A Luxury Retreat at the Intersection of Design, Wellness, and Community
crafted for interior designers ready to elevate both their work and well-being
gathering along the storied edge of lowcountry | FALL 2027
The mission
Cultivating Our Creative Landscape
The Design Field is a luxury wellness retreat in Charleston, South Carolina created exclusively for interior designers longing to nurture their creativity and grow their business with intention.
Over four transformative days, The Design Field guides designers through our Root to Rise journey — featuring immersive design education, hands-on workshops at Charleston’s premier showrooms, inspiring keynote sessions led by industry experts, and restorative wellness experiences.
This retreat equips us with tools to reconnect with our craft, establish sustainable business and wellness practices, and find clarity in both profitability and our artistry.
The destination
A Coastal Southern Setting
Our 2027 retreat will take place in a thoughtfully selected coastal Southern destination known for its historic charm, design heritage, and sense of place.
Full destination details coming soon.
The harvest
The Seeds You Sow, The Growth You Reap
This retreat is an investment in both your business and personal wellbeing. You’ll leave with stronger systems, deeper clarity, and the creative energy to expand your work with purpose and confidence.
✓ creative renewal
Step away from the screens and back into tactile creativity. Through hands-on workshops, inspiring showroom experiences, and design exploration, rediscover the joy of creating with intention and intuition.
✓ community + connection
Join a like-minded collective of designers who value collaboration over competition. Build meaningful relationships and find ongoing support from a community that truly understands the creative journey.
✓ business growth
Gain insider strategies from renowned design experts. Learn how to refine your systems, elevate your client experience, and grow a brand that’s both profitable and deeply aligned with your values.
✓ inspiration in place
Set within Charleston’s vibrant design district, you’ll gain behind-the-scenes access to showrooms and leading makers, experiencing firsthand the city’s unique blend of heritage and innovation.
✓ holistic wellness
Restore balance through guided wellness practices that nurture your mind, body, and spirit. From yoga and meditation to mindset coaching, these sessions help you return home with clarity and purpose.
✓ lasting transformation
This is an investment in both your professional and personal growth. You’ll leave with new tools and actionable steps, to lead your business and your creativity from a place of confidence and power.
the Details
What Awaits You in the Field
Every detail of The Design Field is thoughtfully curated to offer both inspiration and restoration. Your ticket includes access to an immersive four-day itinerary designed to nurture your creativity, expand your professional network, and reconnect you with the heart of why you create.
01. four days of immersive programming
Step into a thoughtfully curated itinerary that blends design education, creative workshops, and inspiring keynote conversations led by today’s most respected voices in the industry. Each day is guided by our “Root to Rise” philosophy helping you ground your creative purpose, explore new ideas, and rise renewed in both your business and your artistry.
02. exclusive showroom access
Gain behind-the-scenes access to Charleston’s premier design showrooms from heritage brands to emerging makers. Experience tactile learning through interactive demonstrations, meet local artisans, and discover curated collections that deepen your understanding of materiality, craftsmanship, and sourcing.
03. wellness + restoration sessions
Because creativity thrives when we feel whole, we’ve thoughtfully integrated wellness experiences that restore both body and mind. From sunrise yoga and guided meditation to intentional reflection sessions and transformative business-wellness coaching, each moment is designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and realign. You’ll leave feeling grounded, centered, and creatively renewed ready to bring that sense of balance back into your design practice.
04. curated dining + community gathering experiences
Connect with fellow designers over beautifully hosted dinners, intimate networking events, and editorial-style gatherings set against Charleston’s most inspiring backdrops. Each meal is an experience in itself crafted to nourish conversation, community, and collaboration.
The Hosts
Meet the Founders
“We created The Design Field as the retreat we wished existed. One that is immersive, wellness-driven, and a true sanctuary for designers to reconnect with their craft, rebalance their daily rhythm, and regain their community.”
Caity Smithson
FOUNDER + EVENT DIRECTOR
@maeproperinteriors
Joannah Harbeck
FOUNDER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR
@sundaymorning_interiors
The Design Field was born from a shared vision between Caity Smithson of Mae Proper Interiors (Iron Mountain, MI) and Joannah Harbeck of Sunday Morning Interiors (Monterey Peninsula, CA). What began as conversations about the gaps in traditional design conferences soon evolved into a clear idea to create something more intimate, restorative, and designed to truly serve the well-being of interior designers.
Together, they imagined a retreat that feels immersive and holistic, where wellness is as central as business strategy,
and where designers can step away from the digital hustle and back into an analog world of hands-on learning, exclusive showroom tours or “adult field trips”, and meaningful connections.
With their blend of masterful strategy and soulful intention (classic Capricorns), Caity and Joannah have shaped an experience designers crave: a beautiful sanctuary to elevate their craft, grow their business, and return home renewed, clear, and deeply connected long after Charleston.
The Speakers
Meet Your Guides
As we shape conversations for 2027, our growing panel of speakers will bring creative insight, business strategy, and soulful wisdom to inspire meaningful growth.
the sessions
Conversations that Shape the Field
Our keynote sessions bring together leading voices in design for honest, inspiring dialogue. Each conversation offers a glimpse into the philosophies, challenges, and creative processes that shape their work and ours. As we continue shaping the conversations for 2027, these are the themes guiding our next chapter together, conversations designed to challenge perspective, deepen creative thinking, and cultivate meaningful growth within your business and practice. They invite you to see your own work with renewed clarity, purpose, and possibility.
01.Operations + Studio Infrastructure
02. Profitability, Pricing + Financial Growth
03. Elevated Client Experience + Luxury Positioning
04. Brand Presence + Strategic Visibility
05. Wellness, Ritual + Designing a Sustainable Life
06. Creative Longevity + Founder Mindset
The JOURNEY
Our Path from Root to Rise
Each day of the retreat is intentionally curated to mirror the natural rhythm of growth. We begin by rooting ourselves with a foundation of education, then expand through exploration, restoration, and rising together in renewal. Together, these four phases form a journey of reconnection to your craft, your community, and the deeper why behind the work you do.
Root
DAY 1
Our opening day is designed to ground us in clarity and purpose. Through dynamic speaker sessions, we’ll dive into the foundational elements of our brand, creative rhythm, and business structure. It’s a day for learning, engaging, and planting the roots that will support everything to come.
Roam
DAY 2
This is the day we explore and experiment. Through hands-on workshops, curated showroom tours, and interactive speaker sessions, we will roam through new ideas, techniques, and tools, gathering real-world inspiration and clear takeaways to bring back to our business.
Restore
DAY 3
A day of restoration: spirit, creativity, and connection. We’ll begin with a nourishing spa session to unwind, followed by rejuvenating experiences that remind us of the beauty in preserving what was, while making space for what’s to come.
Rise
DAY 4
Our final day is about integration and elevation. With space to reflect, refine, and reconnect, we will leave with a renewed sense of direction, a rhythm that supports both creativity and structure, and a deeper connection to our voice, vision, and community.
the FAQs
Your Field Guide
What to Know Before You Join Us
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WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?
The Design Field is created for interior designers at any stage, whether you're just beginning your studio or looking to scale your business. Our curriculum and immersive experiences are tailored to support both creative growth and strategic development.
WHAT IF I’M NEWER IN BUSINESS OR AN ESTABLISHED DESIGNER, IS THIS STILL A FIT?
Absolutely. Our content is designed to stretch and serve designers at a range of experiences. Beginners will gain foundational tools and clarity, while established designers will benefit from elevated strategy, fresh perspectives, and higher-level systems.
CAN I ATTEND IF I’M NOT AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
Although we would love to welcome all, this retreat is designed specifically for interior designers and design-adjacent professionals.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN MY TICKET?
Your registration covers
All meals, snacks, and beverages (from arrival through the closing gathering)
Access to all workshops, panel sessions, and showroom visits
Spa treatment (options of either 50-minute Swedish Massage or 50-minute Classic Facial) and rooftop yoga session
Professional headshots, curated gifts, access to all speaker presentations & recordings
Ongoing access to our private alumni community for post-retreat connection
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HOW MUCH DOES THIS RETREAT COST?
The retreat is $6,750 USD per individual ticket or $5,500 USD per person for small groups registering together.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL OR TRANSFER MY TICKET?
We understand life happens. Tickets are non-refundable but transferable to another designer.
DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?
Not at the moment. If you prefer to explore additional payment flexibility, you’re welcome to use third-party financing services such as Afterpay, Klarna, or similar providers on your own. Please note that The Design Field is not affiliated with, partnered with, or responsible for any third-party financing platforms. All terms, approvals, and repayment agreements are solely between you and the selected provider.
CAN I WRITE THIS OFF AS A BUSINESS EXPENSE?
In most cases, yes. Many attendees are able to write it off as professional development. Please confirm with your tax professional.
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ARE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDED?
No. Hotel accommodations are not included. However, we have secured a deeply discounted rate of $479 per night at The Dewberry for attendees. You’re welcome to stay off-site or share a room, per your preference.
WHAT IS THE GROUP SIZE OR ATTENDEE LIMIT?
Typically we limit to ~45 attendees. We maintain an intimate group size to ensure meaningful connection, one-on-one access to speakers, and deep engagement during sessions.
WHEN DO I NEED TO ARRIVE / CHECK IN? WHEN DO I NEED TO DEPART / CHECK OUT?
Check-in begins on Day 1 (Monday, May 04) at 1:00 PM, followed by our Welcome Reception & Gathering to kick off the retreat experience. Our event concludes on Day 4 (Thursday, May 07) at 1:00PM.
IS TRANSPORTATION TO SHOWROOMS, DINNERS, AND EVENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED?
Yes. We arrange private group transport to off-site showroom visits, design district excursions, and evening events.
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ARE MEALS DIETARY-FRIENDLY? ARE NON-ALCOHOLIC OPTIONS AVAILABLE?
Yes. Meals are thoughtfully prepared and we can accommodate most dietary restrictions. We’ll also offer non-alcoholic beverages alongside cocktails and wine. You’ll be able to share your preferences after registering.
WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO SPEAKERS OUTSIDE OF SESSIONS?
Yes. The retreat is intentionally structured so speakers are present from check-in through the final gathering. You’ll have ample time during meals, breakouts, and social moments to engage with them casually and deeply.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER THE RETREAT?
You’ll be invited into our alumni community, where designers continue to connect, share resources, and support one another. We also host occasional meetups, curated virtual sessions, and collaborative check-ins throughout the year.
Have a question we didn’t cover? Send us a note. We’d love to hear from you!
the sponsors
The Partners Who Helped Our Field Flourish
We’re deeply grateful to the partners whose shared vision helped bring The Design Field to life. Each collaboration reflects the spirit of our retreat. Their support has nurtured an environment where our community of designers can connect, create, and rise together.
Kohler
dubsado
RUSTIC POURS
MATERIO
The reservation
Reserve Your Spot In the Field
Join us in Charleston to reconnect with your creativity, refine your business, and rise within a like-minded field of designers.
your field pass includes:
Keynote sessions with leading voices in design
Interactive workshops to refine your craft + business
Wellness + mindset session with an award-winning, master certified business + life coach
Curated showroom tours and design immersions
Restorative wellness experiences such as spa treatment + guided yoga experience
Seasonally-inspired meals and intimate gatherings
Designer’s Social Hour with our signature cocktails and select wines from our sponsor, Avaline
Professional headshots for your portfolio
Welcome gifts from aligned partners and custom business materials
the inquiry
Every Great Connection Begins with a Conversation
Whether you’re joining us in Charleston, exploring sponsorship, or reaching out with curiosity, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a note below, and let’s begin.