Jessica Walsh: Breaking Gender Bias in the Graphic Design Industry
When we delve into the history of graphic design, its pioneers, design leaders, and studio heads, we often encounter a long list of male names. Yet, numerous women have left an invaluable legacy in the design world. The reality of a patriarchal society has long forced women to carve out their own paths, challenging the status quo to earn the same recognition as their male counterparts. As time progresses, women in the design industry are rising, making their mark, and paving the way for fellow women creatives. One name that has defied gender stigma and bias in the industry is Jessica Walsh, an American designer who founded the creative studio &Walsh—one of the mere 0.1% of creative agencies owned by women.
At the age of 12, Jessica Walsh taught herself how to code and design websites. A year later, she created an HTML help site to educate other kids on building their own websites. Leveraging Google’s newly launched advertising service, she began earning substantial income from her creative work. “I never thought I could make money from a creative hobby, I always thought I would pursue a regular job in business or finance,” Jessica shared on &Walsh’s official website. This early experience instilled the confidence in her to pursue formal design education. She chose the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for its curriculum that focuses on working with your hands. Coming from a digital background, Jessica saw the combination of craftsmanship and digital skills as a vital foundation for her career as a graphic designer.
After completing her education, Jessica moved to New York City for an internship at Pentagram, one of the most influential design firms known for its groundbreaking branding projects. Under the mentorship of Paula Scher, Jessica worked on various creative projects for high-profile clients. She later joined Print Magazine as an Associate Art Director, where she developed a distinct illustrative style that won multiple awards and was featured in renowned publications. Over the years, Jessica Walsh built a formidable career in the creative industry, making her name widely recognized. However, like many women in various fields, she faced persistent sexism throughout her journey. “Hate mail, jealous remarks, and outright sexism even from other women. It made me realize that sometimes women can be unsupportive of other women because our chances of reaching the top are so much slimmer than our male counterparts,” Jessica told Readymag.
In 2012, Jessica Walsh partnered with Stefan Sagmeister to establish Sagmeister & Walsh. In this partnership, Jessica led the design projects for clients while Sagmeister focused on photography. “When Stefan Sagmeister and I launched Sagmeister & Walsh, there were a lot of sexist remarks assuming that I had only been made a partner because we were dating or sleeping together, which wasn’t true and once again reminded me of how little society respects women,” Jessica recalled. She firmly pointed out that the world often dismisses women’s intelligence, determination, and achievements, assuming that their only path to partnership is through personal relationships with men. These experiences fueled her passion to create change in the design industry, leading her to establish Ladies, Wine & Design, an initiative aimed at fostering a supportive community for women in design rather than promoting competition. The program offers free mentorship, creative meet-ups, discussions, and conferences.
Since its inception, Ladies, Wine & Design has expanded to 280 cities worldwide—demonstrating the urgent need for such an initiative. Through its sessions, Jessica has heard countless stories of empowered women leaving toxic and sexist workplaces. “While we may not have the stats showing how things have changed, we have many success stories that represent a powerful shift,” Jessica noted. Through this initiative, she has had the opportunity to connect with many extraordinary women in the creative field. “When we (women) work with each other rather than against each other, so much more can be accomplished,” she emphasized.
In July 2019, Jessica Walsh announced the launch of her own studio, &Walsh, a realization of her teenage dream to run a creative agency. In her official announcement, she acknowledged the privilege of her position while highlighting the stark gender gap in creative leadership. “Very few women make it to creative leadership positions and even fewer have founded their own creative agencies,” she wrote. For years, she has been vocal about the lack of representation in leadership and pay gap for women in the industry, citing alarming statistics: “The numbers say it all: 70% of design students are women, but only 5-11% of creative director positions are held by women. Only 0.1% of creative agencies are women-owned. How does this make any sense when women drive about 80% of consumer purchasing? Diversity in leadership at agencies drives profit.”
Despite making strides toward gender equality in the design world, Jessica acknowledges that there is still a long road ahead. This is why she is committed to fostering opportunities for women creatives and social initiatives through &Walsh while ensuring her studio upholds principles of equity. “I’m excited to build an agency that provides mentorship and equal opportunity for all to learn and grow creatively and climb the ranks towards leadership, if that’s their desire,” she stated. However, Jessica also recognizes that leadership isn’t the path of everyone and the sole definition of success. Thus, &Walsh is designed to be a space where creative individuals can discover and refine their skills, regardless of their career ambitions.
From a design philosophy standpoint, &Walsh emphasizes strategic branding foundations and a meticulous onboarding process. Unlike agencies that impose a signature aesthetic on their clients, &Walsh tailors each branding project to reflect the unique personality of the brand through typography, color selection, and overall visual direction. “I don’t believe in putting my personal style onto a brand unless it matches the brand’s personality and makes sense for its goals and target audiences,” Jessica explained. Today, &Walsh stands as one of the most renowned creative studios, securing its place among—and even surpassing—many male-owned agencies.
Jessica Walsh’s journey with &Walsh has broken gender barriers in the creative industry. But the road has not been easy—for her or for women at large. She reflects on the countless times society has told women what they can or cannot do. “It's been happening all our lives. At every step of the way, forces tried to tell me ‘I couldn’t’ or ‘I wouldn’t’,” she said. Even after achieving her success, Jessica’s legitimacy is still questioned. However, Jessica firmly believes that if women have a dream, they must continue to pursue it. “There will always be obstacles, naysayers, haters and those who don’t believe in you along the way, including yourself. The path might not be as straight or simple as you thought, but you have to keep fighting and keep pushing through. Don’t be deterred if it takes longer than you think: age and years are meaningless,” she concluded.
With her determination, Jessica Walsh remains a powerful testament to empowerment, proving that women can and should claim their space in the creative industry on their own terms.
