About
We’re a non-profit design studio dedicated to uplifting women and LGBTQ+ communities. Our journey is rooted in creativity and inclusivity, crafting solutions that resonate and inspire. Join us as we challenge norms and create a more equitable world.
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Vision
Design a world where women and LGBTQ+ people are empowered to make the changes they want to see in the world.
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Mission
Our team fearlessly uplifts the voices of women and LGBTQ+ people and supports them by addressing their unique challenges. Our “right fit” design solutions, bolstered by lived experience, act as a vehicle for change so our clients can expand and enhance their positive impact.
Core Values
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Intersectional Feminism
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People over profit
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Radical Collaboration
Meet our team
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Design Lead + Non-executive Director
Alaïs has a dual role at Lutalica, as both Graphic Design Lead and one of our co-directors. She believes that a deep understanding of client needs shows itself in the finished work. With expertise in branding and web design, Alaïs’s approach is particularly informed by her dedication to accessibility. In 2023, Studio Lutalica helped bring Alaïs’s accessibility resource Understanding Accessibility to life to help make the web more inclusive for all.
🇫🇷 Paris
she/her
Non-executive Director
Araxie is a Lebanese-Armenian activist and creative director, with the mindset of an entrepreneur. She was previously Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of LVNDR Health, a pioneering virtual LGBTQ+ clinic, raising £1.5 million in funding. In her role as CMO, Boyadjian led marketing and branding efforts, with the aim of providing affirming healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community. Her passion for bringing together mission-driven individuals drives impactful change, supporting Studio Lutalica’s efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable society.
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Founder + Creative Director
Cecilia Righini is an empathetic leader and creative problem solver. As the founder of Studio Lutalica, they seamlessly blend design with social justice, driving impactful change in the industry. Recognised as British Creative Businesswoman of the Year, Cecilia is a trustee at the Equality Network in Scotland and has lent their expertise as a judge for the Scottish Startup Awards and PRINT Awards.
🎓 BA Design Management and Cultures
🎓 MA Gender, Media and Culture
🏴 Edinburgh
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Non-executive Director
Ceysa has a long history of building communities both professionally and personally. She left a long-standing corporate career in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) to build a portfolio career that uses community as a foundation, including building an Employee Resource Group Leadership Development program, running an online LGBTQIA+ book club with over 600 members, helping business leaders integrate EDI concepts into their business strategies, and more. When not working, Ceysa can usually be found camping around the Scottish Highlands with her dog.
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Non-executive Director
Francesca is a designer and researcher driven by a commitment to impactful projects that enhance community well-being. With a foundation in graphic design, she now spans a broad spectrum of design, digital media, and research to craft brands, products, and experiences that innovate and inspire. Francesca’s dedication to children’s mental health, environmental conservation, queer rights, women’s health, and social justice resonates deeply with Studio Lutalica’s values, strengthening our mission to champion diverse and underserved communities.
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Non-executive Director
Hugh is a skilled community builder and DEI consultant with a passion for empowering communities and individuals. His background in operations and leadership roles within LGBT+ organisations makes him a valuable asset to teams seeking to foster truly inclusive cultures. Hugh previously collaborated with Studio Lutalica founder Cecilia, and now brings his experience with needs assessment, program development, and strategic planning to the team as a voluntary Co-Director.
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Non-executive Director
Kirsty is an experienced business strategist and high-level leader, who founded and runs Molke, a purpose-led underwear company that has grown year on year since 2016. They have a strong passion for social justice and gender equity, and are committed to using their work to create positive change. Kirsty is an accomplished and inspiring speaker on issues related to body acceptance and disability awareness, and they’re never afraid to call out the fashion industry for diversity issues. Kirsty brings energy, passion and a strong ability to think outside the box to Studio Lutalica.
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Non-executive Director
Ruth is a seasoned content and comms strategist with 12 years of experience. Having started her career as a journalist, her comms career has included has spanned from journalism covering the Olympic Games to telling stories about favela communities to advising businesses. A proud feminist, Ruth uses her platform to speak out for women’s rights with a particular focus on abortion and choice. Her consultancy business Toucan Content advises purpose-led businesses and charities on how to communicate better and be more human in an increasingly disconnected world. Ruth brings all of this experience, perspective and passion to her role at Lutalica.
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Non-executive Director
As well as being a Lutalica co-director, Susie is the CEO of an LGBT+ youth charity, empowering young people to be proud of who they are. Her leadership journey spans over 16 years in the charity sector, including being a regional fundraising manager at the age of 20. Susie’s drive to build excellent partnerships and teams, with a passion to make the world a better place, has delivered hugely successful campaigns and initiatives. Susie is also a fanatical cook, a cat-lover and enjoys traveling and walking adventures.
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Communications Manager
Lily is passionate about language and overcoming obstacles through communication. She helps Lutalica, and a handful of other clients, connect with their audience. Having spent the first three years of her career as Marketing Lead for a fast-growing startup, Lily now principally works with social enterprises and small businesses.
🎓 BA (Hons) English and History of Art
🎓 MA Arts & Cultural Management
🏴 Edinburgh
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Business Development Manager
Lou is motivated by connecting with people and facilitating positive change. Before starting at Lutalica, they founded Goodstrangevibes, an art business with a focus on mental health, body image, LGBTQ+ topics and sex education. Multitalented, they bring creativity, energy and their experience in brand development to every project they work on.
🎓 BA in Politics, Psychology and Sociology
🇬🇧 London
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Project Manager
Nathalie is fascinated by the social impact of design and technology. Her combined design and management background help her deliver projects smoothly and effectively. She enjoys the enriching qualities of teamwork and communicating with people from all backgrounds and specialisms.
🎓 BA Design Management and Cultures
🎓 MA Digital Media
🇬🇧 London
they/them
Founder + Creative Director
Cecilia Righini is an empathetic leader and creative problem solver. As the founder of Studio Lutalica, they seamlessly blend design with social justice, driving impactful change in the industry. Recognised as British Creative Businesswoman of the Year, Cecilia is a trustee at the Equality Network in Scotland and has lent their expertise as a judge for the Scottish Startup Awards and PRINT Awards.
🎓 BA Design Management and Cultures
🎓 MA Gender, Media and Culture
🏴 Edinburgh
she/her
Design Lead + Non-executive Director
Alaïs has a dual role at Lutalica, as both Graphic Design Lead and one of our co-directors. She believes that a deep understanding of client needs shows itself in the finished work. With expertise in branding and web design, Alaïs’s approach is particularly informed by her dedication to accessibility. In 2023, Studio Lutalica helped bring Alaïs’s accessibility resource Understanding Accessibility to life to help make the web more inclusive for all.
🇫🇷 Paris
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UX/UI Designer
Federica is as passionate about product design as she is about creating digital experiences that are accessible and stimulating. She has a comprehensive understanding of user needs thanks to her background in both tech support and product design. Federica’s eagerness to create something new with every project, that will exceed user expectations, is apparent in her impressive portfolio.
🎓 BSc Product Design
🎓 MA Industrial Design
🇬🇧 London
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QA Engineer
Gloria is as perceptive about design technology as she is about people, and brings a wealth of experience from industries including energy, biotech and design. Gloria is passionate about mental health, and one day hopes to use her skills, resources and platform to join the fight to liberate LGBTQ+ persons in her country, and the rest of Africa.
🎓 BSc Computer Engineering
🇬🇭 Accra
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Webflow Developer
Lisa is a self-taught web developer who found their niche in web development, thanks to her natural problem-solving skills. They have a range of interests and have amassed knowledge in fields such as physics, astronomy and environmentalism alongside design and development, but all of this is off her own back. Lisa specialises in Webflow, accessibility and website performance. They especially welcome work from non-profit organisations and purpose-driven start-ups.
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
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WordPress Developer
Nata specialises in front-end web development. She loves the immediacy of front-end dev; the way small changes in code can produce starkly different results. She also enjoys custom animation, and is currently developing skills in this area. Before the war in Ukraine, Nata really enjoyed travelling. But the events of 2022 forced her to change her priorities. She now has a greater appreciation for the present moment and the incredible capacity people have to adapt and care for one another.
🇺🇦 Lviv
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Graphic Designer
Zoe is a self-starter who brings creative solutions to design projects. She has experience from a diverse range of sectors, including B2B, NGO’s and commercial projects. Zoe is particularly interested in the way audiences encounter and interact with the work she produces. She specialises in branding, web design and illustration.
🎓 BA Architecture
🇬🇧 London
Manifesto
At Studio Lutalica, we stand unwaveringly for intersectional feminism. In practice, that means our identity, practices and purpose are guided by the belief gender equality isn’t possible without addressing all social inequalities.
We are fundamentally trans-inclusive. Our aim is to represent the needs of all members of the queer community, whilst recognising that the rights of trans people are particularly under threat in the current landscape.
We take immense pride in our work. Every project we undertake is a testament to our commitment to care and creativity.
Promoting the idea that ‘one size fits all’ would do a disservice to our clients and the people they serve. We recognise that everyone has different needs and it’s our job to deliver designs that work for the people who use them.
The more perspectives we hear, the stronger we are. We strive to create an environment where everyone’s voice is heard and genuinely contributes to our decisions. Our goal is to systematically decentralise power at Studio Lutalica so a greater number of people have a tangible stake in the business.
We’re committed to fostering a supportive and nurturing environment that prioritises the health of our team members and this isn’t something that we will compromise on under pressure.
People from disadvantaged backgrounds and neurodivergent people are just some of the groups forced to mask their behaviour to be accepted in the workplace. This is fundamentally elitist, ableist and exclusionary. Instead, we advocate for professionalism defined by empathy, respect, and responsibility, where you can bring your whole self to work.
One of our principal initiatives as an agency is to create a safe and empathetic space for people to fully express themselves. This is for all of our clients, but particularly those who work in sensitive or niche areas.
The rights of women and LGBTQ+ across the globe are fundamentally bound up with the climate crisis. We are living through a climate emergency, and take responsibility for minimising our environmental impact through sustainable business practices.
We’re in a perpetual ‘learning phase.’ While we are experts in our field, we never assume that we know everything. We value active listening, questioning our beliefs, and staying attuned to emerging trends and industry developments.
WHAT ABOUT you?