On Friday, November 21, AIGA Baltimore hosted Women Working in Design, a sold-out panel discussion, held at SPARK Coworking in downtown Baltimore. The evening centered on candid conversations with women creatives about what it means to work, lead, and create in today’s design landscape. Panelists and moderators included:
Olivia Moore — Designer & AIGA Baltimore President
Genesis Smith — Environmental Designer & Freelancer
Jade Mcdonnell — Designer & Videographer
Mimi Blanchard — Motion Designer & Brand Strategist
Samantha Frost — Designer & Entrepreneur
Rachel McFadden, PE — Web Developer & Entrepreneur
As a woman in design myself, helping to organize an event like this meant so much to me. It created space for women who have quietly weathered the challenges of being taken seriously as creative leaders and thinkers. It offered a stage where we could speak openly about the reality many of us know well. The feeling of working twice as hard just to be allowed in the room. Yet despite these barriers, each of us has forged our own path, built our own success, and strengthened our love for design.
For attendees, especially students and early-career designers, the panel served as both an emotional release and a source of inspiration. Seeing multiple women chart their paths in the industry provided visible proof that there are many ways forward in a field that can often feel difficult to break into.
Behind the Branding
The event’s promotional design extended these themes. Social media posts and the digital poster displayed behind the panelists featured floral imagery, a deliberate choice rooted in the symbolism of growth, resilience, and renewal. Growth takes time, but flowers are a force of nature when nurtured. The brand design communicated this message visually, reinforcing the purpose of the panel before a single word was spoken.
Design for Social Change
During the Q&A, an attendee asked a poignant question: “What are each of you doing to combat the government’s push against women’s rights? As designers, how are you standing up against those forces?”
It was a reminder that when women’s autonomy and voices are being contested, design is not just aesthetic. Design for social change becomes an organizing tool. Through visual communication, designers shape how movements speak, how messages spread, and how communities unite. When used with intention, design becomes a collective force that can strengthen advocacy, build networks, and help people see themselves as part of something bigger.
A Heartfelt Thank You
By hosting in-person events like Women Working in Design, AIGA Baltimore and our local partners are working to nurture that collective strength. These gatherings inspire hope, combat burnout, and remind our creative community that none of us have to navigate the industry alone.
A heartfelt thank-you to SPARK Coworking for opening their doors and supporting this important dialogue. Together, we’re planting seeds of connection and creativity.
