Lauren Kerwell
About Lauren Kerwell
Lauren Kerwell serves as the Senior Director of Product Design at Lantern and BestColleges.com, where she leads product strategy and design efforts. With extensive experience in UI/UX design and team mentorship, she has contributed significantly to the growth of tech-focused career platforms.
Current Role at Red Ventures
Lauren Kerwell serves as the Senior Director of Product Design, Individual Contributor for Lantern and BestColleges.com (Education) at Red Ventures. She has held this position since 2021, contributing to the design and strategic direction of educational platforms. Her role involves leading product design initiatives and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user experience.
Previous Experience at Red Ventures
Lauren Kerwell has held multiple positions at Red Ventures from 2015 to 2021. She worked as a Lead Senior UI/UX Designer for eCommerce and HVAC, and later as a Senior Creative Director for Education. During her tenure, she co-led the product strategy for Lantern, which was rebranded as Careers by BestColleges. She successfully coordinated teams to develop a humanistic brand in a short timeframe.
Education and Expertise
Lauren Kerwell earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design and Communications from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she studied from 2007 to 2011. Her educational background laid the foundation for her career in design, focusing on user experience and product strategy. She is an active member of Reforge, emphasizing continuous learning in product and innovation.
Career Development and Mentorship
Throughout her career, Lauren has mentored a team of 8-12 members, including two managers. She focuses on leveraging individual strengths to improve creative quality. Additionally, she has hosted and developed numerous remote workshops and brainstorming sessions, utilizing tools like Miro to engage teams in addressing new challenges.
Contributions to Lantern
In 2021, Lauren Kerwell played a significant role in Lantern achieving 100,000 new users by identifying a key product opportunity. Her contributions have been instrumental in shaping the platform's direction and enhancing its user engagement through effective design and strategy.