Female Design Council
Appleton founded the Female Design Council directly after the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Her idea came about as a direct response to the long history of imbalanced representation of gender in the United States and in the design and art Industry. She set about to leading the charge for women in design, and to shift the narrative away from “traditional” gender roles and family structure towards a focus on womxn’s technical, artistic skills and merits.
Since then Female Design Council (FDC) has blossomed into a go-to community and resource for femme creatives working in design, art and architecture. The Female Design Council is a community of bad-ass professional creatives; product and industrial designers, architects, interior designers, applied artists, makers, and design business professionals all working in the architecture design, and art industries.
FDC’s vision is for ALL female-identifying individuals from all disciplines, colors, and socioeconomic backgrounds to be represented properly and fairly within the design industry and in the media.
The foundation of FDC is our strong member network, including over 300 design professionals based in New York City, as well as a fast-growing global community of digital members. Our design community encompasses the following disciplines: Industrial and Product Designers, Architects, Interior Designers, Furniture Makers, Curators, Gallerists, Ceramicists, Jewelry Designers, Painters, Design and Interiors Photographers, Stylists, Design Strategists, Textile Designers, Art Advisors, Design Communicators (& PR), Design Writers, Design Archivists, Design Students, and others who consider themselves design professionals.
We choose not to wait for recognition or opportunity—we create it for ourselves.
Selected Events
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IN LEGAL PARTNERSHIP
In Conversation: A conversation about legal issues in design and how best to grow your business with the best in legal support, featuring Legal Expert to the A+D Community, Seth Kaplowitz, and Interior Designer, Lauren McGrath, moderated by Lora Appleton.
2023
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FDC + NICOLE HOLLIS GRANT 02 CELEBRATION EVENT
The FDC + NICOLEHOLLIS Grant, GRANT 02, was established to award a $15,000 financial prize to a U.S.-based designer of color or interior design or architecture firm led by women of color.
This is a combined, ongoing investment to: (1) empower and support women of color in design and architecture, (2) provide a platform for young creatives to see themselves as successful role models, and (3) Create a network of other creatives who can support their professional growth.2022
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UPSTATE ART WEEKEND
Female Design Council + Art Mamas bring together this connective, annual event in Upstate New York for members to connect with one another from both organizations of creative, mother artists and makers.
2022
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CREATIVE LEADERSHIP
Create captivating conversations with design leaders. @femaledesigncouncil and @neuehouse invited members to join for an in-person conversation with FDC & @kindermodern founder Lora Appleton, Principal of @gachotstudios Christine Gachot, and Estelle Bailey-Babenzien of @thedreamawake about creative entrepreneurship and leadership, moderated by Tiana Webb Evans of @espprinc.
2021