Women in Web Design

Way back in 1999, sitting in my coding classes at Miami University, I never imagined I would be the Lead Web Designer for Strong Minded Agency. My career has taken lots of turns - I’m so stinkin’ thankful for each opportunity that has led me here.

I realize I’m a woman working in web design. Our industry is not built with women in mind. Check out these current stats:

Women in Web Design Demographics & Stats (2026): Gender Split: Female web designers make up 37.7%–43% of the workforce, while men make up 57%–62.3%. In addition, the average age of web designers is 38. It’s interesting to note that the new grads are not entering the web design world straight out of college.

That being said, women HAVE historically paved the way. According to a Ironhack.com Women in Web Development blog from 2023:

• Ada Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer in 1840.
• The team to create the first computer ENIAC was 100% female.
• The first high-level programming language was created by Grace Hopper in 1959.
• American computer scientist Margaret Hamilton introduced the term “software engineering.”

I AM one of those women that make up less than 43% of the industry. Proud of it too. And this might be the very reason why we need that female influence more than ever.

I want to talk about all the amazing benefits that women can bring to the web design table.

Emotions - as a Plus

For me, I consider myself a super emotional person. In my career, I get paid to tell digital stories, to evoke emotion, to be the big thinker, create something from nothing, and to showcase brands and elevate their greatest elements. Being a female, who just so happens to be a mom also - being in this emotional space - has greatly influenced and amplified the companies we get to work with (and vice versa).

There is a place for us ladies and one in which we can make a real impact. Channeling our emotional connection to people and brands is a powerful tool that can be used in storytelling. Establishing a connection between a user and a brand, creating the ultimate User Experience, and making one that is interactive is the goal. Allowing the emotion of the graphics and content of a site to take center stage is the difference between a bland UX and one that truly shines, connects, and converts.

A+ Communication Skills

Explain your point. Now do it again… with graphics, bullet points, benefits, advantages, FAQs, contact info, and a strong call-to-action. That’s much better.

Women have been known to be the chatty ones for decades. Telling your story in a clear way with a strong female voice (tone, vibe, personality - whatever you wanna call it) will help to define your brand in a personal way. Knowing how to talk to your audience and how you want to position yourself is one of the very first things a business should do. A lot of that can be achieved by putting yourself in your customers shoes, and asking those same questions to yourself. Every business should have this sign on their proverbial wall: “Think like Your Customer.”

“What’s the main benefit of my products?”

“What price would I want to pay for this service?”

“How can we help you solve this problem?”

If you can answer those tough questions after looking inward, you will better know how to communicate directly with your audience. In a world where there is constant noise, you want to be clear about what you do and how that provides a benefit to your customers. Women have been telling stories and asking tough questions for centuries, and I think our perspective can be a great influence on the stories we tell professionally.

Attention to Detail

Having a keen eye for all the smallest details is definitely a strength that I possess. Is there an extra space in that line? Does this layout need more balance? What color palettes work best together? I think this translates into creating some uber customized web designs - that really WOW. Not only are our sites visually pleasing, but we have carefully planned out the design creation process of how we are going to get there.

Sharing your talents with the tech world - through this attention to all the fine details can be an empowering feeling. You have “the eye” - now let’s go use it for web design.

Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces

It’s like hanging with your best guy friends in school. You can hold your own. There’s nothing stopping me from being a woman in a male dominated industry. If anything, my female-influenced work might stand out even more, since it’s coming from a different perspective. Just think:

Confidence.

Ability.

Empowerment.

Constantly learning new things.

And Go.

If I had any advice, work in a place that recognizes your value and appreciates your perspective and celebrates it. It will be a dream work environment. This kind of support allows you to fully open your creative mind and perform at your highest level.