From Sketch to Cafe: West Chester University Artist Lauren Chagachbanian

Lauren created the first panel in our triptych series at our new West Chester cafe.

Lauren Chagachbanian is a pro at layering graphic designs on to hand-drawn art. The West Chester University senior graphic and interactive design major creates cool, colorful, textured patterns — and they’re perfect for beer labels, book covers and or advertising.

We’re really excited that Lauren agreed to have her work featured on the new triptych art piece welcoming guests to the brand-new Saxbys Experiential Learning cafe in West Chester. No two cafes are alike and each is designed to reflect the community it is in — and local artists like Lauren make our cafes look incredibly cool and inviting.


Here’s a bit more about Lauren, and you can learn more by following her on Instagram:

Describe your aesthetic?

My aesthetic is colorful including a lot of geometric shapes and patterns along with hand-drawn illustration. I like to put my hand into a lot of my work. One example is my piece in the triptych. I really like combining drawing and digital together

Cool! So how do you combine hand-drawn and digital together?

I keep layering to add textures. With that piece specifically, I created it, then printed it out. Traced over it. Scanned it in. And I keep going back-and-forth to really create a customized piece of work. For this one I did four rounds of digital illustration plus hand illustration.

Which artists inspire you?

I really enjoy Brian Steely’s eye for symmetry and design and how he incorporates typography with his illustrations. It’s really different. The geometric shapes he uses with the linear lines creates really interesting and textual logos. Also Steven Harrington. He has this pastel, fun aesthetic. A lot of doodle-type artwork but it’s really clean at the same time. His work ranges across all kinds of mediums. He’s done work for Nike and has made his own sneakers.

What was your inspiration for the art around the triptych?

It started off as a beer label project. I called it Spinwalker. I came up with the name based on this Navajo legend of shapeshifting tribe members. That’s where this psychedelic trippy artwork came from. This urban legend that’s really cool and dark but I made this exciting piece out of it.


“Singapore Whiskey Distillery Festival”  by Lauren

How did you learn that it was selected to be featured at Saxbys West Chester?

My professor Karen Watkins presented some student work to Saxbys and then it was chosen. I thought I was going to have to make something completely new but they said ‘no we want what you’ve already done.’ To see that your design is working for other people is a thrill.

Are you excited that your work will be in a place where so many people can see it?

The exposure is really cool. It’s something awesome to put into your portfolio because having an installation is something I never thought I’d have at this stage. Because it’s such a competitive field, to know that my work has been recognized means a lot.

What are your career aspirations?

I would love to become a creative director someday. I’m working now at a company called Monigle, a branding agency in Denver. They have really cool projects and they’re always keeping it new and fresh. I’m learning how to make my work stand out while keeping consistency for the customer. I’m definitely the go-getter type. I would like to direct and have a say in things. Even as an intern here, I’ve had the opportunity to really be involved and meet with clients. Hopefully I’m creative director at a place like this someday.


"Jack Kerouac Book Covers”  by Lauren