The invisibility of women in Design History is a persistent reality, largely resulting from the absence of systematic studies that recognise, value, and document their contributions. This gap has shaped the way the history of the discipline has been constructed and transmitted, contributing to the exclusion of women from dominant design narratives.
Despite the efforts of several graphic design historians and the existence of some relevant bibliographic production, the recognition of women in design and their professionalisation remains insufficient. This situation is reflected in an incomplete historical narrative, marked by a lack of consensus within academic contexts and by the limited public visibility of women designers. Graphic Design thus continues to face structural challenges related to the recognition, professionalisation, and inclusion of women, as well as a scarcity of historical literature that positions women as protagonists of the discipline.
Women in Portuguese Graphic Design
WGD/PT forms part of the master’s thesis project “Women in Portuguese Graphic Design: Preserving the Collective Memory of Alda Rosa and Cristina Reis.” This project is dedicated to the study of women’s contributions to the history of Portuguese design, with a particular focus on preserving the memory and archives of works produced by women designers who established themselves in the field of graphic design during the 1960s and 1970s.
This website aims to make visible the individual trajectories and bodies of work of women designers, while also functioning as an open-access platform for the educational community. By enabling the editing and addition of new female references, WGD/PT seeks to expand existing knowledge, encourage future research, and contribute to the construction of a more inclusive and representative narrative of the history of Portuguese design.