Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Riddle.
Lauren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I graduated high school, I was really lost at what I wanted to do with my life. Art had always been what I was most passionate about but I was convinced that it would never be something I could make a career out of.
I began going to college with the idea that I’d do something medical-related thinking that it would be a “safe” choice. After realizing this was not for me at all, I then switched my major to computer science with the idea of practicality in mind. Again, I realized that there was no way I could do this for the rest of my life. After struggling with this for a while, I began to realize that I was just doing what I thought would bring me success and happiness based on pressure from others.
That’s when I decided I’d rather be doing something I love than be miserable in something because it seemed like the “right” thing to do. At first, I didn’t know exactly what kind of studio art I’d focus in. Coincidentally, around the time I switched my major to art, my university began to offer a Graphic Design focus.
Design was something that always intrigued me and as soon as I took my first Graphic Design class, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. I fell in love with the entire process. I loved how every project was different and was a new set of challenges. Design never felt like work to me and that’s how I knew it was something I wanted to make a career out of. I love the idea of being able to be creative in a job, but I also relish the challenge of having to work within a set of parameters to solve a problem and communicate specific ideas.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to where I am today has definitely not been a smooth one. I’ve dealt with a great deal of self-doubt, especially at the beginning of my journey as a designer. Being a perfectionist, I initially never felt like what I was creating was good enough, even when my peers and mentors would praise me. I just could not accept that what they were saying was true. Through a support system of my peers, and especially other fellow female designers, I began to gain confidence in my work and silence the voices in my head telling me that my work wasn’t good enough.
I definitely believe having a good support system around you is super important, no matter what you’re doing. Building close relationships with other women and peers who are in the same field as you is super helpful as you can lean on them and reach out when you have questions since you’re all dealing with the same things. Another thing that I’d say is that when you’re in school for design, don’t overthink it and don’t worry about being too perfect. You’re there to learn and grow. Making mistakes and experimenting (even if the end product doesn’t end up being successful) is the best way to do that. Don’t be too hard on yourself and become too obsessed with being perfect.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Lauren Riddle Design – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I recently graduated from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Focus in Graphic Design) and I’m currently working as a freelance designer.
I love logo and branding design as well as book cover design, though my passion for design is not limited to any one area. My designs tend to lean towards a more minimal aesthetic and I love incorporating different textures to add visual interest. I love playing with typography, such as combining sans serifs with a playful handwritten scripts. I enjoy simplicity and often incorporate geometric shapes into my work. I also love utilizing bold colors.
However, I love to experiment and don’t limit myself to one style or aesthetic. I love the process of taking a client’s vision and making it a reality while putting my own personal spin on it.
I recently had the pleasure of working on creating a lineup poster for Pasafest, an arts and music festival held at Pasaquan, an incredible art site located in Buena Vista, GA. I was honored to create work for such a great organization. I’m also extremely proud of my recent BFA thesis project in which I created a “book cafe” within a gallery space. I felt placing my work into a fully realized, realistic environment really helped bring the designs to life rather than just displaying them like typical artwork in a gallery. I created a total of 12 book cover designs, four-album cover designs, and full branding for an imagined cafe called Prologue. I chose furniture and design elements to help bring my vision to life. I really felt like it captured my own personal style very well, as well as displayed the versatility of my design skills.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I think with the amount of women working in the field of design, it provides a great opportunity to support and connect with plenty of other women designers and to form great friendships and networks.
Like many industries, women face obstacles especially when it comes to leadership positions, but the fact that there are many successful female designers at the forefront of the field is really inspiring.
Contact Info:
- Website: lriddledesign.myportfolio.com
- Phone: 334-614-2430
- Email: lriddledesign@gmail.com
- Instagram: laur_riddle
- Other: behance.net/riddle_lauren
Image Credit:
Lauren Riddle
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