Women in Graphic Design: Jessica Walsh

For years, male designers have dominated the graphic design community. During a panel discussion for cover designers, Milton Glaser was asked the following: “why do you… suppose there are so few female graphic designers — or at least so few female ‘superstar’ graphic designers? Is there a glass ceiling in graphic design?” After a long pause, Glaser answered, “The reason there are so few female ‘rock star’ graphic designers is that women get pregnant, have children, go home and take care of their children. And those essential years that men are building their careers and becoming visible are basically denied to women who choose to be at home.” Glaser’s comment, although almost shockingly dated, could at one point have been true. Glaser’s comment was made in 2006 and since then there has been somewhat of an outbreak of young female graphic design celebrities, the epitome of this is Jessica Walsh
            

Jessica Walsh is a partner at the graphic design studio Sagmeister & Walsh. She is an art director, graphic designer, and teacher at the school of visual arts. She has been profiled by many publications and won awards from the type directors club, SPD, Print and Graphis. She has been named the “Top rising Star in Design” and if you don’t know whom she is by now (which is unlikely) then you need to find out because there is no stopping her.  

            Without question a prodigy, by the time she was twelve she was learning to code and setting up a tutorial site where other kids could learn to do the same. By exemplifying the old adage do what you love and you will never work a day in your life, her work overflows with passion and 

attention to detail.  More recently she has done work for the Jewish museum in New York, 40 Days of Dating, and Function Engineering to name a few. Her work is bold and stays with you. It reflects determination that should inspire any designer.