We don’t need just a single day to celebrate being women!

Here at the Studio, every day is International Women’s Day! It took us 16 years, but we finally made it official in 2023: we are WBENC certified at last and we are a woman-founded, women-led business. So what does gender have to do with any of our work? In some ways very little, but in other ways a whole lot.?

How does gender count in our work?

Did you know that approximately 50% of graphic designers are female, but less than 1% of agencies are women-owned.* Gender norms are always at play in the workplace and in the world, but let’s break it down: when does it really matter in our work?

Totally doesn’t matter:

• Our talent—there is nothing gender-specific about our collective talents.?
• Our technical skills—our technical skills have nothing to do with being women.
• Our soft skills—any gender can have great (or miserable) soft skills… that is human-specific, regardless of gender!
• Our fees—we charge the project’s worth; we are neither more expensive nor less expensive because we are a group of women.

Actually, it does matter:

• Our perspective—we have collectively 250 years of experience being raised as and responded to as women. This informs our approach and our view on the world.
• Our impact—we hope to serve as role models and break stereotypes and norms for how we show up in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.?
• Our independence—supporting our own economic empowerment and that of other women-run businesses.

Workin’ women

Collectively, the Studio is seven women strong and has twelve human kids and five fur babies. We have navigated many life events together… including a four-year consecutive stretch of maternity leaves!

After having my first kiddo, I was determined to figure everything out for myself for my return to work, and to not have anyone to go out of their way to help me. On my first day back at the office, I entered the file closet that was designated for pumping, only to find a comfy chair, a nice desk lamp, and there may have even been a little vase with a single flower. It was at that moment (and many moments thereafter) that I realized that the right people are more than happy to help and support you through your huge milestones. I felt valued and not alone. Ever since, I’ve been so grateful to work with people who support me through every chapter of my life, and I strive to do the same for others.?

Abi M.

I will never forget my first in-person work meeting at a client’s office after having my daughter. I was struck by the harsh reality of not being able to be in two places at once—this was driven by the fact that my daughter adamantly rejected bottles. At the time, I felt that I had very few choices and frankly, I felt like I was failing both my daughter and the client for not being present or flexible enough. At that moment, I truly understood the profound difficulty new parents face in adjusting to the arrival of a tiny human and striving to maintain a semblance of normalcy. It was a valuable lesson that I will never again take for granted. And this experience informed how the Studio approaches reentry from maternity leaves… we may not be perfect (yet), but we are truly understanding!?

Julie S.

I recently celebrated one year of parenthood, and I’m just now beginning to feel like I have a grasp on this whole working mom thing (okay, maybe more like a single fingertip grasp!). Never have I been more grateful for my village: fellow working moms in my neighborhood, parents I’ve met though my daughter’s daycare, and my colleagues—who’ve literally been there for me every step of the way. I was never one to ask for support or guidance if I could help it, but parenthood quickly humbles you. I’m endlessly grateful for those who’ve extended so much grace to me, and I can only hope to pay it forward one day!?

Kate C.

*Source 1,?Source?2