20(FEMALE DESIGNERS)

In the UK, 60% of design students are female, yet women make up only 40% of working designers. It’s clear the industry doesn’t lack talent, but it lacks access.

Therefore, to mark International Women’s Day, we invited 20 female designers studying, graduating, or early in their careers to spend a day inside 20(S).. Real conversations with the team, a live brief, honest feedback and an opportunity for a 20-day paid placement for one participant.

The brief was simple: create a poster that captures your perspective as a new designer right now. I half expected 20 gloomy posters. Fair enough. It’s a weird time to be starting out. But what came back completely flipped that.

There was honesty, but also optimism, critical thinking and energy. These were people ready to shape the industry they were entering. The conversations weren’t all easy, but 20 young women left feeling more prepared, more connected and excited about what comes next. That was the point.