Client: Chalkbeat
Category: Illustration
Role: Concept, Design, Illustration

Throughout my time at Chalkbeat, I contributed original digital illustrations and photo illustrations to enterprise stories. I worked with reporters, bureau chiefs, and editors to create illustrations that capture the tone of the story. Articles vary from an in-depth analysis of teacher turnover rates, the student debt crisis, and mental health to a look at the inner workings of Chalkbeat, including introducing new team members, the editing process, and an ongoing source diversity audit.

Illustration of a student wearing a graduation cap in an overwhelming pile of bills and envelopes.
‘Like I’m drowning:’ Five stories from the student debt crisis
Photo-illustration of a student looking at a laptop with a thought bubble above his head. In the bubble is a collage of images: students gathered at a lunch table, a sign encouraging the use of face masks, a protest sign that reads Black Lives Matter, and a group of students playing basketball in gym class.
‘It’s a battle with yourself’: Michigan students struggle to manage mental health in troubling times
Illustration of various sized arrows moving in space with teacher figures following the different paths.
High teacher turnover is hurting Michigan’s most vulnerable students
How one Chicago school social worker is grappling with COVID’s toll on students
Illustration of a ballot being placed into a ballot box in front of a blackboard that reads November 4, 2020.
Uncertainty and angst: What the day after Election Day looked like in America’s classrooms
Illustration of a young boy seated in a crouched position. A cloud of scribbles drawn around him to show frustration. He is seated in an empty room with a door that has a small window.
A Colorado principal put an 8-year-old boy in a hold until he passed out. State law has ‘no teeth’ to force changes
An overwhelming number of emails asking questions about school procedures surrounding the coronavirus.
They sent early SOS signals about COVID and schools. Here’s what life looks like for them, one year in.
Illustration of two women holding a larger than life red pen.
Words matter: How and why Chalkbeat makes language choices
Illustration of diverse figures against a teal background with a grid texture.
We’re building a better system for tracking source diversity — and we need your help
Illustration of a laptop against a yellow background depicting a virtual anime club meeting.
‘A story on dark days:’ How one Chicago student’s anime club is creating community during a pandemic
Digital illustration of Jennifer Bramble surrounded by a semi-circle of icons representing the work she does with Chalkbeat and the DEIB Action Force.
What does a chief people officer do? Meet Jennifer Bramble.
Illustration of a white envelope against a teal background. Text on the envelope reads: An end of year note from Chalkbeat's CEO.
An end-of-year note from Chalkbeat’s CEO
Illustration of various selections of identifiers including Pacific Islander, Latnx, Middle Eastern, Black, White, and more.
How to design your source diversity audit survey with inclusivity in mind
Headshot of Dan Lyon

“Lauren is extremely intelligent, resourceful, creative and caring. She solved an extraordinary amount of problems as a designer at Chalkbeat: a new CMS, rebrand, company acquisition, photo editing and more. A majority of the documentation our company uses, she created. Lauren creates calm after sifting through chaos — and she does it with grace and patience.”

Dan Lyon, Photo Editor at Chalkbeat