I am a freelance illustrator and designer based in the eastern US dedicated to visual storytelling in a range of contexts. Those contexts can be the story of an organization told through a brand, a fiction or nonfiction story told through book illustrations, a hook to a news story in the form of an editorial banner, and more. I collaborate with my clients on editorial illustration, book illustration, publication layouts, hand lettering, and brand identities. Working across digital and water-based mediums, I combine the unique character of traditional tools and the versatile polish of digital ones. I strive to communicate clearly both through my visuals and in my written communication. My central goal is always to work together to ensure that the visuals I create fit the narratives and needs of my clients.…

Lauren Schooley

I am a freelance illustrator and designer based in the eastern US dedicated to visual storytelling in a range of contexts. Those contexts can be the story of an organization told through a brand, a fiction or nonfiction story told through book illustrations, a hook to a news story in the form of an editorial banner, and more. I collaborate with my clients on editorial illustration, book illustration, publication layouts, hand lettering, and brand identities. Working across digital and water-based mediums, I combine the unique character of traditional tools and the versatile polish of digital ones. I strive to communicate clearly both through my visuals and in my written communication. My central goal is always to work together to ensure that the visuals I create fit the narratives and needs of my clients.…

Available to hire

I am a freelance illustrator and designer based in the eastern US dedicated to visual storytelling in a range of contexts. Those contexts can be the story of an organization told through a brand, a fiction or nonfiction story told through book illustrations, a hook to a news story in the form of an editorial banner, and more. I collaborate with my clients on editorial illustration, book illustration, publication layouts, hand lettering, and brand identities. Working across digital and water-based mediums, I combine the unique character of traditional tools and the versatile polish of digital ones.

I strive to communicate clearly both through my visuals and in my written communication. My central goal is always to work together to ensure that the visuals I create fit the narratives and needs of my clients.

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Work Experience

Illustrator / Designer at Freelance / Self-Employed
June 1, 2023 - Present
I work with a variety of clients in book illustration, editorial illustration, hand-lettering, general graphic design and communications, publication layout and book cover design.
Contract Graphic Designer at Parks & People Foundation
August 27, 2025 - January 21, 2026
Designed and illustrated visual information projects such as city-wide public park maps, a hand-illustrated map of the Baltimore-based nonprofit’s campus, and general communications collateral. Worked directly with the nonprofit’s Communications Director on a weekly basis.
Illustrator / Designer at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
May 19, 2024 - May 31, 2024
With input from three creative directors, designed and illustrated seven educational trail signs in a three- person creative team. Delivered two preliminary layout drafts to Bureau of Land Management archaeologist Vincent MacMillan and executed over 100 on-site preparatory drawings before delivering the final files by the end of the two-week timeline.
Climate Media Intern at The Years Project
July 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024
Created static and animated visuals for the company’s blog, for social media and for video backgrounds; carried out research and footage transcription for filmmakers and editors; engaged in writers’ rooms and gave feedback on documentary film stringouts. Collaborated with team to compile and copy write content for weekly, CMS-based climate action newsletters, and created a Figma-based mockup for said newsletter with improvements to the layout, overall user experience, icon designs, and marketing copy.
Communications Intern at Mary L. Washington Campaign and State Senate Office
February 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020
Produced digital graphics for Washington’s mayoral campaign and supported staff at events. Effectively balanced the switch to remote work, a new team and new priorities when invited to work with Washington’s State Senate office after abrupt campaign end due to COVID-19. Developed written and visual communications materials. Created social media graphics, fundraiser invitations, and other promotional collateral.
Design Intern at Blue Water Baltimore
May 30, 2022 - July 30, 2022
Developed organization’s 2021 annual report and several additional print collateral projects. Worked with supervisors; utilized and expanded on existing brand assets and systems; created layouts for cover and interior spreads; created new iconography for certain concepts; and compiled, selected and edited photos from organization archive.

Education

BFA in Illustration + Humanistic Studies at Maryland Institute College of Art
August 18, 2019 - May 29, 2023
IB Diploma at Bishop Mackenzie International School
August 17, 2015 - May 29, 2019

Qualifications

IB Diploma
August 17, 2015 - May 29, 2019

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Education, Professional Services
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