Influential Woman · Architecture, Interior Design & Cartooning
Andrea Beizer, RA, NCIDQ
Architect, Interior Designer, Cartoonist & Educator, AEB Design Group
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Her Story
About Andrea
Andrea Beizer, RA, NCIDQ, is a Philadelphia-based architect, interior designer, educator, and syndicated cartoonist whose career brings together design, visual storytelling, and education. She is the creator of Alice, a cartoon strip centered on a “maturing” woman navigating contemporary society, with themes that explore aging, identity, and social and philosophical issues. Her work as a cartoonist is syndicated through King Features Syndicate, while her architectural and interior design practice operates through AEB Design Group, a full-service firm specializing in residential and small-scale commercial projects, including law and medical offices. She is a Registered Architect in Pennsylvania and holds the NCIDQ qualification.
Beizer founded AEB Design Group in 1993 and has built an extensive career in architecture and interior design, working on residential renovations, additions, professional offices, furniture and finish selections, and specialized commercial projects. Her firm's work has included consulting for CUH2A on a Pfizer Pharmaceuticals facility in Groton, Connecticut, where AEB Design Group was responsible for the millwork package connecting offices and laboratories and incorporating five retail convenience stores; the project received the R&D 2001 Lab of the Year High Honors Award. Alongside her professional practice, Beizer has devoted significant time to design education. She served as a full professor at the Art Institute of Philadelphia for approximately 17 years and currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Moore College of Art & Design, where she has taught interior design, construction technology, design, architectural and interior design history, and foundational design courses.
Her creative career has become an increasingly important part of her professional identity. After reviving Alice with encouragement from longtime mentor and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Tony Auth, Beizer pursued syndication through direct networking, conferences, personal introductions, physical work samples, and follow-up with industry professionals. Alice is now syndicated through King Features and has received significant recognition, including acceptance of approximately 500 pieces and related materials into the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum collection. Beizer is a member of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Cartoonist Society and continues to combine her architectural, design, teaching, and cartooning backgrounds. Her career reflects the importance she places on personal connection, creative individuality, mentorship, and the value of learning from different generations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Andrea
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the importance of face-to-face networking and genuine human connection. Throughout my career, I have attended conferences, introduced myself directly to syndicators, brought physical samples of my work, and followed up with thank-you notes. Those personal interactions have been extremely valuable in building professional relationships and creating opportunities. I believe that, particularly in creative fields, connecting with people personally can make a significant difference.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Two mentors have been particularly influential in my career: Tony Auth, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist from The Philadelphia Inquirer, who mentored me in the 1980s and again in 2013, and Kathy Geis-White, creator of Guys with Dogs, who encouraged me greatly. Their mentorship and encouragement played an important role in helping me continue developing my work as a cartoonist.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to develop their own unique style rather than trying to copy what others are doing. It is important to discover what makes your work distinctive and allow that individuality to become part of your professional identity.
I would also encourage young professionals to prioritize face-to-face networking. Joining professional organizations such as the National Cartoonist Society, attending local chapter meetings, and participating in conferences can create meaningful relationships and opportunities that may not come from relying solely on the internet.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
As a woman in architecture, I experienced discrimination and isolation throughout my 40-year career. There were many situations in which I was the only woman in the room and was excluded from professional networking opportunities that were available to men. I also experienced gender-based separation while in graduate school, when my girlfriend and I were deliberately placed in different sections.
These experiences demonstrate some of the longstanding challenges women have faced in traditionally male-dominated areas of architecture. At the same time, my career reflects the opportunities that can come from persistence, developing a distinctive creative voice, and building strong professional relationships.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Teaching is particularly valuable to me because it provides opportunities to gain different perspectives from younger generations. The students I work with often have completely different ways of thinking, and those perspectives continue to inform and enrich my own understanding of design, creativity, and the world around me.
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