Community Spotlight: Lauryn Morris
Celebrating playful experiences that people can learn and benefit from is a common theme in Lauryn Morris’s work. On the Product Design team at Snap Inc., she helped co-create the hardware that broke the internet in 2016, Spectacles, the smart glasses that enable users to capture the world around them while staying in the moment. As she and I settled into our Zoom call I knew it would be a treat. While her strides in the AR space are unmatched, what struck me most about Lauryn was her humble spirit and her uncanny ability to trust her intuition in uncertain times.
As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on our world my conversation with Lauryn was the reminder that I needed (and we all need) to listen to that little voice inside of us. While we talked shop about her career, conservation and self-care I knew her journey and words of wisdom could inspire us all. Here are some takeaways from our conversation.
On Her Journey
It all started with a Seventeen Magazine article. “When I was in highschool, Seventeen did a spotlight piece about Industrial Design, and I knew immediately that’s what I wanted to do.” Industrial Design is the design of objects we use everyday, from furniture to cars to wearable tech. “I spent so many days in the garage with my Dad and brother building things, it just seemed like the right fit.”
It was the perfect mix of all her interests at that time: photography, graphic design and working with her hands. Once Lauryn knew what she wanted to do she put all her energy into pursuing her goal with purpose. The next day she called the Industrial Designers Society of America to get the low-down on what her next steps should be.
“I believe what you put your energy into grows.”
She started, “I had an affinity for something and I relentlessly pursued it.” Life led Lauryn to college, the eyewear industry and now Snap Inc. “Life really came full circle for me. If I didn’t get a job, (or it didn’t work out) it would always set me up for my next move.”
Takeway: Our journeys, no matter how varied, provide us with tools to evaluate and appreciate how far we have come.
On Being Adaptable
“Growing up I was able to exist in a culture that wasn’t my own and that gave me such an open mind.” Lauryn’s upbringing can be described as a kaleidoscopic adventure filled with colors from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Born as an expat, the seed was planted at an early age to be comfortable with the unpredictable. Whether it was moving to a new country, or not speaking the native language; change was Lauryn’s normal.
“I began to enjoy change instead of fearing it. I actually get excited about it. All my experiences made me more curious about the world around me.”
Design is similar in that way. It requires us to get our hands dirty and make things. Through the process of creation, roadmaps get pushed aside and new information sways you in a different direction. By embracing that chaos, you have an opportunity to build confidence as you go into the next situation. Out of that change you thrive because you showed yourself you could.
Takeaway: During unpredictable situations you will be pushed out of your comfort zone. Don’t fear the change. Find ways you can get curious about your situation.
On Trusting Her Gut
Relying on your intuition and gut takes years to build up but it’s a necessary skill to have. It’s not about getting all the answers right or following a specific method. It’s about getting quiet and understanding that intuition is built on our past experiences and learnings and using that information in our present. Remembering that the path to trusting your intuition is sometimes a process.
“I got it wrong so many times in the past,” Lauryn says. “It’s good to plan and think things through but don’t worry yourself into a frenzy. You have to lean into the good and bad, and take it all as a learning lesson.” In times of uncertainty Lauryn knows that all she has to do is quiet herself and listen.
Takeaway: Listening to your intuition is built over time and experience. You won’t always get the right answer, but you’ll learn from it.
On Her Career
“If you asked me what leadership advice I would’ve given my younger self I would say ‘keep your vision clear, keep doing what you’re doing, and don’t be shy.’”
As Lauryn and I chatted she shared how these leadership values still play out in her career today. “I strive for a balance between personal conviction and empathy with others in the room. This skill is important to have when working with a room full of stakeholders and it’s time to make an important decision.”
Even as Lauryn and I talked about where she saw her career going next she says “I’m always looking onward and upward — I don’t think I’m at the top of a mountain, but rather just at the beginning what will hopefully be a long creative journey.”
It’s an important reminder for all of us to pause and appreciate where we are in our careers, even if it’s hard to in the moment. Lauryn says “The best gift I’ve given myself along the way is a reminder to slow down and go easy on myself, to take things less seriously, and to remind myself that every difficult situation is a chance to grow.”
Takeaway: Career paths are never a straight line and develop as you go. Give yourself grace and have fun with the ride!
In life we’ll always experience unpredictable things that will knock us off course. If there is one thing for certain though, you will always get back on the right course. The last question I asked Lauryn was what’s one thing she hoped for amidst everything going on, she shared this- “I’ve had the opportunity to reconnect with a lot of people and it’s really showing me how much technology can bring us together. Hopefully we can continue to take better care of others and ourselves with the same intentionality we’re demonstrating now.”
Written by Ashley Glover for Within.
