Lauren

Graphic Designer + Illustrator
Kansas City, OK
$ 121
/ hour
Portfolio
Visit Website
Bio

I'm designer, illustrator and photographer living in the middle of the United States. I grew up in a creative household, I've been drawing and painting and photographing since my hands allowed. Graphic design found its way into my life 4 years ago and gave me the structure I craved to  nd in  ne arts but always lacked. I just graduated from the School of design at The University of Kansas with a degree in Visual Communications.

Quick links
Work Experience
Carpenter Collective
Intern
Jan 2019 – Present
Whiskey Design
Intern
2018
Design Ranch
Intern
Jan 2019 – Present
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
Featured work
You should pick me becuase

I come from a uniquely fine art background but my desire to create will always find itself in the problem-solving side of graphic design. I've gotten to sharpen my illustration and conceptual skills under the incredibly talented Tad Carpenter in Kansas City. I use my background in photography and styling to my advantage when creating or documenting brands. I have had the opportunity to work at three small sized branding and illustration studios in Kansas City that have shown me what I can only imagine is a small piece of what the professional design world has to offer. At those studios I've learned how to work with clients, how to sell a concept to my art director and not only the client, and I've learned the importance of caring about what you make. I believe I offer a unique perspective in the fact that the middle of America is often overlooked in the creative world. I've lived in the middle of a cornfield; I've grown to love middle. It has impacted my visual storytelling, a soft-spoken perspective that has something to say.

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

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

I want to do design that delights, I believe there is enough visual noise in the world to go around. I'm interested in designing in the name of joy, I believe good design brings joy to the human experience. My immediate goal would be to learn about the different structures, processes and approaches at the different firms and see what works best for me. Then finding a firm that would allow me to work that way. My long term goal is to one day start my own studio and do design work that makes people happy.

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.

The most motivated I've ever felt was my sophomore year of college, at a class critique. I'd spent two days working non-stop on a set of infographics that as a sophomore I thought would be the crowning glory of my academic career, I was very wrong. My professor let me know it, he even mentioned that my illustrations looked like someone's first time vectoring - he wasn't wrong. I held onto that for two years, using it as motivation to at the very least be better than I once was. I used it as a reminder that no design is ever going to be sacred, perfect or untouchable by critique. I now get to work for that professor's studio, he doesn't even remember giving me the critique that changed my career. The time I felt most demotivated was when I was the creative director for my university's Art and Literature magazine and due to hold ups with our printer, we were unable to release our magazine on our planned due date. I ended up having to completely redo all of the magazine's images and artwork because we switched from a spot color process to digital. I felt like my co-creative director and I had let down the department, we had missed our shot. I lost my motivation because I worried people wouldn't receive our magazine as well because it came out late, I was wrong to think that.

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

Great culture at a company comes from the care given to the relationships formed. Respect is important because it motivates you to do good work when you look up to those you work with. It encourages you to learn from those around you, and makes your time spent more valuable. Honesty is also important in those relationships; good and honest creative work is born out of a culture that allows every person in the room to have a voice and use it honestly.

What brands and companies do you admire and why?

I admire the production company A24, I believe the movies released by A24 tell important stories that aren't often told. They push perspective into the world that don't often get a spotlight with brilliant honesty through their movies. It inspires me as a visual story teller. Brands I admire are those that only stay the same by consistently being open to change, like Medium and Dropbox.

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

I do my best to draw or read every day. For me those are the two best tools to keep a designer's mind sharp; the hand and the head. Keeping those muscles strong keeps a designer on their toes.

What’s your favorite quote?

"No one loves authenticity like a graphic designer. And noone is quite as good at simulating it" — Michael Bierut

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

You should select me because

I come from a uniquely fine art background but my desire to create will always find itself in the problem-solving side of graphic design. I've gotten to sharpen my illustration and conceptual skills under the incredibly talented Tad Carpenter in Kansas City. I use my background in photography and styling to my advantage when creating or documenting brands. I have had the opportunity to work at three small sized branding and illustration studios in Kansas City that have shown me what I can only imagine is a small piece of what the professional design world has to offer. At those studios I've learned how to work with clients, how to sell a concept to my art director and not only the client, and I've learned the importance of caring about what you make. I believe I offer a unique perspective in the fact that the middle of America is often overlooked in the creative world. I've lived in the middle of a cornfield; I've grown to love middle. It has impacted my visual storytelling, a soft-spoken perspective that has something to say.

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

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

I want to do design that delights, I believe there is enough visual noise in the world to go around. I'm interested in designing in the name of joy, I believe good design brings joy to the human experience. My immediate goal would be to learn about the different structures, processes and approaches at the different firms and see what works best for me. Then finding a firm that would allow me to work that way. My long term goal is to one day start my own studio and do design work that makes people happy.

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.

The most motivated I've ever felt was my sophomore year of college, at a class critique. I'd spent two days working non-stop on a set of infographics that as a sophomore I thought would be the crowning glory of my academic career, I was very wrong. My professor let me know it, he even mentioned that my illustrations looked like someone's first time vectoring - he wasn't wrong. I held onto that for two years, using it as motivation to at the very least be better than I once was. I used it as a reminder that no design is ever going to be sacred, perfect or untouchable by critique. I now get to work for that professor's studio, he doesn't even remember giving me the critique that changed my career. The time I felt most demotivated was when I was the creative director for my university's Art and Literature magazine and due to hold ups with our printer, we were unable to release our magazine on our planned due date. I ended up having to completely redo all of the magazine's images and artwork because we switched from a spot color process to digital. I felt like my co-creative director and I had let down the department, we had missed our shot. I lost my motivation because I worried people wouldn't receive our magazine as well because it came out late, I was wrong to think that.

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

Great culture at a company comes from the care given to the relationships formed. Respect is important because it motivates you to do good work when you look up to those you work with. It encourages you to learn from those around you, and makes your time spent more valuable. Honesty is also important in those relationships; good and honest creative work is born out of a culture that allows every person in the room to have a voice and use it honestly.

What brands and companies do you admire and why?

I admire the production company A24, I believe the movies released by A24 tell important stories that aren't often told. They push perspective into the world that don't often get a spotlight with brilliant honesty through their movies. It inspires me as a visual story teller. Brands I admire are those that only stay the same by consistently being open to change, like Medium and Dropbox.

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

I do my best to draw or read every day. For me those are the two best tools to keep a designer's mind sharp; the hand and the head. Keeping those muscles strong keeps a designer on their toes.

What’s your favorite quote?

"No one loves authenticity like a graphic designer. And noone is quite as good at simulating it" — Michael Bierut

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

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

How are creativity and innovation related?

Why do companies need clarity and creativity?

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

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?

Explain your creative process

What is the best advice that you have been given?

What is your definition of creativity?

What 10 songs are on your favorite playlist right now?

How do you want people to remember you?

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

Heading

⬆️
To the top