No hacks or gimmicks…just a strategy for excavating your good ideas and turning them into share-worthy projects that serve your goals (that's adaptable and repeatable whenever you need a lil creative pick me up in your career). See what students have created using my signature passion project framework!
Fauxsaics
by Nick Misani | @nickmisani
Nick had been meaning to start a serious passion project for a while, but kept making the usual excuses for himself. The biggest obstacle for him was a total lack of ideas. He was overthinking even the smallest thing, which resulted in not starting anything at all. Outside of passion projects, he was getting paid for my creative work, but wasn't really feeling very inspired by what he was doing. Using lessons in the course, Nick Launched Fauxsaics, a series of lettering-based, travel-inspired digital mosaic illustrations where the form is dictated by the limitations of traditional mosaic technique.
⭐️ Featured on 20+ creative media outlets/blogs
⭐️ Booked big client work
Nick Misani, Project: Fauxsaics
“The project launch was the most exciting moment. The response I got was so enthusiastic I was really blown away. It was also so exciting to see this project of mine being featured on so many blogs and accounts. The thought that somehow I stumbled onto an idea that resonated with people—despite being so chronically bereft of ideas—was really thrilling!”
Subpar Parks
by Amber Share | @ambershares_
Amber is a designer who felt a little all over the place when it came to the creative work she was making and putting out there. Using lessons in the course, Amber Launched Subpar Parks, a series of illustrations featuring real negative reviews of America's national parks. With this project, she was hoping to get her name out there for freelances illustration and lettering work, particularly in the outdoor industry.
⭐️ 350K+ IG followers
⭐️ Signed a book deal
Amber Share, Project: Subpar Parks
“In the 7 months since launching my passion project, it's amassed over 200K followers on Instagram, and I've quit my job to focus on my illustration work full time. I've been featured in the Wall Street Journal, O Magazine, Buzzfeed... and have gotten tons of amazing client work from it!”
Horoscoop
by Vanessa Rees | @v.k.rees
Vanessa was in a creative rut. She had some ideas but wasn't setting aside the time to execute them and was also overwhelmed. There was so much visual work out in the world, which made it daunting to pick one direction or idea. Using lessons in the course, Vanessa Launched Horoscoop, a creative photo series exploring what each zodiac sign would be like on an ice cream date.
V.K. Reese, Project: Horoscoop
“What Lauren teaches is bigger than a single project. She guides you to look inward at your authentic self and, as a result, find your voice as a creative.”
Ovary Actions
by Annie Wong | @headexplodie
Annie had gotten a very small number of freelance projects before joining the class; so she knew getting paid for her art was possible. She just didn’t know how to get that work consistently. Annie had a hard time narrowing down her interests enough to create a solid series. Using lessons in the course, Annie Launched Ovary Actions, a series of GIFs that turn period euphemisms into charming animations that aim to break down stigma around menstruation.
⭐️ Signed with an agent
⭐️ Featured by Teen Vogue
Annie Wong, Project: Ovary Actions
“What I saw Passion to Paid doing for myself and a lot of the students was helping us realize the internet is big enough for our ideas to gain an audience.”
Introflirted
by Josh Ryan Higgins | @imakethangs
Josh tried some passion projects and series of works in the past, but had trouble maintaining them, growing them, and just generally staying engaged on them. This class gave him a better system for vetting good passion project ideas along with growing and maintaining them. Using lessons in the course, Josh Launched Introflirted, a collection of fun, flirty illustrated love notes for introverts inspired by the romantic things introverts think of but never say.
⭐️ Featured in HuffPost
⭐️ Signed a few book deals
Josh Ryan Higgins, Project: Introflirted
“The project launch was the most exciting moment. The response I got was so enthusiastic I was really blown away. It was also so exciting to see this project of mine being featured on so many blogs and accounts. The thought that somehow I stumbled onto an idea that resonated with people—despite being so chronically bereft of ideas—was really thrilling!”
