Lara Hanlon designs systems of change.
Lara specializes in simplifying complexity, understanding human behavior, and building meaningful connections to drive positive outcomes.
Through her work, she has transformed organisations, changed mindsets, and delivered award-winning design solutions.
She is the Founder of Portion Collaborative, Steering Member at Design Declares Ireland and 100 Archive, a Keynote Speaker, and Lecturer in design.
Food Systems
Innovating within the global food system, Lara leverages her systems-thinking mindset and creative skills to collaborate with businesses and individuals across the food value chain. Her expertise spans strategy, innovation, research, corporate training, workshop facilitation, brand and experience design—all geared toward addressing the overarching question: How can we shape a future where food is more sustainable, enjoyable, and equitable for all?
Additionally, Lara holds a Food and Sustainability certification from EIIS—the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability.
Highlights:
Founder, Director at Portion Collaborative →
Coach at Future Food Movement →
Food to Feed the World (TEDx) →
Founder at éntomo (2013–18)
Sustainable Organisations
Lara recognises the importance for businesses to align with sustainability goals, for the environment and society. Her ability to view organisations as systems helps leaders understand their business better and overcome challenges effectively. Her work in this area includes skills development, employee engagement, strategy, communications design, and community outreach.
Lara gained deep experience in organisational design during her tenure at IBM in Ireland and New York City (2014–2021). There, she played a key role in fostering a sustainable culture of design and design thinking. Lara also holds a Sustainable Business Strategy certification from Harvard Business School Online.
Highlights:
Steering Member at Design Declares Ireland →
Facilitator at Creative Boardroom: Collaborate4Climate →
Education, Culture & Ops Lead (2016–18) at IBM Design →
End-to-End Digital Experiences
From digital design systems to software products to consumer applications, Lara has a wealth of experience in crafting end-to-end digital experiences. Her holistic approach to designing digital considers the entire user journey, from initial interaction to final outcome, and involves collaboration across various disciplines including UX and UI design, engineering, content, strategy, and performance optimization.
Highlights:
Design Systems Lead (2018–20) at Carbon for IBM.com →
Web Design Lead (2020–2021) at IBM Research →
Design Lead (2015) of Design Island App, ID2015 →
Publications & Features
Food Design — Interview
Food Design Voices Vol 2 →
Guzzle — Article
POTATO: A Portal to the Past, Present, and Future →
IBM Design — Blog
10 Reflections on Designing a Design System →
IBM Design — Interview
International Women’s Day and its impact →
Why Design — Interview
Addressing gender imbalance in design→
IBM Design — Blog
Remote Collaboration for World Domination→
100 Archive — Article
So what is design thinking, anyway?→
Shopify — Article
Web Design Trends 2018→
Just in Mind — Article
Top UX Design Trends for 2018→
Just in Mind — Interview
Prototyping and UX Design Culture→
Prototypr — Blog
Work Better, Not More→
100 Archive — Review
Postcards from The Future...→
Marvel App — Blog
How to Lead and Hustle in Design...→
Silicon Republic — Interview
A design for life revolution is sweeping IBM→
Offscreen Magazine (issue 14) — Feature
A Day in the Life of →
Silicon Republic — Feature
What is design thinking...→
Bloomsbury Publishing — Publication
Developing Citizen Designers→
100 Archive — Interview
Modern Practice→
100 Archive — Blog
Designing for Big Blue: My Story So Far→
Dezeen Magazine — Feature
éntomo→
Talks & Exhibits
Climate Change: The Design Challenge Of Our Time
Design Leaders Conference, 2024
No Nature, No Food
Future Food Movement, UK, 2023
Agriculture, Food Policy, Sustainable Food Systems
IFIAD Annual Conference, University of Galway, 2022
Sustainability by Design — Moderator
100 Archive in assoc. with Heritage Week, 2022
Designing The Future Through Food
Birmingham Design Festival, UK, 2022
Remote Creativity
WhyDesign, 2020
IBM Think Summit
IBM’s annual business and tech conference, 2019
Motyf: Virtual Types
Festival of Interactive & Motion Typography, 2018
Commitment
Creative Mornings, Dublin IRL, 2018
100 Archive and Irish Design
OFFSET, Dublin IRL, 2018
Strategic Creativity at Work — Moderator
Workspace Business Insights, London UK, 2018
Design Thinking at Scale
Mobile UX London, 2017
Design for Impact
The Future, Dublin IRL, 2017
Design for Impact
National Digital Design Conference, Pakistan, 2017
Food to Feed the World
TEDx Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin IRL, 2017
Design Facilitation
Bulgaria Web Summit, 2017
IBMxEtsy: Design in Business & Tech
OFFSET, Dublin IRL, 2017
Me, Myself and I
SEU Fine Arts Gallery, Austin TX, 2016
Designing Human-centric Products
Inspirefest Conference, Dublin, 2016
IBMxIADT: Designing Designers — Moderator
OFFSET, Dublin IRL, 2016
IBM Design Thinking Workshop
IxDA : Interaction16 Helsinki, 2016
Defuse: Design for Use
IxDA, Dublin IRL, 2015
LIMINAL Dublin
Irish Design 2015 flagship exhibition, 2015
Blueprint Talks | Designing Digital
Irish Design 2015 x Making Space, 2015
NEED: When Design Empowers Human Potential
Milan Design Week, 2015
Alliance Graphique Internationale
AGI International Posters Exhibition, 2014
Introducing IBM Design
IRDG Annual Conference 2014: Design Thinking, 2014
Recovery: The Power of Design
Shenzhen Design Awards for Young Talents, 2014
Honours & Awards
FastCompany Innovation by Design 2022
Enduring Impact; Finalist
FastCompany Innovation by Design 2022
Best UX Design of 2022; Honorable Mention
SheGenerate Accelerator Lite Showcase 2022
Finalist
Fingal Chamber Young Business Person of the Year 2018
Nominee; Finalist
100 Archive Selection 2016
Design Directory Ireland→
100 Archive Selection 2016
Attention Economy→
Institute of Creative Advertising and Design (ICAD)
Design Island→
100 Archive Selection 2015
Design Island→
Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI)
Highly Commended 2015
Institute of Creative Advertising and Design (ICAD)
Bronze Bell Award 2014
100 Archive Selection 2013
Vernacular→
Shenzhen Design Awards for Young Talents
New Star Award 2013–14