Thirty Under 30: Emma Winn

By Donna Heiderstadt

In high school, Emma Winn thought interior design was something you saw on HGTV or did as a hobby. It wasn’t until she was in her mid-twenties that she realized she could actually have a career in the field, so she enrolled in the accredited Interior Design program at Portland Community College. “It was affordable and accessible, and for the first time, I found myself excelling academically because I loved what I was learning,” she says.

Emma began her career with a two-year stint in a tile and slab showroom before landing her position as the Design Assistant at Portland, OR-based C Change Design. Now 27, her daily responsibilities in support of the firm’s two interior designers run the gamut  from pulling together preliminary material palettes to spending hours in Chief Architect. Her colleagues like to say that creating functional, beautiful spaces isn’t just Emma’s job — it’s her joy.

One of her proudest accomplishments happened within a month of joining C Change, when she mocked up several custom floor mosaics for a client renovating a powder bathroom in a 1925 home — and the homeowner loved one pattern in particular. “Seeing my design come to life was incredibly rewarding,” she says. “The space includes all my favorite elements — rich colors, wallpaper, intricate tile work, beautiful plumbing fixtures, and historically-inspired lighting.”

Emma says her personal style can be summed up in a single word: cozy. “To me, the most important aspect of a space is how it feels and the story it tells,” she explains. “One of the best parts of my job is that I don’t have to stick to a single style because each client and project is different. My goal is that every space tells a distinct story while reflecting their individuality.”

Speaking of which, Emma has a keen interest in exploring the intersection of design and mental health, fostered by having learned that she herself is neurodivergent. “Understanding this has given me a new perspective on how spaces affect daily life, and I’m passionate about making design more inclusive,” she says. She’s also fascinated by biophilic design and how natural elements can improve well-being.

Emma looks forward to stepping into the role of Programming Chair for NKBA’s Columbia River Chapter and to remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms in the house she and her husband, Daniel, recently bought in Oregon wine country. The bonus is that he’s an electrician, who can handily install new fixtures at home and offer expert advice on lighting needs for her work projects. An avid knitter, ice hockey fan, and cat mom to a tuxedo kitty named Tibby, Emma says her future goals include owning a sailboat to explore Washington state’s San Juan Islands and neighboring Canada, as well as visiting Scotland to delve deeper into Daniel’s Scots-Irish heritage.