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Detroit | Designed By Women

As a designer, your passion for your work is intrinsic with your life. When your daily work culture doesn’t reflect your identity or values, that passion can begin to feel compromised. Despite women making up the majority of interior design graduates, only 40% of leadership roles at top design firms are held by women, with an increasingly smaller presence of women in executive leadership roles. With the design industry being a generally male-dominated field, it can be isolating as a woman to feel like you have a true voice and platform.

At Pophouse, we are honored to help shift that narrative. Our studio is proudly 100% women-owned, founded, and led. Our Founder and Principal, Jennifer Gilbert, is not only a practicing interior designer but one with a deep, hands-on understanding of the design process. Her leadership, rooted in creativity and empathy, informs a culture that champions visibility, voice, and opportunity for women in every facet of the field.

  • Date May 2025
  • Written by Olivia Maldonado
  • Topic
    • Design
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Pophouse | Detroit Interior Design Firm

Our all-female leadership brings an innate sense of empathy and intuition that informs every layer of our studio, from the way we approach design to the way we support one another. This perspective allows us to lead with human-centric principles, creating an environment where collaboration and flexibility are not exceptions but expectations. We understand the nuances of work life integration, family planning, and the evolving demands placed on women today because we live them too. That understanding has translated into the way we designed our studio; intentionally, inclusively, and with care. Our studio features a dedicated wellness room for nursing mothers and those who may need private space to practice their faith, and we prioritize adaptable schedules that respect both professional ambitions and personal milestones. By cultivating a culture where empathy drives leadership, we’ve created not only a more supportive team but a stronger, more conscious design practice.

Pophouse | Detroit Interior Design Firm

The spaces we occupy tell a story. As a way to honor the pioneers who have shaped our industry, we’ve named our studio’s meeting spaces after women whose work redefined the built environment. Our Focus Room pays tribute to Jane Davis Doggett, a trailblazer in environmental graphic design. Through her firm, Architectural Graphics Associates, she elevated wayfinding to a form of visual communication—an essential, human-centered design practice that aligns closely with our own studio values. Our Meeting Room is named after Zaha Hadid, the visionary Iraqi-British architect whose bold, fluid structures broke boundaries and reshaped the possibilities of architectural form. Known for transforming some of the world’s strongest materials into expressions of grace and strength, Hadid’s work continues to inspire our pursuit of innovation, beauty, and resilience in design.

In Detroit, the architectural legacy has long been told through the names of men such as Louis Kamper, Albert Kahn, and Minoru Yamasaki; brilliant minds who left an indelible mark on the city’s skyline. But what often goes unspoken are the stories of the women who have been quietly shaping, stewarding, and reimagining the built environment from behind the scenes. Our team sees it as both a privilege and a responsibility to shift that narrative. As a women-led studio rooted in the heart of Detroit, we are present in shaping the city. We are making decisions that impact neighborhoods, revitalize architectural history, and build new stories into the city’s fabric. Through our work, our voice, and our presence, we hope to illuminate a new legacy: one that shows young women of every background that their ideas belong here, that their visions are valid, and that they, too, can help sculpt the future of this city.

Pophouse | Detroit Interior Design Firm
Through our work, our voice, and our presence, we hope to illuminate a new legacy.

Design is most powerful when it champions inclusion, empathy, and human connection. Our mission is rooted in the idea that every space is an opportunity to shape not only environments, but also experiences and futures. We’re guided by curiosity, purpose, authenticity, and fearlessness—values that push us to reimagine what our industry looks like and to advocate for voices that have historically gone unheard.

By honoring the trailblazers who came before us and making space for those yet to come, we’re building a culture where women are seen, heard, and empowered to lead. In Detroit and beyond, we are committed to designing with intention and impact, knowing that each decision has the potential to open doors for the next generation. Design is never just about what we create, it’s about the impact we leave.

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