For International Women’s Month, Womxn in Design x Special Collections plunge into the Harvard GSD Frances Loeb Library archives, surfacing artifacts afloat that delve deep into SIRENS—in their auditory, authoritative, and aquatic realms. We draw attention to the mythic lure of sirens, their presence in modern symbolism, and their metaphorical connection to voices that challenge, disrupt, and captivate—with plenty of unexpected tangents yet to be uncovered...

From Hosken’s 1942 ‘invasion of women’ flooding the GSD in their first year of admission—a tide that reshaped the profession’s shores—to the currents of trailblazing women in design today, we chart their impact across time. Like the mythic sirens who commanded the seas, these women have captivated, disrupted, and redefined their fields, sending shockwaves through architecture and design.

We dive into the archives and into the workforce with office materials from leading women in the field—Denise Scott Brown’s manifesto-like CV, Zaha Hadid’s defiant portfolio, and Louisa Vaughan Conrad's business ledgers revealing the support of I. M. Pei, Gropius, and Eleanor Raymond for women in design. 

Drifting further, we follow the currents of tidal wave maps and nautical memories, with Louisa Vaughan Conrad again, steering us along in her sailboat to Doris Cole’s Candid Reflections. We wade deeper into reflecting ponds and architectural blueprints of swimming pools, along with section drawings of aquariums.

SIREN explores and celebrates the multiplicity and complexity of women. Join us as we navigate the archives, steer the conversation, reclaim the call, and sound the sirens: Monday, March 10 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. All students, faculty and staff are welcome. Registration is required (plesae scroll down for the link), it will open Saturday, March 8 at noon, on International Women's Day!