Women In Design: Milwaukee

09/08/2026

The World is Your CANvas!

Turn cans into creativity and community impact! CANstruction Milwaukee brings design teams together to build incredible structures made entirely from canned food, all while supporting local hunger relief.

WIDMKE is teaming up with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Wisco NOMA for our 2027 CANstruction competition at the Baird Center. Teams will compete for CanArt awards including Best Meal, Structural Ingenuity, Best Original Design, Most Cans, Best Use of Labels, and People’s Choice.

Build Day: February 6, 2027
De-CANstruction: February 15, 2027
Location: Baird Center, Milwaukee
Theme: The World is Your CANvas

Gather your team, grab your cans, and let's CANstruct some magic!
Register your team now: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/canstruction-milwaukee-2027-team-registration

08/18/2026

WE ARE BACK! Did you miss us? We missed you!
✨ Her Own Making: Inserting Ourselves into the Narrative ✨

What does it mean to build a creative practice and career on your own terms?

Join Women in Design – Milwaukee for an inspiring panel discussion featuring women from Milwaukee’s arts and design community as they share the experiences, choices, and turning points that shaped their creative paths.

Presented by artist and author Christine Welman, the conversation will explore what it means to carve out space for yourself, resist the narratives that seek to define you, and continue creating along the way.

The panel will take place during the opening reception of “Athena on My Mind,” Welman’s solo exhibition exploring Athena as both mythological figure and personal symbol through painting and poetry.

✨ Saturday, September 12, 2026
📍 Mitchell Street Arts | 710 W Historic Mitchell St, Milwaukee
🎨 Exhibit Opens: 5:00 PM
💬 Panel Program: 5:30–7:00 PM
🖼️ Exhibit Closes: 8:30 PM

Come gather with us to celebrate the courage it takes to become our fullest selves and to make our own stories along the way.

Register at https://www.widmke.com/event-details/her-own-making-inserting-ourselves-into-the-narrative-1

In partnership with Christine Welman and Mitchell Street Arts.

06/22/2026

And just like that... another exciting season of WID programming has come to an end.

Our final event - The Art of Vitality: Designing a Life with More Life in it - conducted by leadership coach Tina Crave, was exactly the conclusion to a fantastic, full, and fun year that we were looking for (and needed).
We took a moment to breathe, listen to ourselves and others, and learn our best path forward to flourishing - not just surviving.

A number of heartfelt thank yous:

For this event, thank you to Tina for sharing her wealth of knowledge with all of us and thank you to our sponsor and generous host, GRAEF.

If we could shout it from the rooftops we would - THANK YOU to ALL of our members who attended events this past season, we could not be more grateful for you choosing to spend your time with us to better yourself, your community, and your profession. We hope to continue to have your support for years to come.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors, partners, and donors who have made this past year possible. Your belief in the mission of WID and your commitment to pushing the envelope is something we never take for granted.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or host of an event next season, or a donor to our scholarship supporting young, bright students studying in design fields - email us at [email protected].

Have a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you again in the fall.

Women in Design - Milwaukee

04/29/2026

Time to celebrate another round of successful Lightning Talks!

We had a great evening filled with laughter and learning at Freight38 in Bayview. The theme, Milestone Moments, led to stories of success, failure, and most importantly - growth. There was something for everyone to relate to when listening to this multigenerational cohort of women outline their milestone moments.

We are grateful to our presenters for lending us their time and sharing their experiences:

Kelly Jo McClanathan of Ring and DuChateau
Melissa Wolter of HGA
Andrea Hubbert of Hub+company
Katie Redel an Experience Designer in Milwaukee
Diana Billstrom of the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce
Adrienne Hunter of Servant Manor
Lauren Bauman of Women in Design Students
Carrie Matteson of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin

A big thank you to our sponsor, Ring & DuChateau, our generous host, .38, and our co-host, the Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee.

We hope to see you at our FINAL EVENT OF THE SEASON - The Art of Vitality: Designing a Life with more Life In It.
Join us next week, Thursday, May 7th, from 5:30-7:30 at GRAEF.

04/24/2026

Our final event of the season is here!
The Art of Vitality: Designing a Life with more Life In It with leadership coach Tina Crave

This interactive, energizing workshop is designed for women who care deeply about their work AND what matters most outside of it. Together, we’ll explore what’s fueling your energy - and what’s quietly draining it - while learning simple, evidence-based ways to move from burnout to sustainable flourishing. Expect laughter, honest reflection, and meaningful conversation as you define what “flourishing” looks like in your life. You’ll leave with a personalized plan to help ensure you have plenty of energy to live a life with more LIFE in it.

Tina Crave:
A positive psychology practitioner and leadership coach, Crave brings a practical, action-oriented approach to help individuals and teams design their vision for a flourishing future - and move it forward. Having served as founding President & CEO of the Greater Watertown Health Foundation, Crave now focuses on helping leaders discover and step into their full potential. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch, a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and is leadership and performance coach training through Brown University.

Date: Thursday, May 7th
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM

Location: GRAEF
275 West Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 300
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Thank you to GRAEF for sponsoring this event. We hope to see you there!

04/08/2026

Don't forget to sign up for our Lightning Talks Tomorrow!

https://www.widmke.com/event-details/milestone-moments-lightning-talk

Join Women In Design and Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee for an inspiring night of stories from a dynamic lineup of women across industries. Each speaker will take the stage in a fast-paced 20x20 format, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, sharing their take on this year’s theme: Milestone Moments.

Through bold visuals and personal narratives, you’ll hear the experiences that have shaped careers, shifted perspectives, and made a lasting impact.

Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, connect with fellow professionals, and raise a glass (cash bar available) to the stories that move us forward.

Speakers:
Kelly Jo McClanathan | Ring and DuChateau
Melissa Wolter | HGA
Andrea Hubbert | Hub+company
Katie Redel | Experience Designer
Diana Billstrom | Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerc
Adrienne Hunter | Servant Manor
Lauren Bauman | Women In Design Students
Carrie Matteson | Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/milestone-moments-lightning-talk
Details:
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Freight 38
838 S 1st St. Milwaukee, WI

Co-hosted with Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
Sponsored by: Ring & DuChateau Consulting Engineers

03/26/2026

Join Women In Design and Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee for an inspiring night of stories from a dynamic lineup of women across industries. Each speaker will take the stage in a fast-paced 20x20 format, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, sharing their take on this year’s theme: Milestone Moments.

Through bold visuals and personal narratives, you’ll hear the experiences that have shaped careers, shifted perspectives, and made a lasting impact.

Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, connect with fellow professionals, and raise a glass (cash bar available) to the stories that move us forward.

Speakers:
Kelly Jo McClanathan | Ring and DuChateau
Melissa Wolter | HGA
Andrea Hubbert | Hub+company
Katie Redel | Experience Designer
Diana Billstrom | Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerc
Adrienne Hunter | Servant Manor
Lauren Bauman | Women In Design Students
Carrie Matteson | Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/milestone-moments-lightning-talk
Details:
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Freight 38
838 S 1st St. Milwaukee, WI

Co-hosted with Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
Sponsored by: Ring & DuChateau Consulting Engineers

03/25/2026

Only a few days left to apply for the WIDMKE Scholarship!

This $1,000 scholarship supports women pursuing careers in design and recognizes students who have demonstrated leadership and contributions toward advancing women in the design professions.

We ask for your help in spreading the word to students in your networks — including interns, mentees, university contacts, studio instructors, and emerging professionals you may know.

Eligibility highlights:
Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a design-related program (architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, or similar)
Attending a Wisconsin university
Enrolled for Fall 2026
Demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing women in design

Application Timeline:​​
Applications are now being accepted
Applications are due by March 27th by 3:00 PM
Awardee will be notified by April 10th, 2026

Apply here: https://www.widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

02/23/2026

The WIDMKE Scholarship is officially OPEN! ✨
We’re awarding a $1,000 scholarship to support women pursuing careers in design who are demonstrating leadership and actively advancing women in the profession.

Eligibility:
• Undergraduate or graduate student in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, or related field
• Attending a Wisconsin university
• Enrolled for Fall 2026
• Demonstrated leadership + commitment to advancing women in design
🗓 Applications due: March 27 at 3:00 PM

📣 Help us spread the word to interns, mentees, studio instructors, and emerging professionals in your network!
Apply here: https://www.widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

02/20/2026

Wrapped in Care: Silk Scarf Maker Event
Dye a scarf, share the love. 🎨💛

WID is excited to invite our members to a special Give Back opportunity!

Join us at Lombardi Brewing Company for a hands-on silk scarf dyeing workshop led by local textile artist Sandi Keiser. Inspired by the late Racine artist Maryruth Chorbajian, all scarves created at the event will be donated to a Racine women’s shelter—continuing her legacy of giving healing art to women rebuilding their lives.

These beautiful scarves will deliver warmth and love from our WID community to theirs.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, March 25
⏰ Time: 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: 2200 W Mt Vernon Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
👥 Limited to 25 participants

👚 Dress for dye! Please wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting permanent color on.

👉 Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/wrapped-in-care-silk-scarf-maker-event

Let’s create, connect, and give back together! 💫