Design Expo with The Rhonda Walker Foundation

Yesterday, DESIGNCONNECT partnered with The Rhonda Walker Foundation to host a Design Expo at the Boys and Girls Club. Teenage girls from across the city of Detroit joined us for this hands on experience, receiving face-time with some of the biggest female names in art and design.

The young women learned about interior design in the worlds of automotive and health and wellness, photography, architectural design, urban planning & landscaping, and event branding. Having strong, female role models talking about how they made it in a male-dominated industry inspired every single young woman in that room. We watched their faces light up as they asked questions, chatted with the panelists, and participated in intimate workshops where they could dive deeper into each field.

A huge thank you to our incredible panelists for giving of their time to inspire young minds on a Saturday:

  • Katherine Chappelle: Senior Interior Designer, Gensler

  • Ujijji Davis: Landscape Architect, The Smith Group

  • Hèlene Kenny: Branded Experience Designer

  • Eleanor Oakes: Assistant Professor, College for Creative Studies &

    Founder & President, Darkroom Detroit

  • Crystal Windham: Director of Design, Cadillac Interiors, General Motors

  • Clarinda Barnett-Harrison: Senior Director of Economic Prosperity,

    United Way

  • Bailey Morgan: Design Student at College for Creative Studies

And a huge amount of gratitude for the incredible Rhonda Walker Foundation, and Rhonda herself, for partnering and coming along side of us to create an incredible opportunity for these young women. The girls walked away excited, hopeful, and inspired for their futures, and that means everything!

DESIGNCONNECT