IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN

Empowerment by Design - Women at the Intersection of Creativity and Success

Somewhere in between a traditional sized coffee table book and your average hardbound book there are a class of books that blur the lines, although officially just considered hardbound (that will never be released in paperback). One of the best recent examples of such a book is In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney, creator of Design Sponge. In it, Bonney has a collection of interviews (Q&A) with creative female businesswomen, or as the subtitle reads, “Inspiration and Advice from Over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs.” The 350 page book is imbued with color and creativity, striking photographs, and savvy responses to a set of questions sure to inspire artistic-wanna-bes or any interested reader. Like a breath of publication fresh air, the book is a beacon of diversity. It refreshingly features women, photographed in their work spaces, varying in age, race, geographic location and professions. Some are designers, some writers, musicians, artists, actors and producers, etc. Some, like Nikki Giavonni and Carrie Brownstein, are well-known, while others, like Diana Yen and Amina Mucciolo are little-known, but they are all accomplished and admirable. Bonney explains that her goal with the book was straight-forward and a natural result after 12 years of producing Design Sponge.

“My goal with In the Company of Women is to provide motivating and relatable examples of all kinds of women running their own businesses, so that any woman, anywhere can open up to a page and see herself reflected... In the Company of Women highlights over one hundred of the most talented women I know. The women in the book are shining examples of what we can become if we work hard and support one another.”
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The book itself contains no prose other than in the introduction, yet there’s plenty to read, with all the women answering questions such as “What did you want to be when you were a child?” or “What does success mean to you?” It’s easy and inspiring to read through the interviews, and the photos are like eye candy. It serves both as motivation and confirmation. It’s a great sort of resource for your own space/office, or to gift for that creative woman in your life.