5th Annual SoWa Design Day
October 15th, 2026
SoWa Art + Design District
Boston, MA 02118
Join industry colleagues for a day of education, inspiration and celebration in the SoWa Art + Design District, the largest concentration of interior designers, architects, showrooms, artist studios and galleries in New England.
Visit the Design Day Hospitality Suite in the lobby of 500 Harrison Avenue for updated information, showroom details and directions.
Schedule of Events
8:30 AM – 10 AM
Out of Balance: An important conversation about burnout, boundaries, and well-being.
A special morning gathering to kick-off the 5th annual SOWA Design Day
Join Cornelia Hoskin and Jim Gauthier for a conversation – moderated by Kathy Bush-Dutton – over breakfast treats to kick-off the 5th annual SOWA Design Day.
- Learn practical tools to increase stamina and structure in your business
- Hear how your veteran industry colleagues maintain focus and clarity
- Enjoy a supportive, encouraging conversation with your peers – we all have stories to share!
- Get a whole-body reset! Exercises to reconnect you to your creativity and inspiration.
11AM – 12:30PM
The Art of Enduring Design
Charles Spada & Patrick Ahearn in conversation- architecture, instinct & designs that inspire.
These local legends reflect on the ideas & influences that have shaped their work.
1PM – 1:45PM
FIRST RUGS with Simply Windows | The Custom Fabric Process
A presentation on how to create & color your own fabric designs with samples and creative opportunity.
2PM – 4PM
The Modular Shift: Design, Delivery, and New Housing Possibilities – LDa Architecture & Interiors, Inc
This panel brings together architects, modular manufacturers, builders, and mission-driven developers to explore how modular construction is reshaping housing delivery. Through real projects and design examples, the discussion will highlight how modular construction can reduce construction time and cost while maintaining design quality, and how collaboration across disciplines is making housing more attainable in all housing markets.
4PM – 6PM
Partners in Craft: A Collection of Makers & Artisans Presented by Hacin
Join Hacin in our gallery space at 500 Harrison from 4:00 – 6:00 pm during this year’s SoWa Design Day for an afternoon celebrating the art of craftsmanship and the role it plays in design. This gathering brings together some of the artisans we’ve built relationships with over years of practice and makers whose work we deeply admire.
Craft has always been central to how Hacin designs and our forthcoming book explores this ethos, explaining how the best interiors carry the marks of the people who made them. We believe that these details are what give a home its character and we see our role less as imposing a single vision and more as collaborators, finding the right details for the right client and thoughtfully bringing all of the pieces together.
This event gathers some of these skilled makers together in person, providing an opportunity to see their work up close and talk with them directly about their process. Hacin is thrilled to celebrate the kind of craftsmanship that takes time, skill, and care to produce, which we have the great privilege of weaving into our projects.
6PM – 8PM
Casa Design Cocktail Party
End the evening with drinks, food, and dancing!
