This session is part of GA's Women’s History Month  where we’ll come together for panel discussions, masterclasses and practical workshops to support and celebrate women's careers, education and business ventures. 

*Full schedule here*

Interested in a career in design? Or simply looking to gain some advice as a current designer? Come hear what these women in design are up to and what they predict for the future of this field. This panel will be a lively discussion with local experts working in UX, Product, and Creative fields. The panel will feature women who are successfully navigating the design industry and developing exceptional work while motivating change. Here is your chance to hear from women working in the field about challenges they've experienced over the course of their career and turning points along the way that made all the difference for them.

Mary Kim is a Senior Product Designer at social media management company Sprout Social. Prior to her role at Sprout, she was leading product design at fin-tech startup Amount in Chicago. Her 7+ years experience in product design and more recently people management have given her a unique perspective and appreciation in crafting not only digital products, but also career paths for future design leaders. When she's not designing for screens, you can find her studying letter forms, trying out new recipes, or just living her best life with her husband, baby, and fur-nugget in the suburbs of Chicago.

Melody Bilbo (she/her) is a Chicago-based interdisciplinary artist. Her studio, MELLADRAMATIC is located in the heart of the Chicago Arts District, in the Pilsen East neighborhood. The studio offers branding and marketing services that merge photography and design to create compelling campaigns that drive action. Melody is a proud queer woman and feminist who upholds the power of community as one of her greatest values—it is with this outlook that she cofounded intitiatives Queerly Book Club and She Makes Chicago to facilitate support and empowerment through shared reading and story-telling. She is eager to use her platform and skillset to work with mission driven brands that prioritize ethical social, economic, and environmental impact.

Chelsie Tamms is the owner and designer behind Lettering Works, LLC - a modern brand design studio she founded straight out of college in 2016. Lettering Works specializes in branding, wholesale and custom merchandise, as well as online courses for other artists and creatives. Chelsie is on a mission to inspire and empower people through art. She is passionate about helping other artists accelerate their potential and success while being an advocate for disability, chronic illness, and mental health.

Gloria Tsang is a product designer who creates solutions for, both, the user and the business. She is passionate about creating experiences that are easy to understand and efficient for users. Before becoming a designer, she was first a teacher and a world traveler. She currently works remotely full-time on an international, cross-functional team with The Kraft Heinz Company.

Jess Martínez (she/her) is a Chicago-based user experience (UX) designer, stand-up comedian, and producer. As a chronically single, female, Mexican-American, middle child with dark curly hair who was born a size 16, Jess understands what not being heard feels like, so it’s a personal mission of hers to make sure everyone’s voice is accounted for. Her background in art, fundraising, comedy, and event production makes her an unflappable designer of delightful experiences. Her roles as Associate Producer at Las Locas Comedy and Assistant Producer at The Moth StorySLAM Chicago are proof.

TeamWorking is the epicenter and gateway to an innovation ecosystem that includes ventures, enterprises, investors, incubators, innovation labs, and more. Work in a place that has been built with today’s team in mind – collaborative, flexible, and hybrid. Centrally located in downtown Chicago it is the command post where teams grow.

If you are looking for a place to connect in person with your team, network, build community, host meetings and events, or organize prosumer/industry showcases, TeamWorking offers different membership options customized to meet your needs.

Ladies, Wine & Design Chicago hosts monthly meet-ups and events — in-person and virtual — for women and non-binary creatives.