I'm Lauren. I'm a self-made designer and entrepreneur based in Nashville, TN and I'm so glad you're here reading this.​

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By prioritizing curiosity, I've found myself the proud purveyor of multiple small businesses. My talent for creative design and impactful communication has led me to successfully manage multiple businesses and projects through creating cohesive content and design materials for diverse audiences. 

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I started, owned and operated a media production company specializing in weddings and corporate videography. Additionally, I have worked independently as a photographer specializing in weddings, portraiture and boudoir.

 

After reaching my fill of the wedding business, I pivoted to a creative position with popular retailer Anthropolgie as a Product Expert and Social Media Manager and director of photography. 

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All the while, I busied myself with my hobbies and my garden, where most of my self-discovery tends to take place. I developed a compulsion to study as much as I could of the natural world, and eventually I decided to pivot again. I was delighted to find myself working in greenhouses and on farms. I enrolled in a three year herbal studies program, as well as the Master Gardener program through my local extension office. I set out on a project to grow as many edible plants as possible on my 1/64th of an acre plot using traditional permaculture and regenerative farming techniques, including harvesting rainwater and keeping chickens. In an attempt to reach and educate my community, I started a business titled Wayward Garden and Apothecary. This business offered items such as (but not limited to) tinctures, herbal teas, CBD infused pain relieving balms, as well as custom designed apparel and merchandise. I managed a beautiful e-commerce store with repeat customers. I also managed a booth in six farmers' markets every week. I had the support of local mentorship in opening a brick and mortar store, which had always been a secret dream.

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​​Alas, most interesting stories don't have simple conclusions, and that is the case for Wayward Garden. While socially and fiscally successful, I made some fatal errors. Above all, I didn't ask for help often enough. Because of this, I ultimately found myself physically and mentally affected by severe exhaustion and burnout. Eventually I had no other choice but to make the difficult decision to close up shop. 

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Once again, I pivoted. In an effort to overcome my severe burnout, I sought a sustainable career choice in instructional design as a video specialist. In this field I am able to utilize finely-honed trade skills in communication, iterative development, video production and more. My focus on the learner experience stems directly from my efforts to educate my community. By closing my business, I learned how to adapt and deal with unexpected outcomes. I also learned to ask for help and communicate my needs as a means to produce my best work. Psychological safety in any workplace is key to high performance, after all.

I'm a fierce advocate for inclusion and diversity who believes in the value of infusing the human voice into all projects, and using empathy, logic and data to inform design choices.