Who is Lauren Scarlett?
Field Trip is a homebase for the research and references that inform the work and life of designer Lauren Scarlett.
[RESEARCH ©FT]
This weeks newsletter is in collaboration with
who writes . We were chatting on instagram about writing newsletters and the curiosity that comes with reading other people’s. Wanting to know more about each other and give our subscribers some insight into who we are, we came up with some questions for each other to answer.TC: When do you feel least inspired? And what, if anything, do you do about it?
LS: I feel least inspired when I’m bored and when life feels stagnant. Sometimes I need to go somewhere else, a quick trip to London usually sorts me out. Other times I just need to find some new things to consume. When I catch myself in a slump I’m usually watching a show I’ve seen a bunch of times and listening to same songs on repeat; so I just make a conscious effort to listen, watch, read new things, and just generally seek out some newness.
TC: What’s the story behind finding your style?
LS: I never tried to find it, I just design what I like. I quickly found a minimal or reductionist aesthetic felt right to me but it’s not a style I actively tried to achieve. I’m very naturally drawn to simple looking things, I align a lot, I need a clean space or my head hurts. I honestly feel like a non-designer a lot of the time because I don’t feel like a lot of design is that necessary. I like wordmarks that are just nice fonts. I don’t pay much attention to logos, colours and icons and everything that makes up a brand, despite doing it for a living.
Style is a very universal thing for me and the way I design isn’t separate from that. When I look at the personal work I’ve done, it looks like the music I listen to, it looks like the way I dress and how I decorate a space. Everything in my life all looks and feels like me so in a way I’ve accidentally created a really solid personal brand. A big part of my approach though is I don’t look at a lot of graphic design and I’m not really concerned by what other designers are doing. So when it comes to style I’m really just trying to make as many things look as Lauren Scarlett as possible. (not a good approach to client work, I know)
TC: How do you feel your background affects you in present day?
LS: I grew up working class in one of the most deprived areas of the UK. I watched my family work hard to get by and I knew very young getting by wasn’t enough for me. I want a lot and I refuse to settle. Having never had easy access to the things, people, cultures I’m interested in, I have to put a lot of effort into inviting opportunities into my life, and a lot of that effort goes unseen even by those closest to me. I don’t think people realise how difficult it is to get out of isolated, low class towns when you’re doing it on your own. All in all though, I’m incredibly thankful for the work ethic it’s given me, it’s made me relentless in my pursuit of everything I want and makes me appreciate everything I do have.
On a lighter note, my mum would read to me a lot growing up and my dad was constantly playing music. Books and music are huge pillars in my life as an adult, both of which now manifested in two of my projects: Modern Supply and Wetsuit Radio. I’m forever grateful to my parents for instilling those two loves in me. Also very grateful they gave me a cool name.
TC: What’s one principle you try to live by?
LS: Make shit happen. Work really really hard, take the initiative and ask nicely for things. I wholeheartedly believe you’re responsible for creating your life. Of course there are always circumstances you can’t control but the sooner you stop making excuses and just get on with things, the sooner you’ll be rewarded. If you do everything you possibly can with the circumstances you’re given, before you know it, your circumstances will change and you’ll be able to do much more.
TC: If you weren’t a designer, is there another profession you’d be interested in? If so, why?
LS: Rockstar.
TC: What’s a project you’ve worked on or are working on that you’re excited about?
LS: I’ve been working with Good Company for a while who are a songwriter and producer management firm based in LA. Championing people who are behind the making of great music and the making of music I personally love is a delight; as is working with a founder who cares so so deeply about her brand and clients. The music industry is tough business, especially when you’re independent but I want to see great design and great visuals supporting it. I hope to make huge moves in music in the future but to have any involvement at all is a privilege.
TC: How do you stay organised with all these projects and ideas?
LS: I don’t. I feel like I’m always playing catchup to my brain which is exhausting but I wouldn’t change it. I give each of my projects a sporadic burst of attention and then get bored so move onto the next one. I’ve found that if I have enough projects on the go, I kind of end up being consistent through this constant cycle of project one getting attention, me getting bored, moving onto project two, getting bored, moving onto to project three, and then back to one. This happens alongside client work and other random ideas popping up but I’ve just accepted that my brain thrives when things are a bit chaotic. And is no doubt why I’m drawn to simple, minimal things and need neat, aligned physical surroundings.
TC: What’s a common misconception about you?
LS: Probably that I’m organised lol. I’m a quiet, relaxed person who takes her sweet time doing everything. I would consider myself to be very calm and level headed and I think I come across that way. So I don’t think it’s obvious upon meeting me that my mind is moving at a speed I can barely keep up with. Like I said though, I wouldn’t change it. Just don’t expect me to be on time for anything.
Thank you for reading! Check out Temi’s answers to these questions over at
:)
Such a great read and thanks for sharing your perspective on things! And I definitely had that misconception about you haha good to know I'm not alone cause my mind keeps moving at the speed of light and I bounce from projects too!