Lauren

Motion Designer, Illustrator, Story Artist

Los Angeles

$ 33

/ hour

Portfolio

Visit Website

Updating…

Bio

Nice to meet you! I've been obsessed with story and aesthetics as long as I can remember. As a kid, I read a lot of fantasy, watched a lot of animation, and created elaborate soap operas for my dolls partake in. My mom is a set decorator and I spent a lot of time around the studio when I was young. I absorbed her sensitivity for environment and design through osmosis, which now emerges though my illustration. I shook it up in high school and joined a robotics team — where I made puppets, comics, and a picture book to teach STEM concepts to kids. Then I went to art school and realized that I am not nearly as quirky as I was told I was middle school. I learned a lot, and found some new passions: stop motion animation, motion design, and table top roleplaying games. My attention to detail is backed up by art history now, and I'm not afraid to dive headfirst into software I've never heard of. But my goal is still the same as it always has been: I want to make things, tell stories, and give people some joy.

Quick links

View experience

View work

View application responses

Work Experience

Protokulture

Motion Desgin Intern

1/20-3/20

Chicago, IL

Diane Christiansen Studio

Animation/Artist Assistant

12/18-5/19

Chicago, IL

Freelance (Massive Mission)

Concept Artist/ Illustrator

1/20-3/20

Chicago, IL

University

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Skills

Storyboard Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, Traditional Art Skills, Cinema 4D, Laser Cutting, Puppetry, Stop Motion, Scenic Painting, Concept Design Merit Scholarship Recipient at SAIC (2016-2020), First Robotics Judges Award (2015)

You should pick me becuase

I care about the projects I work on, and make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. I execute everything I do the best of my ability. And when my best isn't enough, I am constantly learning, growing, and problem solving so I can do better the next time.

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

What are you looking to gain from an opportunity like this?

What would be your goals after completing this engagement?

4. How did you hear about wgi?

Share an example of a time you were most motivated and a time you were most demotivated.

In your opinion, what creates a great culture at a company?

What brands and companies do you admire and why?

What do you do to stay sharp and improve your craft?

What’s your favorite quote?

10. If you could solve one problem in the world what would it be?

You should select me because

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

What are you looking to gain from an opportunity like this?

What would be your goals after completing this engagement?

4. How did you hear about wgi?

Share an example of a time you were most motivated and a time you were most demotivated.

In your opinion, what creates a great culture at a company?

What brands and companies do you admire and why?

What do you do to stay sharp and improve your craft?

What’s your favorite quote?

10. If you could solve one problem in the world what would it be?

What's the most courageous thing you've ever done?

It not the flashiest thing I've done, but I've listened. I've listened hard and long to friends when they need patience and kindness. When a friend was in a bad place and lashed out, I made plans to meet them and talked about what they wanted our friendship to look like-we're still friends by the way. I've faced aggression I did not understand with generosity and an open mind, looking at myself to see what I could do to improve.

How are creativity and innovation related?

Creativity and innovation are both born out of necessity. Problem solving makes me my most creative. The limits of a situation inspire the creativity it requires to innovate and try something new, often leading to the best solution to the original problem.

Why do companies need clarity and creativity?

Clarity is important when making any decision. If companies do not have a clear idea of their goals, image, or needs, they will make flawed choices. The world is evolving and chaotic. Without a clear voice, companies won't be heard over the chatter. Creativity is the spark that elevates a clear idea and transforms it into something that people will pay attention to.

You have 30 minutes of free time. What do you do with it?

I tend to look at screens for most of the day. So, If have 30 minutes, I like to observe. I look at the light moving though trees, do a little people watching, or make some sketches in my notebook. Other times, I will move by body or let an idea that has been rattling around in my head come to the surface so I can try to put the pieces of that puzzle together.

What is one risky and bold goal in life you have? Or, if you could dedicate your life to solving one problem, what would it be?

The self deprecating answer is that pursuing a career in the arts/entertainment is a "bold goal", but I plan on making that happen one way or another. There are so many worthy causes in the world, but the problem I'm most equipped to solve is elevating the mandatory content in our lives: the training courses, advertisements and signage we have to interact with. If I can make that 3 hour chemical safety training course fun, the people taking it might actually remember what they learned.

Explain your creative process

For me, creativity starts with setting the goal. Once that it determined, I usually do some research and see what others have tried. Then, I make preparatory sketches and try to iterate: come up with a bunch of different concepts. When I'm struggling, I will brute force my way through by using a generated list to get me started. At this stage I talk to someone and get feedback, which often feels like throwing spaghetti at a wall. Then, I make more iterations and refine the idea until I have a clear image of the final thing I'm making. Then I trouble shoot as I go through the process of actually making whatever I've come up with.

What is the best advice that you have been given?

Sometimes people don't want advice, they just want someone to listen to them. When this happens, you have to take a step back and support them while they work through things in their own way.

What is your definition of creativity?

Creativity is a combination of problem solving, and iteration, and remixing. Letting your neurons crash together in the face of necessity.

What 10 songs are on your favorite playlist right now?

Some songs that stick out to me are: Mount St. Helens is about to Blow Up (Bill Wurtz), Future Me Hate Me (The Beths), Bill Waterson (Lemon Demon), Funny Bunny (The Pillows), Wasteland, Baby! (Hozier), This is Why We Fight (The Decemberists), Gotta Get Back to Hogwarts (Starkid), Planetary Go (My Chemical Romance), Damn These Vampires (The Mountain Goats), Friday I'm in love (The Cure)

How do you want people to remember you?

I want them to remember empathy and joy. I want people to leave an interaction with me knowing that I have their best interest at heart and will do whatever I can to help them. I want them to know they've been listened to.

Have you been convicted of a crime and/or a felony? If so, what was the offense? State the city, country, and date.