Every March 8th, we come together to celebrate the incredible contributions of women worldwide! In design, where male perspectives have often defined history, women now contribute to a future that combines beauty with intelligence, sustainability with elegance, and emotion with purpose. Some of today’s most compelling work in design is led by female designers and architects who aren’t just following old blueprints.
Let’s explore three projects led by female designers. Each project creates a fresh conversation that bridges space and experience, tradition and innovation, and luxury and nature.
Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Lead Designer: Chiara Calufetti-Lim (WATG)
Hidden within the breathtaking landscapes of Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China, the Rissai Valley shows us what it means to escape. Ritz-Carlton’s first all-villa resort and the inaugural Reserve brand in China, this retreat is the epitome of immersive luxury. But beyond the postcard-perfect setting of snowcapped mountains and deep woodlands, the brilliance of its design lies in its ability to weave local culture into the very fabric of the space.
Chiara Calufetti-Lim, the lead designer, is an experienced architect with a global portfolio spanning Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Asia. Chiara has designed and led many projects with different focus areas, including high-end retail, residential, and hospitality, from concept to construction; she has a wealth of experience in historic renovation, interior design, and remodeling. Passionate about sustainability, she became a LEED AP in 2006 and later earned the BD+C accreditation and completed a Business Sustainability Management course at the University of Cambridge.
The layout embraces the Tibetan “endless knot,” symbolizing renewal and the flow between nature and architecture. Using schist stone and solar heat-storing walls ensures that sustainability is more than just a concept.
Prize: Winner in Architectural Design Resort – Luxury, LIV Hospitality Design Awards
Developer: Luneng Group
Company/Firm: WATG
Lead Designer: Chiara Calufetti-Lim
Other Designer(s): Nora Pui, Kevin La, Li Jia Yi
Interior Designer: Jaya Ibrahim
Hospitality: Marriott
Photo Credit: Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Chris Cypert
Bold Wellness Club
Lead Designer: Hannah Churchill (hcreates interior design)
Shanghai’s Xintiandi area is synonymous with exclusivity, and the Bold Wellness Club is designed to be a sanctuary of balance and contrast. This three-story wellness space offers visitors a journey through light, shadow, rest, energy, and cool and warm textures.
Hannah Churchill, known for designing spaces that resonate beyond aesthetics, is an interior designer from New Zealand’s South Island who founded hcreates in 2010 after moving to Shanghai in 2009. With over a decade of experience in China, she’s designed 100+ spaces, including restaurants, bars, and more. Diverse cultures and communities inspire her work, and she continues to expand her portfolio in hospitality, workspace, and lifestyle design.
Hannah’s design for the club is all about making you feel. Configured over three stories, each level explores a recurring theme of the balance between light and dark, creating a journey and experience of rest and energy throughout the various zones and spaces. From reusing existing structures to refurbishing equipment rather than replacing it, the design intentionally minimizes waste while maximizing impact.
Prize: Winner in Interior Design – SPA / Fitness / Wellness, BLT Built Design Awards
Design Company: hcreates interior design
Lead Designer: Hannah Churchill
Design Team: Alex Davies, Harmony Wee May Cheer, Yan Peng, Pony Tseng, Heshan Li
Construction Company: Dongkang
Photo Credit: Brian Chua, Graeme Kennedy
Umasari House
Lead Designer: Rina Pradnya Pusthika (Studio Nimmersatt)
In Bali, where the tropical landscape is often the focal point, the Umasari House is designed to coexist with its surroundings rather than overshadow them. Through strategic lighting design, it aims to create a modern tropical space infused with warmth and contemporary aesthetics. Instead of competing with the beauty of Bali, it becomes part of the landscape.
Rina Pradnya Pusthika, whose passion for light and shadow was shaped by her childhood watching her father’s shadow puppet shows, brings a poetic sensibility to this residential lighting project. Having worked in Bali, Jakarta, Singapore, and Berlin, Rara’s expertise in lighting design has grown since 2009. In 2019, she founded Studio Nimmersatt, a project she leads with growing teams and projects nationally and internationally.
The design achieves a sustainable approach by choosing LED fixtures with interchangeable optics and beam angles for customizable lighting that adapts to each space. The lens/optic can be easily changed in the future, eliminating the need to replace the entire fixture when updating the interior. On the other side, warm white lighting at 2700K mimics the golden hues of a Balinese sunset, creating a natural harmony between interior and exterior.
Prize(s): Winners in Residential Lighting Design, LIT Lighting Design Awards
Lighting Design/Product Company: Studio Nimmersatt
Lead Designers: Rina Pradnya Pusthika
Other Designer’s names: Aflin Tris Hibatullah
Architecture Company: Arkana Architects
Interior Design Company: ANP Interior & Architecture
Client: Wendy & Bruno
Photo Credits: Indra Wiras, William Kung
Lighting Supplier: Creative Lighting Asia, Indolite Prima, Ascendo Lighting, JUNG Indonesia
Women Who Design, Women Who Lead
These projects reflect how women in design are changing the industry’s landscape. Whether blending cultural heritage into modern spaces, elevating wellness as a design principle, or using light to tell stories that evoke emotion, they shape how we live, feel, and experience the world. And they’re doing it on their own terms, challenging conventions and setting new standards.
As we conclude our reflections on International Women’s Day, let us remember that the journey toward equality and empowerment is ongoing. Women make up 61% of the design workforce (eyeondesign.aiga.org), but when it comes to leadership, we’re still underrepresented. Only 29% of creative director positions are held by women (eyeondesign.aiga.org), which shows us we still have a long way to go before true equality.
As we move forward, we should commit to advocating for equality and inclusion and ensuring that every woman is empowered and able to reach her full potential. Let’s honor the incredible contributions women are making right now and help create a path for those who will come after us. Together, let’s continue building a world where women can thrive.
