User:AbiWard8628/sandbox
Kel Lauren
[edit]Kel Lauren was born in Lake Placid, New York and grew up in Newcastle, California. They are a non-binary music based freelance Graphic Designer and Social Media influencer. Kel began their career in Graphic Design in 2014 and has maintained a social media presence, particularly on Youtube, since 2016.
Lauren’s most notable works include Foo Fighter’s Medicine at Midnight[1] album cover and tour posters for artists such as The 1975[2], Jonas Brothers[3], & Mumford & Sons[4].
Early Life
[edit]Lauren’s childhood surrounded art, they found they excelled in Graphic Design class and was noticed by teachers and pushed to pursue design professionally[5]. Around this time, Kel also found an affinity for music, heavily fixating on The Beatles and Taylor Swift. Kel was also diagnosed with ADHD, which later affected her experience in employment.
Kel enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising[6] in October 2014. Graduating in June 2016, Kel bounced between branding agencies, eager to find their way into music.
Careers
[edit]Kel, in their Story[7], explains how by 2018 they had found themselves in a dead-end job working for ‘D-Tier clients’. Within this role they explain how they experienced ‘management that mocked [their] developmental and learning disabilities’. Following on from this Lauren was employed at Live Nation Merchandise, finding a way into music design. Kel’s experience in this company was very much different to their previous job. They state ‘for the first time in my career, I was heard & supported. I credit a larger portion of my success to the powerful design team, and especially the empowering women in management.’ Losing this job due to the effects of COVID-19, Kel took their design skills to Freelance work. Kel was able to design the Foo Fighter’s 2021 ‘Medicine at Midnight’ album cover. From this, Kel has made collaborations with many artists.
Design and Social Issues
[edit]Lauren shows a dedication towards Queer and BIPOC Designer representation, and their youtube channel creates a safe and helpful community for designers within this bracket[8]. Some notable pieces of design include their Playtex Packaging rebrand[9], which gained the attention of many Graphic Designers[10][11][12][13], and blogs, alongside 403K views on Youtube. The social impact this had raised awareness for how Graphic Designers can consider a new demographic than just the Cis-gendered Woman as an audience for sanitary products. Lauren’s website explains their goal. ‘to make the design space equitable and accessible to those who want to learn, for free. We need diverse voices in design, especially in the music industry. As the tides turn away from labels, we are at a crucial tipping point of reclaiming the power once held by wealthy, old, white men[14] with rampant sexual abuse and racism. I strongly believe in young people, and I actively use my platform to promote queer & BIPOC designers so they too can get the opportunity I had.’
- ^ Kel Lauren (2024-10-23). designing my first record packaging. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via YouTube.
- ^ "posters". Kel Lauren Design. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "posters". Kel Lauren Design. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "posters". Kel Lauren Design. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "FAQ". Kel Lauren Design. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Kel Lauren (2016-12-13). My FIDM Experience!. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via YouTube.
- ^ "FAQ". Kel Lauren Design. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Kel Lauren (2019-07-12). ALL ABOUT GRAPHIC DESIGN: answering your questions. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via YouTube.
- ^ Kel Lauren (2019-12-01). Redesigning Playtex Tampons | why are they like this?. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via YouTube.
- ^ Frye, Vanessa (2020-01-31). "Can Redesigning Packaging Change the World?". RE: Write. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "This is what Playtex's brand would look like without the male gaze". Fast Company. 2019-12-10. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "The DIELINE Interview with Kel Lauren". Niamh Treanor. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Johnson, Theresa Christine (2020-01-20). "Would You Lay Your Creative Process Bare in a YouTube Video?". DIELINE. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Topaz, Chad M; Higdon, Jude; Epps-Darling, Avriel; Siau, Ethan; Kerkhoff, Harper; Mendiratta, Shivani; Young, Eric (2022-06-29). "Race- and gender-based under-representation of creative contributors: art, fashion, film, and music". Humanities & Social Sciences Communications. 9 (1). doi:10.1057/. Archived from the original on 2024-08-30.
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