but now I realize it’s also a space where I get to be myself beyond being a mom.”
Running her own studio and working with a small team has allowed her to create a more flexible rhythm with work and parenting.
“I’m trying to shape a career that allows both my family life and creative work to coexist. For now, I’m still figuring it out.”
One of her most meaningful pieces of work is a personal project created for her son, a reminder that sometimes the most powerful design work begins at home.
Building from scratch with intention
FemmeFolio Design Studio
For the team of three building FemmeFolio Design Studio, being a woman in design is deeply connected to the experience of building something from scratch.
“As female founders, we know exactly what it takes to build something from the ground up,” they share. “Our greatest inspiration is taking that same fierce energy and pouring it into startups and women-led ventures, translating their raw hustle into a brand that commands the room.”
That perspective helps shape the studio’s approach to branding. Instead of simply designing visuals, FemmeFolio focuses on capturing the determination, ambition, and personality behind the businesses they work with. It’s all intentional.
For them, great design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about helping purposeful founders tell their story with confidence.
Celebrating the community
These stories represent just a small part of the global community of women shaping the design industry today, each with different paths, different experiences, and perspectives.
But a shared commitment to creativity, growth, and building something meaningful is the red thread tying these designers’ experiences together.
And that’s something worth celebrating, not just on International Women’s Day, but every day.
✨ Check out more on Dribbble
About the Author: Olivia Hoskin is a freelance writer with a background in tech and marketing. A true design fan at heart, you’ll find her writing about the latest industry trends, technologies, and the inspiring endeavors of fellow creators. She’s a champion of remote work, a lover of responsible technology, and a fitness geek and enjoyer of the outdoors in her spare time. Find her at oliviahoskin.com.
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