Lauren Gardner

As a user-centered design specialist with experience in design research and participatory approaches, Lauren supports Reboot’s programmatic work across a range of domestic and international projects. Her work at Reboot has spanned from leading multi-country design research for the Wikimedia Foundation on how to sustain volunteer contributions to a collective knowledge platform, to overseeing research and design of an initiative with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to reduce arrests related to low-level offenses. Most recently, she has conducted research to understand stakeholder needs and objectives for global government transparency initiatives in participatory budgeting and open contracting. Lauren’s background in international education has taken her from the field to the policy level. In Pune, India she researched teacher motivation and worked in youth development with The Alliance for Global Education. As a Research Analyst with the World Bank, Lauren developed recommendations for the Zambian government based on national surveys assessing the quality and expenditure flow of their education system. Hailing originally from the great state of Texas, Lauren moved north to study international relations at American University. She went on to obtain an MFA in Design for Social Innovation at the School of Visual Arts, where she developed a communications campaign to promote community-led placemaking efforts in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

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