Women in Design
In celebration of this year's Women's Month, we're highlighting our talented female designers. Learn about the creatives behind some of your favorite collections and custom artwork below.
Anna Wahlers
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
Being born in Tokyo, I was fortunate enough to grow up in one of the world’s most design-centric cities, surrounded by women who had built remarkable careers in design and fashion. Their passion left a lasting mark, and when it came time to define my own path, their influence was unmistakable. Design wasn’t my first career path. I actually began as a student-athlete studying Biology, but after a couple of years, I made the pivotal choice to follow my passion to pursue design. Since then, my drive to create has only grown, guiding my work and approach to every project.
How would you describe your artistic style?
My artistic style is rooted in versatility, with inspiration often drawn from nature. I find joy in experimenting with different mediums and techniques, allowing each project to guide its own creative approach. Whether working with bold, expressive strokes and layered paint or developing intricate illustrative details, I embrace the full spectrum of design and creativity. My time at Astek has given me the opportunity to explore a wide range of styles, so being a designer here has been incredibly rewarding.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
Wallcovering is a wonderful canvas for creativity because it can be tailored specifically to a location, making it more than just decor. It adds layers of meaning and makes the environment feel truly personalized and alive. It offers the opportunity to weave in the history of an architectural structure, reference elements of the surrounding landscape, or reflect the broader story of the city itself. It’s amazing how much wallcovering can transform a simple wall into an immersive, narrative experience.
Some of Anna's wallcovering designs include Merian, Mélodie, Trash Panda Party, Vista 7, Relevo, and Sugar Town.
Emma Wooding
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love for creating; my earliest memory in life is getting an easel for Christmas. While I would say that I have always been a designer in a way, I didn’t know that I wanted to pursue it professionally until my senior year of high school. I attended an art fair and had never felt so at home. Since then, I’ve never wanted to do anything else.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Design to me is where creativity meets planning. My goal with design is to make emotional art that resonates with people of all age ranges. Because of this, I would describe my style as detail-oriented and whimsical.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
It’s rare that working in design, one is able to work on large-scale projects, often near to people’s hearts, that will have such an effect on the space around the design for a long period of time. I love creating artwork that someone will enjoy for years.
Some of Emma's wallcovering designs include Fleurline and Dino Camp.
Andreea Dan
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
I have derived joy through artistic creativity my whole life; I am so lucky that I have made the choices and had the opportunities to pursue design in my adult life. Although art and design was always a passion of mine growing up, it felt like an unattainable future career path, given the common generalization that those who pursue art will struggle. It wasn’t until I began studying architecture in college that I realized becoming a designer professionally was a feasible dream, and a goal I would continue to enjoy working toward growing.
How would you describe your artistic style?
In my work, I find myself constantly gravitating towards strongly curated color palettes and maximalist compositions; I love playing with different scales of elements and composing them into cohesive works of art that bring life and energy to their audience.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
To me, wallcovering design is such a unique and effective way to bring new life into physical spaces. Having studied architecture and interior design, I’m always observing what elements bring joy and cohesion to the rooms I occupy and I’m inspired by how wallcoverings have the power to entirely transform a space.
Andreea created Carnivoria along with many other custom wallcoverings.
Ysabella Matute
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
I was an only child for many years and my mom always kept me busy with art activities. I think having crayons in hand at all times really helped foster my observational skills and imagination; however, it was not until I was much older when I realized I could do that for a living. I discovered surface design in college and fell in love with the idea of crossing illustration with product design, specifically home goods.
How would you describe your artistic style?
My style is anywhere mixed media and color can collaborate. I honor my great love of maximalism and the spirit of craft in everything I do. I think it’s important when thinking about adding joyfulness to the spaces we occupy.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
Seeing my work translated to large-scale spaces never gets old! I love tangible applications and the creative problem-solving that comes with this job. There’s something so special about watching an idea move from concept to installation and become part of the environment people live and gather in.
Ysabella has created many custom wallcoverings for hospitality spaces, airplane terminals, and more.
Sydney Sylvers
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my grandma teaching my sister and I how to draw and paint. She was a gifted artist and china painter who studied fine art in college before leaving to raise her four children—like many women in the 1950s. For every birthday and Christmas, I loved receiving her delicately, hand-painted porcelain plates, ornaments, and necklace pendants decorated with birds, flowers, and charming cottage scenes. Her dedication to china painting, even just as a hobby, brought so much joy to our family. I knew from an early age, I wanted to follow in her footsteps and pursue art as both a passion and my career.
How would you describe your artistic style?
I would describe my style as more traditional, I love bringing my fine art and painting background into play within digital design. I gravitate towards a painterly style of earthy colors and always love to illustrate florals and nature scenes. I love working on projects where you can really hone in on the details of a scene or subject.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
I’m inspired by the endless creative possibilities within modern wallpaper design. After working at Astek, it’s been especially exciting to see the vintage patterns, my personal favorite, reimagined in contemporary spaces. There’s something timeless about their character and detail that continues to resonate with me and within modern interiors. The ever-evolving inventions and techniques used to create wallpaper make it even more inspiring to see new and fun designs come to life in someone’s interior.
Sydney created Cymbeline along with many other custom wallcoverings.
Ellie Poulin
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
I’ve always been creative, but hadn’t considered art as a career because I couldn’t draw well. When I took a photoshop/graphic design class in high school, I thought– this is it. I can use my eye for color and composition and create things without having to illustrate. Using those newfound photoshop skills to do projects for other classes cemented it: I decided to study graphic design.
How would you describe your artistic style?
My style typically leans more flat and graphic, with an earthier color palette. I love a little aesthetic drama, and absolutely live for Art Nouveau. I tend to incorporate its sinuous lines and decorative botanicals into my work. Getting to create a mural for the Eterna Nouveau collection was a dream come true.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
I love that wallcovering has such a major impact on the final space in which it is installed. It has the power to change the mood completely, and can either be a backdrop or the main event. It can add so much personality and a sense of place, even without saying a lot. I love knowing that something I painted could one day have that kind of impact in an interior.
Ellie's wallcovering designs include Noctiflora, Gesture 10, Gesture 4, and Vista 12.
Rachel Brand
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
From a very young age, I loved creating art and expressing myself creatively. If you ask my mom, she would say she knew I was going to be an artist since I was old enough to hold a crayon, but it always felt like just a hobby to me. It wasn’t until my high school art teacher encouraged me to apply to art school that I realized a career in art and design was possible. Her guidance set me on the path that's led me to where I am today.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Abstract, textural, and handcrafted. I’m a medium and technique-driven artist. I like creating work where I can see my hand in the final result.
What do you like about wallcovering design or wallcovering as an artistic medium?
The wall is like a blank canvas, so I think wallcovering is a really exciting medium for that reason. Unlike other wallcovering print methods, where you’re limited to a select number of colors or highly specific dimensions, at Astek, where our in-house designs are digitally printed, every detail and nuance is captured and can be produced at nearly any scale.
Some of Rachel's wallcovering designs include Xylem, Vista 1, and the Ukiyo and Ephemeral collections.