The Female Designers Behind Some of Your Favorite Workplace Details

When you step into a modern workplace, you’re likely surrounded by designs shaped by influential women. From ergonomic seating to sleek workstations, these trailblazers have redefined how we work and thrive.

Ray Eames

The Lounge Chair That Redefined Comfort

Ray Eames believed that good design should combine beauty with function, and provide welcoming comfort to the body. Designed in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair remains one of the most iconic furniture pieces of all time. The signature chair, which Ray designed in partnership with her husband, set a new standard for office soft seating being crafted from molded plywood and leather. More than half a century later, the Eames Lounge Chair has become a global staple from executive offices to living rooms.

Florence Knoll

The Planning Unit That Shaped the Modern Office

Many believe that Florence Knoll’s greatest innovation wasn’t a single product —it was the Knoll Planning Unit, a groundbreaking 15-step system that redefined the approach toward designing and furnishing workplaces leaving nothing to chance while creating the best possible space for each client. She also introduced the concept of open-plan workspaces, modular desks, and coordinated color schemes, influencing how workplaces are designed to this day.

Ayse Birsel

Flexible Workspaces for a Changing World

Ayse Birsel is a designer known for creating flexible, people-focused work environments. As hybrid work becomes the norm, her Resolve and Overlay systems have redefined office design. The modular Resolve System allows employees to adjust their space for both privacy and collaboration, while the Overlay system introduces adaptable partitions that create dynamic, flexible layouts. Her approach supports a shift toward workplaces that prioritize well-being, allowing employees to work in ways that enhance focus or encourage connection.

The next time you sink into a comfortable chair, admire a well-designed office layout, or appreciate the smooth process you experienced when furnishing your workplace, take a moment to appreciate some of the women who helped shape the way we work today.