Meet Sarah Lawrence, longtime CreativeMornings attendee and full-time idea person. She runs her own Design Emporium, but her creativity isn’t limited to a screen or a page. As she’s a supporter of all things Atlanta and creativity, we thought the community would love the chance to get to know her a little better.

You might know recognize her from past CM/ATL events with her Living Infographics, seen her personal project Drawing Shit Every Day, or received one of the membership perks she created for We Love BuHi.  

Read on for her take on creativity, inclusivity, and get the scoop on her new (free!) local paper, Unfolded.

Photo by Figure & Ground ATL

What does being creative mean to you?

I believe that any person can be creative, whether or not they’re an artist.  (That’s what Unfolded is all about! But more on that later.)

When it comes to my own creativity, I like to think it’s about making connections that nobody has before and trying new ways to solve problems. Creativity has little to do with artistic talent – and even then, I tell people that literally the only way to become better at drawing or representing your ideas visually is to practice. 

Living Infographic Sarah created for #cmEquality, photo by Maria Baetti

Tell us about how you got involved with CreativeMornings.

I first heard about CM from one of my college friends, Brittany, who was involved in helping organize events. The first event I ever attended was Chuck Reece’s talk on Heritage. I’d never heard of Bitter Southerner before his talk and it had a huge impact on me, as someone who’s from the south but doesn’t share a lot of typical southern sensibilities (I hate sweet tea, for example). When he talked about the “y’all line” as the closest delineation of what is the “True South,” it gave me a lot to think about.

I loved being able to hear from and be in the same space as people that are so important and influential in Atlanta. Now I come back each month to learn be inspired, drink too much coffee, and hang out with my friends.

Buford Highway guidebook and playing card set for We Love BuHi

Favorite talk?

HENSE is definitely up there for me – I grew up loving his work, and was inspired to listen to someone who is so talented but also (actually) humble about his work. I encounter a lot of false humility these days so it was cool to hear such a refreshing voice.

This month’s theme is INCLUSIVE. Can you tell us how inclusivity factors into your personal projects?

Unfolded is exactly this! I wanted to create a quarterly print publication celebrating creativity—but I wanted the contributors to use creative skills that are unrelated to their professional day job. 

People are so afraid to participate in my public activations, because they think they can’t draw or don’t consider themselves artistic. By asking someone who isn’t a professional writer to review a restaurant or someone who isn’t an artist to illustrate a comic, I’m challenging them to tap into their creativity and practice something they may have never tried before. 

I wanted Unfolded to be inclusive for everyone at every skill level—you can be highly skilled or just learning and still contribute. 

Issue 2 just hit shelves at coffee shops, cafes, and other local favorites this week! You can either grab them in person while they’re available or sign up to receive one in the mail. 

If you’re interested in contributing to future issues, seeing past issues, pitching an idea, or sharing your story, head on over to Sarah’s website.

Want to nominate another morning person or be featured yourself on this blog? Submit your nomination here.