TL;DR
A new publication by Slanted Publishers, UN/SEEN—Women, reexamines the role of women in early graphic design, challenging established narratives. The book emphasizes women’s active contributions to visual culture.
Slanted Publishers is set to release UN/SEEN—Women, an archival publication that reexamines the history of early graphic design by highlighting women designers’ contributions, challenging the traditional male-centric narratives.
The publication, edited by Petra Eisele and Isabel Naegele, compiles extensive archival material and scholarly essays to reposition women as active contributors to visual culture from the early 20th century onward. It aims to revise the dominant narratives that have historically marginalized women’s roles in shaping graphic design.
UN/SEEN—Women spans 422 pages in full color, featuring essays by multiple authors including Brigitte Baumstark, Friederike Berger, and Julia Blume. It is published in both English and German, with a hardcover binding and lenticular foil, reflecting its archival and scholarly intent.
The project is part of a broader effort to challenge the male-dominated history of design, emphasizing that women’s contributions have been overlooked or undervalued in mainstream accounts. The publication will be available in June 2026, with pre-orders now open through Slanted Publishers.
Reevaluating Women’s Roles in Graphic Design History
This publication is significant because it shifts the narrative of graphic design history to include women as active agents rather than passive recipients or peripheral figures. It aims to influence future scholarship and teaching by providing a more inclusive and accurate account of visual culture’s development.
By foregrounding archival material and scholarly analysis, UN/SEEN—Women contributes to ongoing debates about gender equality in creative industries and challenges long-standing biases in historical accounts.
Baseline Shift: Untold Stories of Women in Graphic Design History
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Historical Marginalization of Women in Design Narratives
Traditional histories of graphic design have predominantly highlighted male designers and institutions, often neglecting or marginalizing women’s contributions. Recent scholarship and activism have begun to address this imbalance, but comprehensive archival projects remain limited.
Slanted Publishers’ UN/SEEN—Women builds on this momentum by systematically revisiting archival sources, including posters, publications, and personal papers, to reconstruct a more inclusive history. The project aligns with broader efforts to decolonize and diversify design histories, emphasizing that women have been active participants from the early days of modern graphic design.
The publication is part of a growing movement to reframe design history as a collective and plural narrative, recognizing diverse voices that have shaped the field.
“This project fundamentally challenges the conventional narratives that have long excluded women from the history of graphic design.”
— an anonymous researcher
Unconfirmed Aspects of Publication Details
Details about the specific contents of the archival material and the precise scope of the essays remain to be fully disclosed. It is also unclear how the publication will be received by the broader design community and academic institutions.
Further information about the availability of accompanying exhibitions or events linked to the publication has not yet been announced.
Next Steps for the Publication and Its Impact
The publication is scheduled for release in June 2026. Following this, authors and editors may participate in discussions, exhibitions, or academic programs to promote its findings. Future reviews and scholarly citations are expected to assess its impact on design history narratives.
Additional initiatives may include workshops or conferences aimed at integrating its insights into educational curricula and public discourse on visual culture.
Key Questions
What is UN/SEEN—Women?
It is an archival publication by Slanted Publishers that revisits and redefines the history of women in early graphic design, challenging traditional narratives.
When will UN/SEEN—Women be available?
The book is scheduled for release in June 2026 and can be pre-ordered through Slanted Publishers.
Who are the editors of the publication?
Petra Eisele and Isabel Naegele are the editors of UN/SEEN—Women.
Why is this publication important?
It addresses the historical marginalization of women in graphic design and aims to provide a more inclusive account of visual culture’s development.
No specific events have been announced yet, but future initiatives may include discussions, exhibitions, or academic programs.
Source: designboom
