A "wake" is the situation behind, or a consequence. There are 2 types of wake. 1. A wake is after a funeral, where the family and friends have a lunch, meal or drinks together, to remember a person who died. 2. A wake is the trail in the water after a ship has passed, and is characterised by a smooth area of the sea, as the waves were flattened by the boat. So the area I sailed past is called the wake. See the wake my yacht left. or another common phrase, "just follow my wake". This second meaning is corresponding to your question. The designer has left a trail, a wake, and other designers will follow in his path, in his wake.

It means "as a result of it" or "after it".