From the classroom to creative direction: What is happening to women in design?
With 8th March approaching, the creative sector is once again preparing to celebrate female talent. But if we look beyond the noise, a pressing question remains: where do female designers go after they leave the classroom?
The talent is there, the training is world-class, and the ambition is at an all-time high… yet the data suggests the path towards professional consolidation is still full of hurdles that require closer inspection.
It is striking to observe how design, a discipline with an incredibly broad female base, begins to narrow as we move up the career ladder.
In the Classroom: According to higher education data, women are in the majority, representing over 55% of graduates (rising to over 60% in visual arts). Today’s creativity undoubtedly has a female face.
In the Studios: There is a “leaky pipeline.” According to Más Mujeres Creativas, many women leave the sector after the age of 35 due to a lack of recognition and the difficulty of maintaining a work-life balance.
The 11% Challenge: Globally, only 11% of Creative Director roles are held by women. This gap highlights that traditional agencies are still failing to convert junior talent into senior leadership.
You don’t have to look far to find examples of female leadership redefining the industry. At LABASAD, we are fortunate to work with Masters Directors who are benchmarks in their respective fields:
Marta Veludo: Director of the Online Master in Art Direction. A graphic designer inspired by the internet, pop culture, and folk art, Marta conceptualises for both cultural and commercial sectors, blending digital and 3D disciplines.
Isabelita Virtual: Heading the pioneering Online Master in Generative Artificial Intelligence for Creatives, Isabel Martínez is an award-winning Creative Director working at the intersection of art, tech, and communication.
Marina Soto: Director of the Máster Online en Diseño Gráfico Avanzado. Based in Barcelona and currently Lead Designer at Artofmany, Marina specialises in identity, campaigns, and art direction.
Bárbara Malagoli: Leading the Online Master in Editorial and Advertising Illustration, she is a multidisciplinary artist who has collaborated with global studios and clients as an illustrator and creative director.
Beatriz Suárez: Co-director of the Máster Online en Diseño Estratégico de Packaging and founding partner of Maba. With over 10 years in senior management and a Master’s in Neuromarketing, her projects have earned prestigious awards such as the Pentawards and Laus.
Storm Wiggett: Director of the Online Master in Brand Design. With 16 years of experience with global brands, she leads her own studio, Ginger Storm, combining big-agency execution with boutique precision.
Anna Miracle: Co-director of the Másters Online en Ilustración: Técnicas y Aplicaciones, Ilustración Editorial y Publicitaria and Libro Ilustrado y Cómic. A journalist and co-founder of DAQ, Anna has led communication departments across Barcelona’s social and digital sectors.
Rosana Viloca: Director of the Máster Online en Diseño Gráfico y Entornos Digitales. Her background in advertising and art direction is complemented by a solid track record in both agencies and academia.
Chiara Luzzatto: At the helm of the Online Master in Interior Design and Hospitality, Chiara is an Italian architect and art director who specialises in creating virtual sets and interior imagery for global furniture brands.
Carmen Segovia: Co-director of the Máster Online en Libro Ilustrado y Cómic. With a twenty-year career, her work has been exhibited at the Art Museum of American Illustration in New York and recognised by the White Ravens.
Nadin Anani: Director of the Máster Online en Decoración de Interiores. Formerly a project manager at MINIM Barcelona, she is now Project Director at Terraza Balear, a luxury studio in Mallorca.
Fiorenza Pinna: Co-director of the Online Master in New Documentary Photography. An independent curator and photobook designer, her work explores the links between image, space, and international education.
This International Women’s Day, rather than just offering congratulations, we want to start a conversation: How do we ensure that the 60% of female graduates become the 60% of leaders designing tomorrow’s world? The talent exists. The training is there. The next step is leading projects and creative teams.
Prepare for our May intake and join the community transforming the industry from the top. Join LABASAD to take the definitive leap in your creative career.