Designing Equality: Celebrating Women in Design

This autumn, Design Museum Brussels places the spotlight on the often-overlooked contributions of women in design through two new exhibitions: Here We Are! Women in Design 1900 – Today and Untold Stories – Women Designers in Belgium 1880–1980. These exhibitions not only highlight the creative genius of women but also encourage reflection on the ongoing fight for equality and representation in the creative industries.

Here We Are! Women in Design 1900 – Today: Reclaiming Women’s Place in History

Curated by the Vitra Design Museum, Here We Are! is an international retrospective that spans 120 years of women’s work in design. Featuring the groundbreaking contributions of 80 female designers, including influential figures like Eileen Gray, Florence Knoll, and Charlotte Perriand, the exhibition challenges the male-dominated narrative of design history. Through their work, these women shaped the modern world, yet their contributions have too often been overshadowed or ignored.

This exhibition isn’t just about recognizing design; it’s about acknowledging the struggle for visibility. Many of these women worked in environments that marginalized their contributions, facing obstacles that still resonate with today’s movements for gender equality. As you explore the exhibition, you’ll discover more than beautiful pieces of design—you’ll witness the strength and resilience of women who broke through barriers to leave their mark on history.

Untold Stories: Unveiling Hidden Legacies

In tandem with the international perspective of Here We Are!, Untold Stories – Women Designers in Belgium 1880–1980 focuses on over 50 Belgian women whose groundbreaking contributions have been largely overlooked or erased from mainstream history. This exhibition delves deep into how these creators navigated societal limitations while pushing the boundaries of design.

From ceramics and lace to bold typographic designs, the works on display offer a fascinating insight into the talents of women working in various artistic mediums. More than just a visual feast, Untold Stories invites us to consider how history has been written—and who gets included. These works represent a rich but lesser-known part of Belgian design history, emphasizing the need to recognize and celebrate women who have long been relegated to the sidelines.

A Call for Equality in the Creative World

Both exhibitions serve as poignant reminders that the struggle for visibility, recognition, and equal representation in creative industries continues today. By highlighting the contributions of women who have often been left out of design history, these exhibitions challenge us to rethink who we celebrate and why.

Design is not just a profession or an art form—it is a reflection of the societies we live in and the values we uphold. Through these exhibitions, Design Museum Brussels invites us to consider how gender inequalities have shaped creative fields and how we can continue to advocate for a more inclusive, diverse, and equal future for women in design and beyond.

Here We Are! Women in Design 1900 – Today and Untold Stories – Women Designers in Belgium 1880–1980 open at Design Museum Brussels on October 16. The exhibitions will be accompanied by talks, guided tours, and other activities that aim to spark dialogue around the ongoing struggles for visibility and recognition in the creative industries.

For more details, visit: www.designmuseum.brussels