Whew. Where to even start?! It’s Women’s History Month, so we need to celebrate all the females, and it’s also time to talk about the rise of AAPI hate that needs to stop—it needed to never start in the first place, but now it 10000% needs to stop ASAP. So, this post will be celebrating Asian American women designers and artists who are talented, creative, amazing, and true leaders in their field. We can stop AAPI hate by raising awareness and shutting down anything that’s not rooted in love. So today, let’s CELEBRATE.
8 Asian American Women Designers and Artists
1. Satsuki Shibuya @satsukishibuya
Satsuki is one of the first people I followed when I joined Instagram. I’m an OG follower of hers, and just find her so inspiring. Satsuki is a spiritual thinker who imparts spirituality in all that she does and creates. From her intuitive paintings to her thoughtful books, from her podcast to sessions you can book with her, she’s a powerhouse of good and healing.
I see myself less as the artist and more as the medium through which the universe communicates the harmony that moves between us.
-Satsuki Shibuya
Satsuki has a very distinct way of creating her intuitive paintings. Her style is deeply rooted in her spirituality and everything from the colors she uses to the flow of her hands is guided by the energies and auras she experiences. She strives to support others in their spiritual journey.
You can also find Satsuki at Tappan Collective.
2. Joy Cho @ohjoy
If you love fun graphic designs on your products, you know Joy Cho. Joy started Oh Joy! in 2005 as a graphic design studio, and the playful happiness the brand imparts launched them into even bigger things. From partnerships with Target and Keds, to daily inspiration and blog posts, Joy is a true source of, well, JOY!
True to her namesake, Joy creates the happiest of products including home decor, pet and kid accessories, as well as a furniture line! She has authored 6 books as well as been named one of Time’s 30 Most Influential People on the Internet. Seriously, she is such a bright spot in her colorful corner of the internet.
You know how much I LOVE tile, especially Cle Tile. And of course, Joy has a very creative collab with them including the friendliest of tile designs.
You can shop more Oh Joy! here.
3. Clara Jung @bannerdayinteriors
Would you believe me if I told you that Clara’s career was originally in corporate law? I know! She’s a design natural. Oh, it gets better. After graduating from U.Cal, she joined the Peace Corps teaching English in Nepal. Then came law school in Michigan, then fleeing midwest winters (I’m originally from Ohio, so I feel this) to head back to sunny California, which is where our design magic begins.
Clara, the principal at Banner Day SF, leads the company to provide happiness and wellness to her clients through interiors. With Banner Day’s delightful mash up of the traditional and the bold, their signature style was born.
Banner Day is local to San Francisco, but through e-design (hey, that’s what I do!), Clara can help clients all over the country. Just check out her awesome projects for some serious design inspo.
4. Wendy @thekwendyhome
Ah, Wendy. A hilarious breath of fresh air in the home decor blogging world. You might become smitten with her DIYs or her Mission Impossible crawl through her house and past her husband when she was sneaking in more plants (who can’t relate?). Either way, she’s a delightful addition in the world of home curation. Her realness and creativity will keep you enthralled.
I started this blog because there wasn’t enough room in the Instagram caption to capture all my misadventures and home decor obsession.
-Wendy
Wendy was actually a flight attendant, but because #2020 happened, she lost her job and was thrust into the world of being a full time influencer and content creator! You can read all about her 2020 journey and career shift. Spoilers: it has a happy ending:-)
Wendy has also recently sold her house and takes us on the journey! She teaches us how to stage a home to sell, and is now taking us house hunting (move over, HGTV).
If you want some happy and hilarity, give her a follow and head to her blog.
5. Eny Lee Parker @enyleeparker
Eny is a true artist. Granted, everyone on this list is an artist, but Eny’s work just draws me in in a way I can’t explain. She is an accomplished spatial designer with a focus on objects and interiors. Using her main medium of clay, she masterfully crafts interesting objects that bring life, quirk, and whimsy to spaces.
Parker reclaims the essence of making used in traditional craft from our past – the slowness, the intention, the respect for natural resources, creating contemporary objects that brings awareness to our presence as well as to non-living things.
Before reading her bio, I had no idea Eny had a focus on craft and slowness; but now my pull towards her work makes sense. I can feel the intention coming through everything she makes. The originality, the mindfulness, the precision, shapes her work in such an abstract and invisible way that is difficult to explain–you just have to feel it, ya know?
Eny also sells the most beautiful architectural clay earrings. You can see the rest of her designs here.
6. Ruth Chou Simons @ruthchousimons
If you are a lover of calligraphy, watercolor florals, and faith, then you’re already familiar with Ruth, the founder of Grace Laced. Like you, I started following her long ago for her soulful posts that are always right on time. She shares her whole heart on Instagram and that love has carried her on her business journey to be a bright light to so many.
You don’t have to be blooming to be growing.
-Ruth Chou Simons
Ruth takes our daily struggle, sees it, and then helps us turn our troubles over to God. She is constantly realigning our hearts, gently and lovingly. Through her art, Ruth encourages us and reminds us of a bigger picture where things are more peaceful.
An author, a speaker, a mother to 6 boys she refers to as her “man cubs”, and an artist, Ruth uses her platform and talent to encourage us all in our daily trials. She creates beauty from ashes and has ensured her garden is well tilled and well watered. Blooms grow here.
Ruth aptly named her business, Grace Laced, as she seeks to weave God’s grace into our everyday life, lacing it with truth. You can shop her prints, pins, and books here.
7. Steffi Lynn @haveanicedayy_
Steffi is a muralist and illustrator living in Brooklyn, NY (hey, neighbor!). If you browse her incredible murals, you can’t help but leave with a healthy dose of self love. Her whole page is a VIBE in the best way possible. Not only is Steffi focusing on small goods to bring joy, but she is influencing people by the thousands with her murals and reminders of self care. What a treasure we have in Steffi.
Working both large and small, Steffi loves product design as it gives her the ability to insert color and positivity into people’s everyday lives. Her work feels fun, connected, and inspiring. She has this ability to turn the mundane into the joyful, playful, and exciting. Steffi truly wants you to have a nice day!
You can visit her website for all things happy–from stationery to phone cases, horoscopes to prints:-)
8. Roxy Te @societysocial
Roxy basically grew up in the family biz of furniture making. She even lived in her family’s furniture factory in North Carolina until she was 2! After graduating from Parsons New School of Design here in NYC, she embarked upon her journey as a fashion buyer. But, she had too much to offer a desk job and backed by the grit she learned from her family, she ventured out on her own to create magic. Enter: Society Social.
Society Social was ahead of its time, offering customers the ability to do things typically only designers could, like adding custom finishes such as trim and tassels and matching any Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint color. Roxy offered a complete customization package with the customer acting as her own designer. She was quite the trailblazer and her business model filled a need in the market–the need for uniqueness.
Phrases like “a return to charming” and “celebration of the ultrafeminine” decorate her site while solidifying her brand’s style and mission. Roxy leads Society Social in making products to be celebrated.
You can shop her latest spring 2021 collection right here.
Asian American women designers and artist have contributed so much to our everyday lives. These women are talented, forward thinking, hard working, boss ladies that deserve to be celebrated everyday for their genius. We can count ourselves lucky for the visual buffet of beauty these women so generously share with us.
Please support the AAPI community. Check on your Asian friends. Correct those in your circle who say things that are problematic. Cut off any sort of hate and racism before it spreads like a weed.
I stand with the AAPI community.
-Kristen