"Our project couldn't have happened without Laura’s expertise and drive.
She was our guiding star when reimagining what science festivals might look like by 2030. 
She taught us the ​value of design and challenged our thinking in a constructive way."

​Ivvet Modinou, Former Head of Engagement/British Science Festival Director at British Science Association, 
Now Senior Vice President, Science, Society and Culture at Simons Foundation

Who I work with:

Startups
I work with purpose-led founders, startups, scaleups and investors to define or refine their offer. I've also worked as design support on funded programmes including Innovate UK's Design Foundations programme. 
​
​I am particularly interested in working with startups seeking to explore post-growth entrepreneurship models. 

I can work with you on:​

• Prototyping and testing new service propositions / innovations.
• Improving an existing service or product.
• Market validation through strategic research with existing or potential customers / users.
• Stakeholder research and engagement. 
• Customer personas and experience mapping, service design, opportunity development. 
• ​Business mapping and modelling. 

Creative Agencies 
​​I build long-term working relationships with creative agencies working with purpose or mission-based projects and clients.

I worked with social design consultancy Uscreates for five years before it was bought by Future Gov / TPX Impact.

I've worked with other strategy and research agencies over a period of eight years.
​I quickly hit the ground running on projects. 

I can work with you on:

• Creative leadership on projects and programmes
• Systems and team coaching
• Experience design 
• ​Systems thinking 
• Cross-pollinating knowledge from other sectors

Civic and Industry bodies
​​I bring experience of working across various civic and scientific bodies over the past two decades.

I have worked with the UK Design Council as an Expert for the past 6 years. During this time I have led and advised them numerous health and design for planet programmes. 

I understand the evolving political and social tensions and shifts experienced across local and regional government and other industry bodies.

I can work with you on:

• Creative leadership on projects and programmes
• Systems and team coaching
• Experience design 
• ​Systems thinking 
• Cross-pollinating knowledge from other sectors

​​Purpose driven organisations
​I work with organisations to innovate and future-proof their businesses by working with new business models, consumer behaviours, trends or changing market forces. I bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to working with interdisciplinary teams. I understand the nuances and challenges of internal organisational cultures and bring a creative and commercial mindset to co-creating opportunities. 

I can work with you on:

• Innovation challenges and opportunities - spotting and co-creating concepts, developing a business case, team engagement, socialising concepts with stakeholders. 
• Strategic research, with existing and potential customers
• Prototyping and testing
• Training - in service design, strategic research and creativity
• Systems and team coaching

I am open to Trustee or Non-Executive Director role with the right organisation [in the arts, science, design, futures, nature] 

Health and wellbeing clients

Climate / design for planet clients

Recent activities

Coaching, Capability building, and systems thinking: 

• Co-authoring the Systemic Design Toolkit (published July 2024). 
• Contributing to the Design Council's System Shifting Design 2021 report. 
  
• Working as a Systems Coach with four teams on the Shaping Places Healthier Lives systems change programme 

• Authoring five systems change case studies for the Shaping Places Healthier Lives programme: documenting foundational work, key shifts, and the nuanced opportunities and challenges encountered in this three-year funded initiative. You can read these case-studies here:  Newham,  Stainforth,  Blyth,  BNSSG,  and Shropshire. 

Creative leadership: for the £1M Impact on Urban Health Employee Health Innovation Fund, supporting employers in strengthening their health and well-being support for employees.

Speculative design: Leading cross-sector co-creation activities with 54 Science Festival Directors, experts, internal stakeholders, and program funders for the British Science Association, towards a shared vision and blueprint for the future of science festivals 

​Market testing and validation: Working with teams at Brink and Wellcome to stress-test the opportunity and impact potential for a health ‘evidence accelerator.’

Other activities include:

• Wrapping-up nine months participation on the life-changing Bio-Leadership Fellowship programme
• Taking care of and learning from my young daughter
• Creating artworks inspired by trees, wind and moss - recently exhibiting at the Royal Geographical Society
• Co-running art and ecology nature connection experiences with artist Lucy Jane MacAllister Dukes

I can share case-studies over a short call. 
​
Great references are available on request. 

Contact me

"Laura is a creative, analytical and thorough design expert who would benefit any project.
Her skills make her perfectly suited to finding solutions to complex and systemic challenges
and her empathy and good humour make her a fantastic colleague."

Theo Harrison, Formerly Senior Programme Manager, Design Council. Current role: Portfolio Manager at Impact on Urban Health​