Join us on March 5, 2026 for an inspiring International Women’s Day gathering at the Seattle Design Center. Women in Design: Beautifully Complex explores the layered intelligence, creativity, and leadership women bring to the design industry. This year’s program moves beyond conversation and into evidence, insight, and lived expertise, highlighting how women shape not only spaces, but the way people experience and move through the world.
The afternoon begins with Sherwin-Williams Designer Account Executive Mariah Hebenthal, who will reveal how color influences emotion, energy, and human connection from the moment someone enters a space. From grounding neutrals to expressive signature hues, Mariah will demonstrate how thoughtful color selection becomes one of the most powerful tools in a designer’s arsenal.
We then welcome Anna Popov, Founder of Interiors by Popov, for a fascinating keynote on neuroaesthetics and the science behind beauty. Through real-world examples and emerging research, Anna reframes designers as nervous-system designers, demonstrating how interiors influence emotion, wellbeing, and attention in profound ways.
The program concludes with a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Nicole Martin, Director of Education and Community Outreach at Woodpecker. Together, our speakers will explore leadership, mentorship, and the beautifully complex elements that define success in design today, followed by audience Q & A and a celebratory happy hour.
We invite you to gather, learn, and celebrate the women shaping the future of our industry.
