Women Designers You Should Know

• 044. Rachel Saunders: From Burnout to Alignment

  Ceramicist Rachel Saunders shares her self-taught creative journey—from leaving LA burnout behind to launching a soul-led business, shifting into retreats, and redefining success on her own terms._______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______About Rachel:Rachel Saunders is a self-taught ceramicist and designer based on Vancouver Island, Canada. She is the founder of Rachel Saunders Ceramics, a brand known for its sculptural yet functional pieces that explore themes of femininity, sustainability, and intuitive design. Her now-iconic Woman Vase has become a symbol of empowerment and creativity.Rachel began her creative journey in visual merchandising in Los Angeles, but after experiencing burnout in a toxic work environment, she returned to Canada and immersed herself in clay—learning through community studios, YouTube videos, and trial and error. Over time, she built a globally recognized brand, with her work featured in publications like Architectural Digest, Vogue, and Elle Decor.In 2022, Rachel made a major shift away from product-based production toward more intentional, holistic offerings—launching an online creative membership and hosting artist retreats in Greece and Tuscany. Through her work and her story, she continues to inspire creatives to define success on their own terms and prioritize a sustainable, soul-led life.Follow Rachel:Website: rachelsaundersceramics.comInstagram: @rachelsaundersceramics.  ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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• 043. Edith Head: Hollywood Costumes & Controversies

  This deep-dive episode explores the jaw-dropping career of costume designer Edith Head—Hollywood’s most awarded woman—whose designs for stars like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly came with a trail of secrets, rivalries, and reinvention, with fashion enthusiast Darrian Wright joining for the ride._______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______About Edith:Edith Head was a legendary Hollywood costume designer whose career spanned over 50 years and more than 440 films. Known for her iconic round glasses and modest demeanor, she was the behind-the-scenes architect of some of the silver screen’s most iconic looks. With 8 Academy Awards—more than any woman in history—Head crafted wardrobes that shaped characters, stars, and an entire era of film, often blurring the lines between credit, creativity, and control.  ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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• 042. Justina Blakeney: Creative Evolution

  This episode features designer and Jungalow founder Justina Blakeney as she opens up about work-life balance, her art show California Poppy, the impact of the LA fires, and the quiet courage it takes to keep evolving creatively. Checkout her art show: California Poppy at The Art WolfCheckout her latest book: Jungalow: Decorate Wild_______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______About Justina:Justina Blakeney is a true multi-hyphenate—artist, designer, author, creative director, entrepreneur—and the founder of the wildly popular lifestyle brand, Jungalow. Her signature style is instantly recognizable: bold, bohemian, colorful, and deeply rooted in personal expression and global inspiration. But beyond aesthetics, Justina has reshaped what a modern creative career can look like.Over the years, she’s collaborated with a long list of major brands including Target, Anthropologie, Loloi Rugs, Selamat, Opalhouse, and Keds—bringing her joyful sensibility into homes, wardrobes, and even our feet. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Vogue, The New York Times, Dwell, and more. She’s also the author of The New Bohemians, The New Bohemians Handbook, and Jungalow: Decorate Wild—books that have helped countless readers reclaim their homes as spaces of healing and self-expression.In this conversation, we talk about the LA fires that forced her to evacuate her home, the symbolism behind her solo art show California Poppy, and how she’s finding her way back to forgotten parts of herself through painting, song, and joy. We also dive into work-life balance, creative risk-taking, identity, motherhood, and what it means to define “enoughness” in a culture that always demands more.Follow Justina:Instagram: @justinablakeneyjustinablakeney.comjungalow.comJungalow: Decorate Wild  ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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• 041. Maria Giudice: Design Superpowers, Burnout, Big Tech

  This episode features legendary designer and leader Maria Giudice, who shares her journey from Staten Island art kid to founding Hot Studio, navigating Facebook’s acquisition, and using design to shift culture, leadership, and the C-suite._______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______About Maria:Maria Giudice is a trailblazing designer, creative leader, and author who has spent over three decades redefining what it means to lead with empathy. She’s the founder of Hot Studio, one of the first woman-led digital design studios in the country, which was acquired by Facebook in 2013. Maria went on to become Director of Product Design at Facebook and later VP of Experience Design at Autodesk, helping bring people-centered thinking into the heart of tech culture. She’s the co-author of Rise of the DEO and Changemakers, two influential books that empower designers to lead change. From painting in Staten Island to reshaping Silicon Valley—Maria’s story is as bold as it is inspiring.Follow Maria:Instagram: @mgiudiceLinkedIn: Maria GiudiceRise of the DEOChangemakers  ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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• 040. Tomoko Miho and Jessica Strelioff: Designing Space with Soul

  This dual feature episode explores the legacy of Tomoko Miho’s masterful use of space and quiet modernism, alongside Jessica Strelioff’s thoughtful approach to building timeless, soulful brands through her studio, Goodside._______Support this podcast with a small donation: Buy Me A CoffeeThis show is powered by branding and design studio  Nice PeopleJoin this podcast and the Patreon community: patreon.com/womendesignersyoushouldknowHave a 1:1 mentor call with Amber Asay: intro.co/amberasay_______Sources:AIGA Medalist: Tomoko MihoThe Quiet Confidence of Tomoko Miho — Eye MagazineHerman Miller Stories: Creative Class Hero - Tomoko MihoTomoko Miho Vintage Poster on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/201923687476 About Tomoko:Tomoko Miho (1931–2012) was a pioneering American graphic designer known for her elegant use of space, clarity, and restrained modernism. A graduate of the Institute of Design in Chicago, she worked for George Nelson Associates and Unimark International before founding her own studio, Tomoko Miho & Co. Her clients included Herman Miller, MoMA, and the Smithsonian, and in 1993, she was awarded the AIGA Medal for her outstanding contributions to design. Miho’s work masterfully blended Swiss modernism, American pragmatism, and Japanese aesthetics to create timeless, poetic visual communications.About Jessica:Jessica Strelioff is the founder and creative director of Goodside Studio, a design practice known for its emotionally resonant, timeless branding. With a background in creating thoughtful, human-centered design, Jessica builds brands that are both strategic and soulful, always with a strong editorial and visual clarity. Her work embodies restraint and intentionality, carrying forward the spirit of designers like Tomoko Miho into a modern, digital world.Follow Jessica:Goodside Studio Website: goodside.studioThreads: @jessicastrelioffInstagram: @jessicastrelioffLinkedIn: Jessica StrelioffBehance Portfolio: behance.net/strelioff  ____View all the visually rich 1-min reels of each woman on IG below:Instagram: Amber AsayInstagram: Women Designers Pod

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