Lauren Shirrell
First: Wife & Mother
Second: UX/UI Designer, Artist, Photographer, Lover of Nature, Coffee Addict
At the age of 17, I could be seen carrying my camera around in school, spending hours tweaking the css and hex values of my MySpace, and experimenting with Photoshop elements. I might be showing my age… but really that is where my love for art merged with the digital world.
Born and raised in Louisville, Ky (pronounced: Loo-a-vul). I began taking college web design classes before I even graduated high school. I had decided this was the best career choice for me, it fit so perfectly with the growth of technology and the internet evolving at the time. It really was the best time to learn both worlds. I started my professional career designing for an e-learning company, eventually making my way into the healthcare industry a few years later. I created my own photography side business and went from doing photoshoots for free, to doing high-end weddings and engagement sessions. All while learning how to be an entrepreneur- I learned firsthand what it takes to communicate clearly, the value of time, what my skillset is worth, and the ever-long importance of a work-life balance. When I decided to conclude that side of business, I developed my skillset in UX/UI design and learned the ins-and-outs of designing for the web while keeping up with the newest software and trends.
Fast forward to now, I’m 33 working for a fantastic agency - Perficient as a lead UX/UI designer. I create unique digital experiences with a continued focus in the healthcare industry. I’m a firm believer in neurodiversity; and I insert my passion for it into strategy and discovery sessions so clients as well as coworkers, are aware of how I think. I do my best to reduce barriers for users who may not fall into “the normal user” category.
Neurodiversity: The idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. Source
Having a 4 year old son who is currently non-verbal, learns by doing, and is expressive in his own ways - has really changed my entire perspective. Raising such a talented and smart boy, has allowed me to unlearn the “normal” ways of communication. I think we as a society are slowly dissolving the over-generalization of being “disabled”. I find being inclusive and having empathy while designing for humans in a world where everyone is different, is part of the value I bring as a UX/UI designer. This is in fact, is what keeps me motivated in this little corner of the web. I have the chance to include, advocate, make sense, solve problems and make it easier for people like my son, to access information in a digital space.
More about me…
I’m happily married to my lovely husband, Ben Shirrell. He is an avid runner, loves the outdoors and coffee as much as I do. We were blessed with a sweet-and-sour 4 year old boy, that we named Sonny. My husband and I are very much right-brainers; we thrive in spontaneity and flexibility, over timeliness and routine.
We have life-long goals of owning land, creating a flower and butterfly farm, building a home where we can set roots, and be at least 40-50% sustainable on our own. We care for two hound dogs, two Hermanns tortoises, lots of squirrels, birds, goldfish and of course we have way too many plants (inside and outside).
Instagram @Lauren_hurst
