AMIE CHEN

For gamers, digital artists, and coders alike, there is nothing more satisfying than a well-designed UI (user interface). Amie Chen has had much success with her UIs over the years, helping multiple startups and larger companies appeal to their clientele with an easy-to-understand interface. Among her programs are Pretzel, which shows keyboard shortcuts depending on which app is the current focus. She’s also the mind behind Stitches, an HTML template generator with CSS functions. In an interview with Maker Mag, she told them “making products is a byproduct of getting to a good solution, and getting closer to a good solution is what gets me out of bed every day.”

ARIELE ALASKO

On the opposite end of the spectrum of “digital to traditional” lies Ariele Alasko, a woodworker from Brooklyn. What began as a hobby quickly spiraled into a full-time job, with Alasko dedicating her time to crafting both functional and decorative pieces. One of her specialties? Brushes shaped like a “U” with bristles on both sides. But she’s also made cutlery, tables, mobiles, and wall hangings. Her Instagram is updated regularly with pictures of her woodwork as well, some of it for sale. (Occasionally, the updates are of her dog, Mazie.)

MENGLY HERNANDEZ

Most people find repetition to be… well, repetitive. But Mengly Hernandez relishes in it. According to her website, it’s “a meditation through which she explores and mends traumatic memories.” Beyond personal healing, it results in beautiful patterns and designs full of color. Her craft manifests in art installations and sculptures using a mix of fibers and textiles. She’s even dabbled in performance art. While none of her work is for sale, don’t think she’s just letting it sit in a gallery: much of it adorns her home or her body (or that of her children).

SARA VIEIRA

Hailing from Portugal, Sara Vieira is well-known for her unique, front-end apps and advocacy for mental health. In 2018, she released the popular app “Is There Uber In,” which informs travelers whether there’s a ridesharing service available in a certain location. As for mental health, her presentation “Your Brain Does Not Have a Fix Flag” uses pop culture references and easy-to-understand language to tackle a very serious issue. Her retelling of her own struggles with panic disorder and depression are blunt, but the writing and multitude of GIFs make it enjoyable.

JESS EDDY

Continuing our international tour is Jess Eddy, based out of Sydney, Australia. She’s worked on several projects over the years. Among these are “UI Goodies” and “Get a Room.” The former is a catalog of resources for designers and developers build a user interface. The latter allows users to easily book a conference room. In 2018, she told Maker Mag “to me, indie making is about empowerment. It’s not about waiting for someone else to bring a solution or asking for permission. It’s observing your environment and looking for areas to improve upon or innovate it.”

LAUREN HOM

Here’s a fun motto for you: “work hard, snack often.” These are the words that Lauren Hom has dedicated her life to. You’ve probably seen her lettering before- some of her past clients include Starbucks, YouTube, and TIME Magazine. The McCafé products at McDonald’s? That’s her! And true to her motto, her Instagram frequently features her delectable looking “Hom Noms.” Also worth checking out is her “Flour Crowns” series, where she dons delightful headwear… made of bread. Who says female makers can’t be stylish?

LISA HOLBROOK LEWIS

Lisa Holbrook Lewis is a female maker from Oregon who specializes in handmade goods. Her main passion are stump prints. Using stumps or logs found during hikes, she dips them in ink and stamps them to paper. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece of art. But that’s not all she can do with wood. She’s also crafted stools, candle holders, end tables, and planters from scavenged wood. While her Instagram hasn’t been updated for a while, her website “Light & Ink” still has plenty of prints available for sale.

LIMOR FRIED

Known as “Lady Ada,” Limor Fried is more than just an icon among makers. She’s empowering other makers to bring their creations to life. (Much like Inventionland!) Her company, Adafruit, was founded in 2005 and quickly became a staple for the NYC maker scene. In 2016, she was named a White House Champion of Change. Two years later, Forbes Magazine deemed her one of America’s Top 50 Women in Tech. She’s still proud of her honor with Wired Magazine, however, being the first female engineer to grace the cover.

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March 1 through March 31 marks the celebration of Women’s History Month. This month-long celebration is meant to pay tribute to the “generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society.”

Throughout the course of history, women have played an integral role in the development of technology.

While we celebrate the skilled women we have working at Inventionland everyday – like Prototype Builder Sharon, Master Seamstress Bev, and more – today, we take a moment to shine the spotlight on three women in particular whose inventions have changed the way we carry out our daily lives.

Invention: Car Heater
Inventor: Margaret A. Wilcox

In 1893, Margaret A. Wilcox received credit for inventing and patenting a car heater. The first car heater was created in a certain way that it would direct air from over the engines to warm the feet of 19^th century motorists. But, that’s not the only invention that can be credited to Wilcox; in fact, she also invented a combined clothes and dishwasher. Talk about efficiency! Though the latter never took off, it’s safe to say that we’re thankful for her first invention that keeps us warm in the cold weather!

Invention: The Fire Escape
Inventor: Anna Connelly

In 1887, in an effort to prevent the deaths of many living in multi-story buildings, Anna Connelly patented the exterior fire escape. This invention was actually a fire escape bridge that was surrounded by railings and with openings at the ends. Connelly’s innovative idea allowed for the safe escape from one building to the next in the event there was a fire.

Invention: Windshield Wipers
Inventor: Mary Anderson

Could you imagine driving around during a rainstorm without the help of a pair of windshield wipers? Odds are that car ride would be a very arduous journey. Luckily, thanks to Mary Anderson, drivers can see clearly now because of her invention of the windshield wipers. During a visit to New York City, Anderson noticed that many drivers were sticking their heads out the window in order to see during bad weather. So, after some hard work and creativity, in 1903 Anderson received a patent for a rubber blade that drivers could use by pushing a lever inside of their car. Thirteen years later in 1916, her invention became standard equipment for vehicles!

Today and every day, we’d like to thank those innovative women whose inventions have impacted all of our lives with their ingenuity.

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

Sources:

https://www.sliptalk.com/women-inventors/

https://www.levo.com/articles/news/10-female-inventors-that-saved-our-lives

Images:

https://sliptalk.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/13181418/1.png

https://nightfame.com/style/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/68C5D5E7F92E2137D3BBEE012865E.jpg

https://georgemdavison.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mary-anderson.jpg

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