6 February 2018 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which for the first time granted some women the right to vote in the UK.

To mark this anniversary Design Council will feature a series of ‘Leading Women’ over the next twelve months who have each made invaluable contributions to shape the world that we live in today.

Our Leading Women in Design series will hear a wide range of voices and recognise achievements within the design economy through interviews, features and articles as part of a wider discussion about diversity and talent in design.

We'll be publishing a new article in this series every month in 2018, so sign up to our newsletter and be sure to follow us on Twitter to be the first to hear about our latest releases.

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The series

Jane
Jane

Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh: The female designer fixing our lives Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh is the Irish mastermind behind Sugru – ‘the most exciting product since Sellotape’. Over a cup of tea in her company’s HQ in Hackney, east London, she shares her thoughts on reimagining education systems, diversity in design, dishwashers and funky clothes. In our fourth Leading Women in Design story, we spoke to Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh, inventor of 'the most exciting product since Sellotape...

Feature — 25/04/2018
Rachel Skinner
Rachel Skinner

Rachel Skinner: ‘Best Woman Civil Engineer’ awardee 2017 In the third article in our Leading Women in Design series, Rachel Skinner gives us her view on what design means to her, and what engineering is doing to break down barriers and promote real opportunities for all. In our third Leading Women in Design article, Rachel Skinner tells us what engineering is doing to promote real opportunities for all.

Feature — 09/03/2018

Sarah Weir OBE: Design Council's first female CEO In the second article in our Leading Women in Design series, Design Council CEO Sarah Weir reflects on her experiences of diversity throughout her varied career. In the second Leading Women in Design article, Sarah Weir reflects on her experiences of diversity throughout her varied career.

Feature — 06/02/2018
Jo Ascott
Jo Ascott

Jo Arscott: Britain's first black female Creative Director In the first article in our Leading Women in Design series, Jo Arscott talks diversity in design and tells us what design means to her. In the first article in our Leading Women in Design series, Jo Arscott talks diversity in design and tells us what design means to her.

Feature — 31/01/2018
Women in design
Women in design

Celebrating Leading Women in Design A new series by Design Council marks the anniversary of women's suffrage by celebrating the achievements of leading women from within the world of design. A new series by Design Council to celebrate the anniversary of women's suffrage.

News — 30/01/2018
Chattyfeet
Chattyfeet

5 guerrilla design tactics for young businesses Gil Kahana from ChattyFeet gives us some tips and tricks he would recommend for young, up and coming businesses. Gil Kahana from ChattyFeet gives us some tips and tricks he would recommend for young, up and coming businesses.

Feature — 16/05/2018