5 Women Leading the Way in UX/UI Design in 2026

In 2026, UX/UI work happens across every kind of product team, from early-stage startups to global platforms. What has not changed is how much the field benefits from people who create access, mentorship, and community.

For Women's History Month, this post continues Code Labs Academy's Women in Tech series by spotlighting five women whose work goes beyond their own careers. Each one has helped build pathways into design through training programs, fellowships, and community-led support.

Why community leadership matters in UX/UI in 2026

Breaking into UX/UI is not only about learning tools. It is also about getting feedback, meeting peers, and finding role models, especially in spaces where representation has historically been uneven.

The women below are "leading the way" because they have built practical support systems: scholarships, training, meetups, and networks that help others move from interest to real opportunity.

5 women building access and community in UX/UI

1) Karen Santos: UX para Minas Pretas (UXMP)

Karen Santos founded UX para Minas Pretas (UXMP) in 2018. The name translates to "UX for Black Girls," and the initiative focuses on training, career development, and community support for Black women entering design and user experience.

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Karen has also worked as a product designer. In interviews, she has spoken about noticing a mismatch between UX's focus on people and the lack of diversity in the field.

UXMP has publicly reported supporting 2,000+ Black and Indigenous women and offering 900+ scholarships since its launch. These figures may change over time and should be periodically re-verified.

2) Mariam Braimah: The Kimoyo Fellowship

Mariam Braimah began her product design career in 2013 after graduating from Harvard University. She later worked at Netflix, contributing to the global non-member user experience.

In 2018, she founded the Kimoyo Fellowship to share design knowledge and create bridges between African companies and fellows in Silicon Valley. The fellowship is positioned as a structured program that teaches foundational skills for entry-level product design roles.

In its inaugural 2020 cohort, the program awarded five fellows from Nigeria mentorship and training from designers at companies including Netflix, Flutterwave, Twitter, Oculus, Lyft, and Paystack. Fellows also worked on design solutions connected to Netflix's growth team in Nigeria.

3) Omobolanle Banwo Osadolo: The Female Designer Movement

Omobolanle Banwo Osadolo is a brand identity designer and design advocate from Lagos, Nigeria. In her public bio, she describes a drive to expand opportunity and access for people who want meaningful work in technology and design.

That mission led her to found the Female Designer Movement in 2018. The initiative runs free training sessions for women in Nigeria, with a focus on practical graphic design skills.

The Female Designer Movement has reported training 3,000+ women and setting a longer-term goal to reach 50,000 more. As with any fast-growing initiative, totals and targets can evolve.

4) Lizzie Dyson: Ladies that UX

In 2013, Lizzie Dyson co-founded Ladies that UX in Manchester, UK, after noticing how few women were visible in mid-level and senior UX roles. The goal was simple: create a supportive, low-pressure space for women in UX to connect and learn from each other.

Over time, the community expanded into a global network of local groups. By its 10-year mark (2013 to 2023), Ladies that UX had been described as operating in 90+ cities across six continents.

If you are building your own UX network in 2026, Ladies that UX is a strong example of what can happen when local meetups are designed to scale without losing their human feel.

5) Claudia Cafeo: Floxies Community

Claudia Cafeo launched the Floxies Community in 2021 to support designers and Webflow developers through peer learning, weekly meetings, and relationship-building. The goal is to reduce isolation and make growth in design careers more sustainable.

Claudia has worked as a freelance UX designer and as a community manager while continuing to grow Floxies. The community reported 1,350+ members in its first year.

What you can learn from these leaders

Even if you are early in your UX/UI journey, you can apply the same patterns these communities use.

• Teach what you learn: write notes, share templates, or run a short study group.
• Build with others: peer feedback is often the fastest way to improve your work.
• Make access concrete: scholarships, mentorship hours, or curated resource lists beat vague encouragement.
• Keep it welcoming: thoughtful facilitation matters as much as content.

Jumpstarting your UX/UI design career in 2026

If you are considering a career switch, focus on skills you can demonstrate, not just topics you have read about. A strong entry-level portfolio usually shows your process: research, structure, interaction decisions, and visual UI craft.

You can start building those fundamentals through Code Labs Academy's UX/UI Design Bootcamp. If you want to talk through schedule, level, or financing options, you can also contact Code Labs Academy.

Upskill on your schedule: explore Code Labs Academy's part-time and full-time UX/UI learning options.