Varga Girl Design takes its name from the iconic “Varga Girls” created by artist Alberto Vargas. His illustrations became famous in Esquire magazine during the 1940s, an era when women weren’t just appearing on magazine covers—they were stepping into factories, shipyards, and munitions plants, proving they were every bit as capable, resilient, and essential as the men they worked beside.
That’s always been the part of the story that fascinated me.
Women could be glamorous and gritty. Feminine and formidable. Pretty. Powerful.
That became the foundation of Varga Girl Design.
For me, Pretty. Powerful. isn’t just a tagline. It’s the standard. I believe design should be beautiful, but never superficial; polished, but never passive. It should communicate, inspire confidence, and do its job.
From the very beginning, Varga Girl Design has celebrated women—especially entrepreneurs, founders, creators, and changemakers building something of their own.
Only recently did I understand why that mission felt so natural.
After learning more about my family’s history and receiving my Métis citizenship, I realized that celebrating resilient women had been woven into my own story all along. It didn’t change the direction of Varga Girl Design. It simply gave me a deeper appreciation for where that passion came from.
Today, I’m proud to work with organizations of every kind, but I have a special place in my heart for women-led businesses and purpose-driven organizations. Helping people tell their stories with confidence has always been the best part of my job.
So yes, the name is inspired by a piece of vintage illustration history.
But the mission has always been much bigger than that.
To create thoughtful, strategic design that helps bold businesses show up with confidence, tell their story, and take up the space they deserve.
That’s what Pretty. Powerful. has meant to me for the past 25 years—and what it will continue to mean for years to come.
