Celebrating Women's History Month – Kate Stokes of Coco Flip
Kate Stokes, the founder and director of Melbourne-based furniture and lighting design studio Coco Flip, is used to wearing many hats. However, it is her roles as object designer and creative director that drives her day-to-day operations.
Raised in suburban Perth during the 1980s, Kate had limited exposure to design history. However, throughout her teenage years, she developed a profound interest in architecture and design, which was only “further ignited by some time spent working and travelling through Europe after high school,” she says. Although she initially pursued architecture in tertiary education, Kate ultimately transferred to industrial design, where she “felt more at home with the scale, manufacturing and immediacy of furniture,” she explains.
Recognising the inherent qualities each individual brings to their work, Kate hopes that her perspective as a woman can contribute to reshaping the culture of the traditionally male-dominated design industry. As well as working alongside her husband, Kate and Haslett jointly raise their two daughters, aged seven and nine. “I love including the girls in our discussions around work and I sometimes give them design briefs, which they love,” says Kate. “Haslett and I are very much an equal partnership when it comes to work and home life, especially parenting, and I think it’s really empowering for our kids to experience that.”
Kate found inspiration from two influential women in her life who excelled as leaders in their chosen careers: her mother and mother-in-law. Now, as a mother to two daughters herself, Kate recognises the profound influence seeing women in leadership roles can have on shaping attitudes towards work and life. “I want other women and girls to know they can follow their passion into any industry or role and that we don’t need to emulate masculine traits to do so,” she says.
Reflecting on her career journey, Kate’s proudest achievement lies in her growth towards assertiveness. “I’m naturally quite introverted, but with experience, I’ve become more confident in both business and design,” she says. Celebrating women from all walks of life, whether they’ve led their industries or simply been role models to other women, Kate finds inspiration in the courage of those who have risked their safety to advocate for others. “I’m hopeful that with every generation, the world becomes more inclusive, open-minded and forward thinking in gender issues, but all of us must continue to advocate for this to make it a reality.”
