¡Hola! I'm Laura.
I'm a designer, strategist, researcher, and educator
I live, love, and work in Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Things I Do
Design Research and Strategy: Depending on the project, I employ a range of research methods, including benchmarking, market analysis, media and academic reviews, as well as participatory, human-centered, and equity-centered design methodologies. I collaborate closely with partners and community members to identify needs, uncover insights, frame problems or opportunity areas, and translate them into actionable design principles. I then map out the process and develop a plan of action that aligns with project goals, ensures inclusivity, and lays the groundwork for impactful, sustainable solutions.
Facilitation and Co-creation: I can shift roles from being an 'expert' to serving as a guide, focused on designing spaces and creating conditions that empower communities to question, define, dream, and co-create their projects, missions, or structures—whatever they need. I employ various participatory and co-design methods for these sessions, fostering an environment where collaboration takes center stage and power is equitably shared among all participants.
Visual Design and Communications: The ability to visualize the "invisible," map relationships, create journey maps, and organize information visually is an invaluable tool for helping people understand and make sense of complex concepts. Drawing on my expertise as a visual and graphic designer, I develop both digital and analog materials tailored to project needs. These range from simple slide decks and one-pagers to comprehensive brands, data visualizations, websites, and art pieces. Whether supporting specific phases of a project or serving as the final output, these visuals are crafted to enhance clarity and engagement. I also design organizational communications plans and strategies, which can include social media strategy and its visual content.
Educate: My teaching practice sits at the intersection of design, systems/systemic thinking, and social change. In my course, with curiosity and care, we examine and critique the role of design and designers in the current state of the world and our responsibility in fostering life-sustaining practices and behaviors. The learning environments I create are spaces where diverse voices and experiences are celebrated, honest and critical conversations are encouraged, and vulnerability is met with compassion. I aim to foster classrooms and spaces that feel safe for experimentation, where taking risks and learning from failure are embraced as essential pathways to growth.
Illustration and printmaking: Lately, these are skills and methods I mostly use for personal projects or in service of social justice causes and movements. I deeply enjoy designing and printing zines and posters on the risograph printer I co-own, and screen printing tote bags, t-shirts, and the like.
Explore Some of My Work
Social & service design projects, from research and strategy to implementation.
Books, magazines, prints, zines, posters, postcards, signs, etc.
Standalone work, small projects, and bits of larger projects.