UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus

rewriting design history requires attention to its beginnings; from bauhaus to the arts and crafts movement, the contributions of women in graphic design have long been overlooked in german design history.

Slanted edited by sofia lekka angelopoulou June 13, 2026 3 min

a Revised history of early graphic design through women’s work

UN/SEEN presents a research-driven publication focusing on women’s contributions to early graphic design practices up to the Bauhaus period. Edited and published by Slanted Publishers, the book compiles previously underrepresented material related to female designers working across book design, poster design, typography, illustration, and packaging.

Structured in ten chapters, the publication draws on recent research findings and a wide range of historical examples to document the professional roles and design output of early women practitioners in the field. The material highlights how these designers operated within and contributed to the development of modern graphic design disciplines, often without receiving proportional historical recognition.

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 1 — all images courtesy of Slanted Publishers

UN/SEEN builds a parallel archive of graphic design practice

The publication engages with established design histories by re-examining dominant narratives and the frameworks through which graphic design has traditionally been documented. In doing so, it situates women designers as active contributors to foundational visual languages and professional practices that continue to inform contemporary discourse.

Alongside the book, the project is extended through the online platform UN/SEEN—Women Design, which gathers ongoing research and additional archival material. The publication is available in English and German editions.

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 2 — UN/SEEN focuses on women’s contributions to early graphic design up to the Bauhaus period

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 3 — the research addresses gaps in established design historiography

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 4 — female designers are highlighted across book design, poster design, and typography

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 5 — previously underrepresented archival material forms the basis of the book

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 6 — the publication is structured into ten thematic chapters

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 7 — each chapter draws on recent research findings in design history

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 8 — historical examples document early women practitioners in graphic design

un-seen-women-archival-publication-women-early-graphic-design-slanted-publishers-designboom-1800-2 — historical recognition of women designers is critically reassessed

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 9 — dominant narratives of graphic design history are re-examined

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 10 — women designers are situated as active contributors to visual culture

UN/SEEN documents the lives and work of female graphic designers up to the bauhaus - 11 — the publication is edited and published by Slanted Publishers

project info:

name: UN/SEEN—Women in Graphic Design up to the Bauhaus

publisher: Slanted Publishers | @slanted_publishers

editors: Petra Eisele, Isabel Naegele

foreword: Ellen Lupton

authors: Brigitte Baumstark, Friederike Berger, Julia Blume, Gerda Breuer, Petra Eisele, Aliena Guggenberger, Jana Haase, Antje Kalcher, Julia Meer, Julia Mummenhoff, Isabel Naegele, Julia Neller, Antje Neumann, Bettina Richter, Julia Rinck, Kerstin Stöver, Ute Thomas, Christina Thomson, Sabine Wieber

design: Julia Neller

release: June 2026

format: 18.4 × 26 cm

volume: 422 pages

language: English, German

printing: full color offset printing

paper: Arena Rough 120 g/sm, Fedrigoni

bookbinding: Hardcover with lenticular foil, thread stitching

ISBN: 978-3-69202-002-0 (EN), 978-3-69202-001-3 (DE)

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.