Lauren C. Grant obtained her Bachelor’s of Art degree with a concentration in Media Arts from Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus. Upon completion of her first degree, Lauren became the studio manager for a catalog marketing company in Manhattan for over two years before moving to San Francisco. While living in the bay area, she continued to work in the photo industry producing, assisting, shooting, and styling for clients such as Williams-Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, California Home and Design, Ghiradelli Chocolate, Apple and many more. Through her work with the still image, Lauren began to discover a passion that lied beyond the lens. The manipulation of space through the two-dimensionality of the medium began to create another expanse that which she could build from. After 8 years in the photo industry, Lauren decided to broaden her knowledge of the built environment by pursuing a Master’s degree in Interior Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. Since the completion of her second degree, Lauren has returned to New York City where she continues her investigation of the interior domain. She currently works for Heiberg Cummings Design, an award winning interior design firm located in the West Village, while building on her separate entrepreneurial endeavors.
Post Company, Brooklyn, NY, US, Senior Interior Designer & Project Manager
Maintain design direction established at Concept; Manage all client, AoR & GC communication on time; Develop, communicate & distribute project schedule & budget; Communicate project staffing needs to Core Director; Coordinate all deliverables both external & internal; Responsible for production, sourcing & purchasing coordination.
MA | Morris Adjmi Architects, New York, NY, US, Interior Designer 2
Prepared client presentations; Assisted in production of construction documents; Developed schedules for interior finishes, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and door hardware; Attended client and coordination meetings and later prepared meeting minutes; Consistently met deadlines set in project work plan.
Husband Wife, Brooklyn, NY, US, Freelance Interior Designer
Created and developed design concepts; Assisted in production of design development and construction documents; Corresponded with vendors regarding finishes, FF&E specifications, and pricing; Worked both independently and as a team.
WeWork, New York, NY, US, Interior Designer
Defined and maintained on-brand project aesthetic appropriate to regional market; Ensured project approach followed brand standards and best practices; Identified and selected products and vendors that met brand standards; Oversaw documentation during pre-construction and bidding phases; Worked closely with team members to manage FF&E supply chain; Participated in on-site staging and closeout to ensure design intent had been maintained.
J. Patryce Design, Hoboken, NJ, US, Junior Interior Designer
Developed, managed, and recorded technical aspects of projects; Worked directly with principal designer on conceptual design development, presentations, and production; Managed project deliverables, design schedules, and direct communication with contractors, vendors, and clients.
Rafael Viñoly Architects, New York, NY, US, New Business Coordinator
Prepared proposals and presentations for new projects, including generation of customized content (text and images), fee and staffing analysis, coordination of consultant information, layout, binding, and shipment; Conducted new business research; Maintained office standards and data for proposals, contracts, and other associated information; Prepared awards submissions.
LETT by Heiberg Cummings, New York, NY, US, Freelance Interior Designer
Devised initial design concepts; Sourced furnishings, fabrics, decor; Controled budget; Planned spatial arrangements for furnishings; Rendered final presentation materials for clients.
Heiberg Cummings Design, New York, NY, US, Design Assistant
Strategized and implemented marketing; Managed online presence (newsletters, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Etsy); Created and update AutoCad drawings; Generated client orders; Communicated directly with clients and vendors.
Heiberg Cummings Design, New York, NY, US, Design Intern
Created and updated AutoCad drawings; Generated client orders; Communicated directly with clients and vendors; Assisted in general office maintenance.
Heiberg Cummings Design, New York, NY, US, Design Intern
Created and updated AutoCad drawings; Generated client orders; Communicated directly with clients and vendors; Assisted in general office maintenance.
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, US, Design Frontiers Workshop-Robotic Prototypes in Architecture
Interest in robotics has risen dramatically over the last 15 years in the fields of architecture, engineering, industrial design and art. Designers in the future will be called upon to create spaces that are computationally enhanced, interactive, responsive and artificially intelligent. Rather than simply designing traditional buildings and then applying a computational layer, this workshop explored a more integrative and synthetic approach. Preparing architects and designers for these challenges demands a range of knowledge, skills, and experience well beyond the traditional domain of architecture or design education. This workshop explored a range of emerging software and hardware tools and techniques for designing, programming, visualizing, fabricating and testing parametric robotic architectural prototypes.
RISD INTAR Department of Interior Architecture, Providence, RI, US, Masters, Interior Architecture
A field at the intersection of architecture, conservation and design of the built environment, Interior Architecture at RISD takes an innovative and progressive approach to addressing design issues intrinsic to the reuse and transformation of existing structures. The Master of Interior Architecture program provides a unique design education on the alteration of existing structures through interior interventions and adaptive reuse, outside the confines of professional architectural licensure. Central to the curriculum, the advanced design studios provide insight into various specialized fields while the core curriculum includes the study of history, theory, drawing, structures, energy, materials, lighting and technology, all of which ensures a full understanding for the concerns of professionals in the building industry and allied fields.
Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Warren, VT, US, Urban Regeneration
As urban populations worldwide continue to grow amidst the convergent crises of energy depletion, climate change and economic uncertainty, it is critical that we redesign our cities to provide for more of their residents’ needs. This workshop focused on practical skills that are usable by urban communities to achieve greater local access to, and control over, life’s essential resources. The course introduced one to simple and affordable techniques for soil building, bioremediation, rainwater harvesting, intensive food production, micro-livestock and aquaculture, small scale autonomous energy production, DIY air purification, and other infrastructure retrofits. We looked to existing urban farms, urban homesteads, and other examples of urban permaculture to explore the ways we can design and establish our homes and communities as ‘human ecosystems’ that are not only less fuel reliant, but also beautiful, productive, ecologically regenerative, and wholly nourishing.
Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, US, Bachelors, Media Arts
The Media Arts Department offered a dynamic undergraduate program with specialized professional tracks in digital audio, computer graphics, film/TV/video production, media studies, media management, screenwriting, video journalism or photography. Students from around the world come here to cultivate their creativity in the Department’s state-of-the-art production labs and facilities, while receiving personalized instruction and mentoring from the Department’s experienced faculty and staff members.
RISD’s Graduate Architectural Travel Grant, Grant
Open to all current graduate students in good academic standing, Graduate Studies|Grants offers funding of between $3,000 and $5,000 to winning proposals for pursuing new or developing work. Unlike awards for completed work, GS|Grants reward ongoing exploration and facilitate emerging and prospective work. For students not yet in their final year of study, these grants may provide financial support for thesis development or another body of research and production. The number of GS|Grants awarded in each category is proportional to the final number of applications submitted in each of three categories: Architecture, Design and Fine Arts. Each year three guest jurors from beyond RISD – well-known professionals within each grant category – thoroughly review GS|Grant proposals in order to select recipients. Proposals are reviewed once a year and students may apply individually or in collaboration with other graduate students.