How Women in Design Say the Industry Has Changed (and What Still Hasn’t)

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As women in design, we’ve navigated a profession that has changed a great deal over the past few decades, but those changes don’t affect us all in the same way or at the same intensity. Some of us entered an industry where interior design was still misunderstood, narrowly defined, or treated as adjacent to the “real” work of architecture and construction. Others came up in a period with more visibility and more opportunity, yet still found themselves pushing against outdated assumptions about authority, scope, and expertise. Still others struggled to carve out the space and respect they deserved in a surprisingly male-dominated field.

That’s part of what makes the responses to a question from our Women, In Their Own Words series so interesting. When we asked designers how the landscape has changed for women and what still needs to change, the answers were quite wide-ranging. Some women pointed to greater respect, broader recognition, and a more serious understanding of what interior designers actually do. Others pointed to the work that still lies ahead, especially around leadership, credibility, and how the profession is valued. Our interviewees also share how being a woman has influenced their design careers.

If you’ve ever wondered how other women in design see our evolving position in the industry, read on.

DesignDash: Have you seen the landscape change for women in the creative industry over the years? What still needs to change?

Karin Bohn

I think women are more and more respected in the industry. When I was growing up, I didn’t know that an interior designer job existed. It was either that you were a male architect or a female decorator. In my early 20s, when I first learned that a friend of mine was going to design school, I asked her what the heck she was learning—wasn’t it just paint and fabric?!

Being a woman has shaped how I lead and create. I bring empathy and intuition to both—listening closely and designing for how spaces feel, not just how they look. That carries into the business. I care deeply about my team and clients, but I lead with clarity and conviction.

As the studio has evolved, I’ve grounded everything in our values: creativity, quality, clarity, professionalism, growth, and commitment. They define how we design, communicate, and show up at House of Bohn.

Read Karin’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Karin on Her Website: houseofbohn.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @houseofbohn

Brittany Farinas

Being a woman has helped me pay attention to detail and infuse my femininity into my work, enhancing its richness.

Read Brittany’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Brittany on Her Website: houseof1.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @houseofone_

Paulina Hospod

Women aren’t just the aesthetic voice—they’re the strategic, technical, and financial backbone too. [Being a woman has] made me intuitive and adaptive. On construction sites, empathy and precision go a long way. I’ve learned that leadership doesn’t mean toughness—it means clarity, communication, and respect. That’s how I design, too.

Read Paulina’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Paulina on Her Website: aha-interiors.com  

Or Follow on Socials: @paulinahospod

Mimi Meacham

Women are being recognized not just for their aesthetic sensibility, but for their ability to build businesses, manage teams, and lead complex projects.

What still needs to change is the expectation that women must do it all—brilliant creative work, seamless project management, emotional labor, and family responsibilities. Creative success shouldn’t require burnout. Supporting women in building long-term, balanced careers, not just beautiful portfolios, is the next important shift.

Being a woman has shaped both my creative vision and my business approach in very real ways. Family comes first for me, and that perspective naturally carries into how I design and how I work with clients. I’m deeply aware that homes aren’t just visual statements—they’re the backdrop to daily life, routines, and relationships.

From a business standpoint, it’s made me intentional about building a practice that respects people’s time, priorities, and seasons of life—both my own and my clients’. That lens leads to designs that are thoughtful, functional, and lasting, and to a business that values clarity, communication, and trust over urgency for its own sake.

Read Mimi’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Paulina on Her Website: marianlouisedesign.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @marianlouisedesign

Bre Hance

Being a mom more than a woman has shaped my creative vision. My trademark is Elevated Everyday Living, and I design for a lot of families. I am in it, so can anticipate needs. My business approach also benefits me; I’m flexible, understand, and can relate to women’s needs. It makes me more compassionate or harder bc I know what I can juggle.

Read Bre’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Bre on Her Website: inhancedesignbuild.com

Or Follow on Socials: @inhance_interiors

Jamie Young

There is a double standard in our industry, and every industry, where men can do and say things that women just can’t. The sexes are perceived very differently in creative and business positions when they both bring so much to the table.

Unfortunately, the differences between us aren’t observed in the places it really counts. It’s hard, we have different physical bodies, different needs and we aren’t allowed to shut down and take a break; we have to pretend nothing happens. Even after having babies, we’re expected to keep going and never miss a beat.

Overall, the industry needs to continue to evolve and recognize the need for more compassion. There has been a lot of progress but we still have a long way to go. In the end you can’t let these challenges stop you, progress happens over time and a woman being in the industry helps change things from within.

Read Jamie’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Jamie on Her Website: jamieyoung.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @jamieyoungco

Antonia Caicedo

I think our industry is one of the very few where women are truly valued and recognized. I think women have a sharper attention to detail than men. This ability is one that allowed me to create something truly special and unique, giving my clients designs with tremendous added value through the special attention to detail that my pieces are known for.

Read Antonia’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Antonia on Her Website: jimeco.com/antonia-collection  

Or Follow on Socials: @antonia.collection

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Alex Thies

It has changed, for sure, but we still have work to do. As a younger female business owner, I still feel like I need to prove myself in the male dominated construction industry and often find myself in positions where I am talked down to or underestimated because I am a woman. I think many people still need to realize that we deserve a seat at the table and are just as capable as any man at running a successful business.

If anything, I think [being a woman in this industry] is a strength. So much of this business is having emotional intelligence, empathy, and an ability to connect with clients on a deeper level to really understand their wants and needs when designing their custom home. I also think as a woman and a mother, I have an incredible ability to multitask and juggle a wide variety of projects, workloads, and responsibilities that makes me so much better at running a business.

Read Alex’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Antonia on Her Website: adelyncharles.com   

Or Follow on Socials: @adelyncharles

Rhonnika Clifton

Yes, I’ve seen a shift, especially for women of color in interior design. That’s why I started Creative Conversations and my mentorship program, The Educated Designer, to create visibility and resources for the next generation of minority designers. The industry is making progress, but there’s still much more to be done.

Being a woman has shaped my approach in so many ways. My nurturing spirit allows me to design with empathy and intuition, creating spaces that truly reflect my clients. I’ve also mastered the art of multitasking, balancing design, project management, and client care. These qualities—empathy, adaptability, and collaboration—are the backbone of my business and leadership style.

Read Rhonnika’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Rhonnika on Her Website: rjcliftondesigns.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @rjcliftondesignsllc

April Littmann

More women are launching their own firms, leading major projects, and taking up space in areas that were once more male-dominated. I think at times when working with other men or trades within the industry, female designers can get a bad rap. I think we all need to work together to elevate the industry to overcome some of those negative stereotypes.

As a working mom, it’s taught me to be incredibly intentional. It made me more creative, more resilient, and more resourceful. I design spaces that are not only elevated and luxurious, but that work to support connection, calm, and real life. In business, I have learned empathy towards our team members, and I think that comes from being a mom and having an innate sense of care.

Read April’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About April on Her Website: neighborinteriors.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @neighborinteriors

Sarah Choudhary

Respecting the emotional intelligence women bring to design is key—it’s not just valuable, it’s essential to creating meaningful, human- centered spaces. We need more trust, more visibility, and more opportunities for women to lead boldly.

Being a woman has shaped my creative vision through a strong sense of empathy and emotional awareness. I design with a deep sensitivity to how spaces feel—not just how they look. There’s a softness and strength that coexist in the way I approach projects. It’s about creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also deeply human, nurturing, and grounded.

Read Sarah’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Sarah on Her Website: habitatarc.com

Or Follow on Socials: @afar.habitat

Camilla van den Tempel

Although progress has certainly been made, there’s still work to be done in terms of achieving greater representation in leadership roles, especially in larger, traditionally male-dominated sectors. We need to continue fostering an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities to lead and innovate.

Being a woman has certainly shaped my approach to both creativity and business. It has taught me resilience and the importance of earning respect through my work and expertise. In industries that have traditionally been male-dominated, women often have to prove themselves more to be taken seriously. While respect can sometimes come more easily to men based on societal perceptions, I’ve learned how to work hard, consistently deliver excellence, and demonstrate confidence and I believe these qualities have shaped me into the designer and businesswoman I am today.

Read Camilla’s full Women, In Their Own Words interview here.

Learn More About Camilla on Her Website: andtempel.com 

Or Follow on Socials: @andtempel

Final Thoughts

Many thanks to our Women, In Their Own Words interviewees for participating in this roundup. Women in design have entered very different versions of this industry, and many are still navigating questions of authority, respect, leadership, and how their work is understood.

That’s one reason we created DesignDash Growth Studio. Inside the program, women firm owners talk through the parts of business ownership and professional growth that shape long-term success, including people, profit, promotion, process, and purpose. Those conversations land differently when they happen in a room made up entirely of women in design, especially when some are just starting out and others have been leading firms for decades.

If this article resonated with you, or put words to dynamics you’ve been observing in your own career, you can join the waitlist for the next cohort here.

*The featured image of this post is Sarah Choudhary, photographed for Habitat.

Written by the DesignDash Editorial Team
Our contributors include experienced designers, firm owners, design writers, and other industry professionals. If you’re interested in submitting your work or collaborating, please reach out to our Editor-in-Chief at editor@designdash.com.