In honor of International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8, it’s important to reflect upon and acknowledge the progress that women across all design professions have made over the last several years. From more women being appointed to leadership roles in prominent academic institutions around the world, Jeanne Gang being named to Time 100’s Most Influential People in 2019, the all-female team of Counterspace being awarded the design of the Serpentine Pavilion in London, and the first female practice winning the prestigious Pritzker Prize only a few days ago, more women in architecture are gaining the recognition that they deserve in this traditionally male-dominated profession.
Along with celebrating these accomplishments, we, as a design community, should look forward and predict how this powerful movement might unite on its goals in three key areas that have been heavily discussed by practitioners and design institutes alike: transparency in compensation, recruitment and retention of female employees, and opportunities for professional development, all in order to further create a landscape of equality for women in design. Although none of these issues can be solved overnight, small steps forward in these areas will pave the way for female designers of the future to feel more represented and respected for their achievements.
