events

FALL 2024 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

August 12th Application Deadline

August - November, 2024

We value the strength of mentorship to build connections, expand networks, enable job placement and advancement, and navigate the challenges women face in our industry. The WID SF Mentorship Program is fueled by volunteers passionately donating their time to teach, learn, grow, and build a support system within the design fields. This year’s program will run for 12 weeks between August and November. To learn more, visit our FAQ.

Are you seeking mentorship in the field? Are you looking to support a mentee? We are accepting applications until August 12 from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Apply here

pORTFOLIO rEVIEWS AT mINNESOTA sTREET pROJECT

April 24, 2024 @ 5-7:30p PST

Join us for an evening of portfolio/resume reviews and short 1:1 mentorship sessions. This is an in person special event we are testing out. Our goal is to help provide advice, guidance, and feedback for emerging talents in our community.

We have community volunteers available to review portfolios in 30 minute sessions across many fields; industrial design, user experience, design research, expereince design, interface design, and more.

Apply here

Sign up for reviews here

studio social

March 23, 2023 @ 5:00p PST

March is Women’s History month, join us to celebrate with an empowering happy hour hosted at PA Design Studio (formerly Astro Studios), March 23rd from 5-7 PM at 348 6th St., San Francisco.

Connect with other women designers and allies for an evening of inspiration, networking, and fun! Our new leadership team will be hosting an informal Q&A session, so come ready with your questions. We can’t wait to see you there! RSVP on Eventbrite.

FALL/WINTER 2022 Mentorship Program

Sep 21 Application Deadline

October - November, 2022

We believe in the power of mentorship to build strong connections, expand networks, enable job placement and advancement, and navigate the challenges women face in the design industry. The WIDSF Mentorship Program is fueled by passionate individuals volunteering their time to teach/learn, grow, and build a support system within the design fields. This year’s program will run for 8 weeks between October and November. To learn more, visit our FAQ.

Are you seeking mentorship in the field? Are you looking to support a mentee? We are accepting applications until Sep 21 from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mentees apply here.

Mentors apply here.

BElonging Panel

March 24, 2022 @ 5:30p PST

Our ideas of what ‘Belonging’ looks like and what it means to us are always shifting, and have shifted exponentially during the course of the pandemic. As we entered a moment of isolation from others, we sought out alternative ways to bring others into our lives. These narratives extend above and beyond ourselves; they transcend the physical world around us, our local and global communities, and the technologies we use to communicate with one another.

During this panel, we will explore new frontiers of belonging: what are some of the barriers we are witnessing and how might we design ways to break those down? Can we design more inclusive spaces that prioritize our psychological selves as much as our physical selves? Will technology create more opportunities for digital equity and what role do we play? The event will be hosted over Zoom and the link will be sent 3 days before and again the day of. Register on Eventbrite.

Panelists:

- Rimma Boshernitsan - Founder & CEO, DIALOGUE

- Jen Casimiro - Global Talent Director and Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, IDEO

- Laura Guido-Clark - Founder, Love Good Color & Project Color Corps

Moderated by Alejandra Castelao - WID SF Board Member, Lead Industrial Designer @ Fjord, part of Accenture Interactive

Working Towards Regenerative Panel

November 17, 2021 @ 5:30p PST

Join us Nov 17 to hear experts in industrial design and manufacturing talk about the journey towards becoming regenerative through design. It's not all doom and gloom, our panelists will share their experiences, learnings, and best practices on how to change the course and close the loops of wasteful and harmful conventional manufacturing practices. The event will be hosted over Zoom and the link will be sent 3 days before and again the day of. Register on Eventbrite.

Panelists:

- Lauryn Menard - Founder/EDD @ Prowl Studio

- Patricia Miller - Founder/CEO @ Matrix4 Factory

- Sarah D’Sylva - Co-Founder/Design Strategist @ Hyloh

Moderated by Alejandra Castelao - WID SF Board Member, Lead Industrial Designer @ Fjord, part of Accenture Interactive

Fall/Winter 2021 Mentorship Program

Aug 27 Application Deadline

September - December, 2021

We believe in the power of mentorship to build strong connections, expand networks, enable job placement and advancement, and navigate the challenges women face in the design industry. The WIDSF Mentorship Program is fueled by passionate individuals volunteering their time to teach/learn, grow, and build a support system within the design fields. This year’s program will run for 12 weeks between September and December. To learn more, visit our FAQ.

Are you seeking mentorship in the field? Are you looking to support a mentee? We are accepting applications until Aug 27 from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mentees apply here.

Mentors apply here.

Manufacturing in the Time of Covid

August 18, 2021 @ 530p PST

Bringing a product into the real world is a huge undertaking under normal circumstances and the past year has leveled up the challenge. Tune in to hear how the team at Peak Design took on the journey of manufacturing and their trials, tribulations, and learnings for their latest product. We will cover what manufacturing even entails, the range of disciplines involved, the stages and product evolution at each step, and the ways that COVID shook up existing paradigms. The event will be hosted over Zoom and the link will be sent 3 days before and again the day of. Register on Eventbrite.

Panelists:

- Liv Eaton - Mechanical Engineer @ Peak Design

- Jaimee Erickson - Design Engineer @ Peak Design

- Rachel Roberts - Industrial Designer @ Peak Design

- Adrienne Rowell - Design Engineer PM @ Peak Design

Moderated by Fran Wang - WID SF Board Member, Mechanical Engineer @ frog design

working mothers in Id Panel

May 27, 2021

[Recording available here!]

Career industrial designers have long balanced their work and home and the past year has brought those worlds even closer, highlighting the complexities of juggling career and family. From challenges to successes, frustration to joy, our panelists will share their experiences as working parents in industrial design. If you have questions about being, becoming, or supporting a parent in ID, join us on May 27 . The event will be hosted over Zoom and the link will be sent 3 days before and again the day of. Register on Eventbrite.

Panelists:

- Vicci Baigrie - Design Operations @ level design sf

- Lindsey Maxwell - VP @ Teague

- Katie Morgenroth - ID Lead and Manager @ Nest

- Nicola Ralston - Senior Design Director @ Microsoft Windows and Devices Group

-Nichole Rouillac - Founder @ level design sf

- Raja (Jones) Schaar - Program Director @ Drexel University Product Design + Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

Moderated by Lauryn Menard - Chair of WID SF

WIDSF Career panel series

August 12th, 2020 and August 19th, 2020

We’re organizing two virtual panel discussions that will bring together design leaders to share their stories, perspective, and advice to support women in their design careers.

The first panel discussion, called ‘Embarking on a Design Career,’ will be geared towards early-career designers: students, recent graduates, and those who are just starting out in their career.

The second panel discussion, called ‘Design Leadership and Growth,’ will be geared towards mid-career designers who are looking to learn more about design strategy, managing a team or organization, finding confidence as a design leader, and navigating career transitions.

We're proud to be hosting some amazing panelists who are seasoned design leaders who have supported the careers of many designers in a wide variety of industries.

Check out the Eventbrite listing for more information.

summer 2020 mentorship program

Mid June 2020 - Mid September 2020

In early 2019, Women in Design SF started a mentorship program aimed at helping more women succeed in Design, particularly in the field of Industrial Design. After two successful seasons, we’re excited to continue the program this year.

The Summer 2020 program will start in mid June and end in mid September. For the first time, we’re going to do this virtually, so all kickoffs, check-ins and 1:1 mentorship sessions will be done remotely.

The application window for the Summer 2020 program is now closed. If you’re interested in being a future mentor or mentee, check out the Mentorship section of the site for more information and to get on the mailing list!

STUDIO STORIES: OPEN MIC NIGHT

April 29th @ 6:30pm

111 Minna Gallery

What’s it like to be a woman in the design industry? Do you have experiences that illuminate lessons learned, realities faced, and transformations had? We want to hear your stories of triumph, fear, dilemmas, insight, and ‘wait, did that just happen?!’ moments. Make us laugh, make us cry, but most importantly, give us your honest and personal take on what ‘women in design’ means to you.

Whether you’re a woman in the design industry, or have an interesting experience to share in support of women in the design industry, we want to hear from you! Prepare a one to five minute story to share on-stage at our open mic event on April 29th.

WINE + CHEESE MIXER

September 27, 2018 @ Bolt

With Women in Hardware

Join us for a Happy Hour in the sun @boltvc's lovely garden. IDSA Women in Design + Women in Hardware are joining together for Wine & Cheese Party.

Please bring a cheese or bottle of wine to share.

Designing Women’s Health + Well Being

June 13, 2018 @ Bolt

With Women in Hardware

With the rise of female-driven economy we are seeing a fundamental shift in design and product development. Balanced teams with women in leadership are driving innovation and bringing new experiences that address the authentic and unique needs of women.

Join us for an evening showcasing products that are Redesigning Women's Health and Well Being featuring an in-depth dive into the design process and product development of the Fitbit Versa.

PIVOT - A Designers Guide To Navigating The Mid-Career Crisis

April 19, 2018 @ WeWork

An evening of inspiring stories from designers who have navigated the mid-career crisis in their own way.

A designers mid-life crisis- we all get those - whether it is in your 20s or 30s? when should you move on? When should you reach for another position? When should you break out on your own? Come out to hear stories from industry leaders who have carved their own paths through these experiences. Some female entrepreneurs, some corporate bad asses and all experiences of how they dealt with their “mid-designer life crisis.”

Designing Women’s Well Being

February 28, 2018 @ Bolt

With Women in Hardware

An evening with innovators in Women's health, wellness, and well-being. Frog Design’s Yona team will be presenting their exploration into redesigning the pelvic exam experience. The discussion will be followed by cocktails & conversation and an opportunity to check out prototypes and samples from startups building cutting edge women’s health and well-being products.

Inspiring Change

October 12, 2017 @ Mule Gallery

With IDSA

Despite controlling 80% of consumer spending, only 10% of Creative Directors are women. Have you ever questioned, Where Do All The Women Designers Go?

Let's create a positive shift. Join us for an intimate to discuss the challenges hindering diversity in the Design profession. Eva Lutz, General Manager at Design Concepts and Nichole Rouillac co-founder of level design sf will lead a dialogue centered on closing the gender gap, the unique strengths of women designers; including actionable advice on getting hired and progressing in your career.

Sexism in the Workplace

September 27, 2018 @ Google

With IDSA and Google

We are not going to pretend sexism in the workplace doesn't exist. Our goal is to share stories among us because they are powerful to helping other women to know they are not alone. By sharing stories, we are connecting and helping each other to find solutions in this space by discussing ways we each have overcome each situation.

Join us for an intimate conversation in which 4 women in various levels of their careers to discuss share tactics of how we've dealt with situations - it can help others in their situation.