Meet Lauren
Designer. Leader. Strategist.
18 years combining the science of user research and creative problem-solving of design thinking to create intuitive and desirable experiences. 5+ years leading design teams with product strategy and lean methodologies to achieve business outcomes.
I’ve had the pleasure of going public with two companies — Medallia at the New York Stock Exchange and Appian at NASDAQ.
Leading product and design thinkers
I cultivate a multidisciplinary design team proficient in user research, interaction design, usability, prototyping, and visual design — all aimed at delivering a cohesive product and productive creatives. Designers excel when they are surrounded by peers who inspire growth, afforded the autonomy to innovate, and equipped to address genuine business challenges. I work closely with my team to effectively articulate business strategy into a tangible design strategy they can implement successfully.
Delivering value fast
We don't just build anything. We build what customers want in less development time. I work with product managers, leadership, and engineering to effectively integrate design thinking in the software life cycle. I dynamically apply the right design tools at the right times to gain confidence in the best direction sooner.
I was shaped by a high-performing team acquired by IBM in 2010 that then acquired me. Our approach transformed IBM into a Design-led company.
Lean in early
User Experience is more than just another role to support your roadmap. Integrated from the top down, designers help with business strategy. Using the Lean methodology, designers can test hypotheses during the discovery phase, answering the biggest questions early for a plan with greater confidence. I've lead early-stage projects using Lean UX at IBM, inRule, and Appian running workshops with executives and triads alike.
“She is a leader for Medallia's design department, and a strong advocate for cross-functional collaboration. She puts care and thought into all the projects she is working on, and knows when and how to include research in the process.”
Stephanie Afshar, UX Researcher - Medallia
“Lauren was an incredible acquisition for our design team. Prior to her starting, we were not a design-oriented company. She noticed the gap and immediately took charge on infusing design thinking into the culture of the team.”
Xuan Yue, Product Designer - Liquid Analytics
“She is smart, committed, and thinks deeply about Design challenges. She also brings a great deal of energy and passion to her work. She can think strategically, and/or work at the execution level, and she has strong communication skills.”
Mike Mohageg, VP of Design - Medallia
“She is very knowledgeable in her field, extremely collaborative in her approach, and brings out the best from other levels and disciplines. Lauren has a genuine passion for her work; she is always eager to offer advice, or find answers to difficult questions. Lauren is fun to work with!”
Phil Parry, Product Design - IBM
So,
how do I do it?
Product Thinking
My product mindset keeps me focused on understanding and solving user problems such that we achieve desired business outcomes.
I collaborate with designers, engineers, marketers, and business leaders to shift the emphasis from simply designing or building features by a date to ensuring that every development effort contributes meaningfully to user needs, business goals, and overall product success.
Design Thinking
The Design Thinking process ensures that we have the context to the problems we are solving, clear goals, and a path for creatively iterating towards a solution that meets real user needs.
