It’s 10:30 a.m. on a Friday, and freshman Lauren Birch sits down in her gray chair behind the front desk at the University of Idaho Women’s Center for another day at work.
She picks up her pen, a piece of paper and begins sketching designs. Her work day includes advocating toward equality and feminism, while drawing up graphic design ideas for upcoming events.
For Birch, graphic design has always been a way she has enjoyed expressing herself.
Working for the Women’s Center is just one way Birch said she found she is able to combine her graphic design skills with promotion for equality and inclusion for all.
“I’ve always felt very strongly about helping people and recognizing those that are often ignored in society,” Birch said. “I always felt a strong urge to participate and be civically involved and fight for what I believe in.”
Bekah MillerMacPhee, assistant director of programs for the Women’s Center, said she has worked with Birch almost every day since August and has noticed some of her individual qualities and characteristics.
“It’s so nice to have somebody here with that artistic vision, who can combine their passion for feminism and art together in such a cool combination,” MillerMacPhee said.
Birch first discovered her enthusiasm for design when she was a kid. She learned about it when she joined her mom at her work as a graphic designer at the local newspaper in Teton Valley, Idaho.
Birch said during long days in the newsroom as a child, she would play on Adobe Illustrator and Paint to pass the time. Birch said her mother’s critiques helped her to shape her own designs.
Birch pursued her interest in design throughout her life, taking graphic design classes during high school and working for multiple newspapers, including her school’s and the Teton Valley News.
With a major in art and an interest in design, Birch said working for the Women’s Center has become the perfect opportunity to find ways to express her ideas in an interesting and creative style.
“I feel like being an artist and a designer, the best way you can do that is work for the Women’s Center,” Birch said.
Birch said she designs and hand-draws all of the flyers and posters for events put on by the Women’s Center.
“Throughout my conversations with her, it’s become very evident that she is committed to the mission at the Women’s Center,” MillerMacPhee said. “She’s very passionate and articulate about gender justice and gender equity.”
Birch said her design ideas she is working on either occur on a whim or come from her inspirations and co-workers at the Women’s Center.
“I try to draw inspiration through everything I see and I’m always really inspired by the people that go out of their way to work for something or fight for something, even if it doesn’t directly impact them,” Birch said.
As an art major at UI, Birch said she is focused on becoming a professional freelance artist after graduation, making flyers for events and concentrating on things she believes in as her main focus. Along with becoming a freelance artist, Birch said she would also enjoy working as a gallery curator.
“I look forward to expanding my ideas of what art is and how an artist approaches projects,” Birch said. “The Women’s Center is perfect for me because it really helps me to be active in the community and that’s what I like doing … I like to get out and try new things.”
Savannah Cardon can be reached at [email protected]