Movers & Shakers
We see you: Angharad Coates
This seasoned fashionista is turning her PR talents to promoting women in design.
DP’s series of the people—young, old, and everyone in between—who most intrigue us.
Why we’re watching her: Coates, the ultimate PR fashionista, is the inaugural director of the Female Design Council, a professional network and advocacy organization for women in design, architecture, and applied arts. Needless to say, the job requires turning up at all the best openings and parties. Rest assured, Coates excels.
Pedigree: The Columbia University grad’s past gigs include serving as the director of Communications at the New York Academy of Art and managing partner at Camron, a design-focused PR agency.
About that first name: We’re not the only ones who are slightly baffled but Coates has a sense of humor. One of her fave memes: “Give your daughters difficult names.” Clearly, her parents took the directive seriously. Then again, her two sisters are named Elaine and Alison, so we’re not sure what happened.
Island time: Coates escapes the party circuit to work as a docent and volunteer tour Guide on New York’s Governors Island. (Our personal tip: Stop by Island Oyster for a cocktail and a great view of Manhattan.)
Taking applications: Looking for a little touch of Ivy? Coates is an alumni interviewer for her alma mater, Columbia University,
Catch her in the wild: Coates flits between New York, Paris, and Maine, where she spent summers growing up. Wherever she goes, chances are good she’ll be rocking a pair of her signature dangling earrings.
Party spirit animal: The butterfly, known for its love of celebrations and creativity.
Prediction: We, like most of the country, plan on quitting the prediction business for a while. That said, one thing we do know for sure: We will all need as much art and creativity as we can get in the coming years. Angharad Coates? You’re up.
Hero photo by Madison Fender/BFA.com