Lauren Vrouvas
Lauren Vrouvas
Visual Designer
Los Angeles, CA
www.laurenvrouvas.com
instagram @lauren_vrouvas
instagram @lolabirdlola
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a visual designer, in both digital and print mediums.”
I help brands find their voice through a unique identity that captures the attention of their audience and helps their personality and voice shine through visual materials.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I took a somewhat convoluted path to becoming a visual designer, however if you stop to connect all the dots, it actually make sense. I earned BA's Psychology and French during my undergraduate studies, and then continued my education at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon and earned a certificate in Communication Design. I worked as an in-house graphic designer for an architecture firm specializing in health and education spaces in Portland until moving to San Francisco in 2014. Since then, I have been serving as a visual designer at an agency in San Francisco that works exclusively with nonprofits and organization. I love working with clients that have meaningful missions, and using my skills to try and have a positive impact in the world. To come full circle, I believe design is invariably linked to Psychology. Design has the ability to shape our experiences in the world and evokes emotional reactions, no matter how subtle, thus making it an incredibly powerful tool.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
I think that one of my strengths is that I don't let ego get in the way of good design. I rely on critiques and feedback to push designs to be stronger and thus yield stronger results. I think a willingness to always learn and to always be open to hearing feedback, no matter how much I love what I have made, will only help one to evolve into a better designer.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am currently working on a brand identity and website for a government funded research group centered around child welfare. I am also helping to push a brand identity for an amazing nonprofit that works to accelerate funds for innovate cancer research. Both very inspiring projects that I am proud to be a part of.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I would say that I gravitate towards pastels, gradients, and organic shapes. The brands I work do not always accommodate for my personal taste, but I always manage to sneak in a bit of personality no matter what I'm working on. for example this website page i designed.
My professional instagram account is also a great representation of what art I am drawn to.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Through the various projects I've worked on over the years, I've found that I really inspired by helping to develop brand identity. I would love to focus more of my work on that aspect of graphic design and help brands evolve in both digital and print spheres. I'd also be open to exploring more print work.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Because I'm such a collaborative designer, I think sometimes I'm frustrated if there aren't enough people to run ideas past, brainstorm with, and hear feedback from. With the right team, or client, this can be solved pretty easily.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I'd ask this person to make sure I am feeding myself ! No, seriously ! Sometimes I forget that eating is essential because I am too wrapped up in a task at hand.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I think something I would've told myself when I first started exploring graphic design would be a similar thing I remind myself of today: take risks. Don't be afraid to try something new, if you're excited about an idea, try to run with it, see if it has legs. I think it is easy to get caught up in design trends that we see all the time everywhere, but it is important to push the envelope and to try to create something fresh.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
It would be about process. I am always curious to hear what others' processes are. How do they get inspired ? What steps do they take to start brainstorming and getting ideas down on paper?
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I am looking for brand-related projects. Opportunities to help brands expand visually across all types of collateral.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
In the past, I've had the most fun and made the most beautiful things when I get to work closely with other creative folk. I think the best ideas come through collaboration. When working with the right people, the silliest ideas snowball into concepts that have legs.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
I currently have an hourly rate of about $65/hour.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Shoot me an email! I am always open to tackling new & interesting projects; I would love to hear from you. And I always appreciate a good GIF.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Brainstorm ! Collaborate ! Consume Inspiration Constantly ! Pizza.
This member profile was originally published in November 2017.