Women In Design: Milwaukee

12/17/2025

Join us TONIGHT!

Cheers to the Season! Join Us for a Holiday Happy Hour!

Let’s toast to the holidays and connect with friends in design!

Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 4:30 PM
Location: Third Street Market Hall

Come for the cozy vibes, festive drinks, and great conversation. Whether you’re wrapping up your day or kicking off the holiday celebrations, we’d love to celebrate with you!
Bring your holiday cheer (and a friend!)

Please note: Drinks and food are available for purchase at the venue.
RSVP at https://www.widmke.com/event-details/holiday-happy-hour

12/11/2025

Cheers to the Season! Join Us for a Holiday Happy Hour!

Let’s toast to the holidays and connect with friends in design!

Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 4:30 PM
Location: Third Street Market Hall

Come for the cozy vibes, festive drinks, and great conversation. Whether you’re wrapping up your day or kicking off the holiday celebrations, we’d love to celebrate with you!
Bring your holiday cheer (and a friend!)

Please note: Drinks and food are available for purchase at the venue.
RSVP at https://www.widmke.com/event-details/holiday-happy-hour

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, help build a more equitable and inclusive design community in Milwaukee.

Women in Design MKE provides mentorship, scholarships, leadership development, and free community programming that uplifts designers across disciplines.

Make your contribution to design equity in the following ways:
•Donate online: www.widmke.com/donate
• Sponsor a 2026 program: $650 per event
• Co-sponsor an event: Email widmke414@gmail.com

Upcoming 2026 Events:
• January – Personal Finance
• February – CANstruction "CAN’t Forget the Magic."
• March – Maker Event
• April – Lighting Talks
• May – Burnout Repair Workshop

Your support directly strengthens the Milwaukee design community, today and every day.

Your investment reflects your dedication to advancing equity within the design profession. Diversity is the foundation of innovation in design, and your contribution helps create an environment where every designer has the support to follow their passion and thrive.

11/06/2025

Breaking | Building

Join Women in Design MKE and WCREW for an inspiring evening celebrating women from a variety of industries as they share their passions, projects, and perspectives through 20 slides / 20 seconds presentations. Each talk offers a unique interpretation of the theme Breaking | Building.

Speakers:
Rachel Priddy – Spring Bank
Lauren McFall – Marsh McLennan Agency
Sara Wajgel & Samantha Sprung – CJ & Associates
Dulce Carreno – UWM Student
Sara Nunnally – HGA
Tina Crave – Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation
Natalie Villegas – MSOE CREATE Institute
Adrienne Economos-Miller – UWM SARUP
Ray Hill – Historic King Drive Business Improvement District

REGISTER: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/breaking-building-lightning-talks
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, November 19
Time: 5:30–7:30 PM
Location: Coakley Brothers, 400 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI
Cost: Free and open to all. Drinks and light appetizers will be provided.

Co-Hosts: Women in Design MKE & WCREW
Sponsor: HGA

09/18/2025

Join WIDMKE and WIDs for an evening that goes beyond traditional design!

Careers (like life) rarely follow a straight line. Hear from a panel of professionals who’ve taken untraditional paths in design, sharing their unique stories, honest conversations, and lessons learned along the way. Connect with students, professionals, and peers while exploring the many twists and turns a career can take.

Details:
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
UWM SARUP First Floor Commons
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Panelists:
Danielle Bell – Owner, Ecologist & Designer, Native Roots LLC
Kate Bartlett – Associate VP, Business Development, HGA Architects + Engineers
Rochelle Brien, AICP – Project Manager, Menomonee Valley Partners

Come for the stories, stay for the connections.

Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/beyond-the-blueprint-unconventional-career-pathways

09/08/2025

SPEAKEASY & STORYTELLING

Join us for an evening of drinks, light appetizers, and an inspiring panel of women sharing their journeys in historic preservation and why Milwaukee’s architectural heritage matters.

Panelists: Jen Davel, Donna Weiss, Kim Trent, Allyson Nemec

After the panel: Keep the night going with a pub crawl hosted by the AIA Historic Resources Committee.

Details
Date: September 17
Time: 5:30–8:00 PM
Location: Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr

Cocktails will be available for purchase, with complimentary light bites provided.

Sponsored by: Quorum Architects, New Histiroty, AIA Historic Resources Committee

Register here:

An Evening of Preservation & Conversation

09/02/2025

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for CANstruction MKE 2026!

This year’s theme is CAN’t Forget the Magic! Teams will bring the Milwaukee Public Museum’s iconic exhibits to life through CanArt — but remember: each exhibit can only be claimed by one team. First-come, first-served!

Register now: www.widmke.com/event-details/canstruction-milwaukee-2026-team-registration

Registration closes Oct 10, 2025 — spots are limited!

08/29/2025

CANstruction 2026 - REGISTRATION OPENS SEPT. 2ND AT NOON!

The countdown is on for one of Milwaukee’s most creative community events. This year’s theme is CAN’t Forget the Magic! — celebrating the wonder of the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Each team will choose one of the museum’s iconic exhibits to inspire their CanArt design. But here’s the twist: each exhibit can only be claimed by ONE team. Selection is first-come, first-served, so be ready to secure your spot quickly.

Exhibits to select from:
Streets of Old Milwaukee
European Village
Rainforest
Pacific Islands
Living Oceans
The Third Planet: Earth
Asia
Africa
Crossroads of Civilization
Bugs Alive!
Wisconsin Woodlands
Arctic
Sense of Wonder
Daniel M. Soref Planetarium
Jack Puelicher Butterfly Garden

Pro Tip: Before registration opens, review the exhibit list and rank your choices in order of preference. Since each exhibit can only be claimed by one team, having your list ready will make it easier to secure the best available option when it’s your turn

REGISTRATION opens September 2ND, 2025, https://www.widmke.com/event-details/canstruction-milwaukee-2026-team-registration

We’re proud to host this event in partnership with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Wisco NOMA, the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, and the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Help us CANstruct the magic!
Become a 2026 sponsor — widmke414@gmail.com

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and make a difference!

08/18/2025

CANstruction Exhibits!

This year’s theme is CAN’t Forget the Magic! Each team will choose one of the Milwaukee Public Museum’s iconic exhibits to inspire their CanArt design. But here’s the twist: each exhibit can only be claimed by ONE team. Selection is first-come, first-served, so register early to secure your exhibit selection!

Pro Tip: Before registration opens, review the exhibit list and rank your choices in order of preference. Since each exhibit can only be claimed by one team, having your list ready will make it easier to secure the best available option when it’s your turn.

Exhbits to select from:
Streets of Old Milwaukee
European Village
Rainforest
Pacific Islands
Living Oceans
The Third Planet: Earth
Asia
Africa
Crossroads of Civilization
Bugs Alive!
Wisconsin Woodlands
Arctic
Sense of Wonder
Daniel M. Soref Planetarium
Jack Puelicher Butterfly Garden

REGISTRATION opens September 2ND 2025, on our website, and spots are limited!

We’re proud to host this event in partnership with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Wisco NOMA, the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, and the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Help us CANstruct the magic!
Become a 2026 sponsor — widmke414@gmail.com

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and make a difference!

08/11/2025

GET READY CANstruction is returning in January 2026!
We’re thrilled to partner with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Wisco NOMA to host this exciting event alongside the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center and Milwaukee Public Museum.

Theme: CAN’t Forget the Magic!
We’re celebrating the magic of the Milwaukee Public Museum! Each team will choose one of the museum’s iconic exhibits to inspire their CanArt design - but here’s the twist: each exhibit can only be claimed by one team. Selection is first-come, first-served, so claim your inspiration early and secure your spot!

Mark your calendars - registration opens September 1, 2025, on our website, and spots are limited!

Key Dates:
Registration Opens: Sept 2ND, 2025
Registration Closes: Oct 10, 2025 (Limited Spots!)
Build Day: Jan 31, 2026
Awards Ceremony: Feb 5, 2026
De-Canstruction: Feb 18, 2026

We’ll share more details soon! In the meantime, we’re accepting sponsors for the event — if you’re interested, email widmke414@gmail.com.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and make a difference!

05/20/2025

Congratulations to the incredible women recognized in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2025 Women of Influence Awards!

We’re especially proud to celebrate Roberta (Robbie) Oldenburg among this year’s honorees. Her leadership, motivation, and impact on those around her continue to inspire, and this recognition is a true testament to the difference she’s making in our WIDMKE community.

Well deserved, Robbie!

This is the 24th year the Milwaukee Business Journal has honored Milwaukee’s most influential women.

05/19/2025

Are you attending the AIA Wisconsin's Conference on Architecture this week? Join WID MKE on Wednesday, May 21, at 1:15 PM for our session, Beyond Architecture: Harnessing a Cross-Disciplinary Community for Professional Resilience.

WID board members Mo Zell, Ali Kopyt, Robbie Oldenburg, Alexis Meyer, and Taruna Gupta will lead the discussion and guide an interactive activity focused on building your own personal board of directors.

We look forward to connecting with you there.