Lauren Adams

Lauren is a global authority on experience design. As the Director of Lifestyle Research at the Gensler Research Institute, Lauren examines consumer behavior, experience design, and the evolving relationship between people and place. Her work explores what motivates engagement, belonging, and connection, helping organizations create destinations and experiences that resonate with the communities they serve.

She is responsible for Gensler’s Experience Index, a pivotal research initiative that has shaped the entire firm’s approach to design. In 2026, Lauren spearheaded the Voice of the Fan dashboard, a new platform designed to analyze fan conversations taking place in-game at the World Cup events. Lauren merges technology, culture, and design thinking to deeply understand the evolving role of lifestyle experiences and sports districts in creating memorable moments for fans, residents, and communities.

With education and training in the fields of journalism, urban planning, and brand design, Lauren brings new perspectives and holistic thinking to every client. Throughout her career, Lauren has worked with some of the world’s foremost clients across industries — from helping developers at Related, Mack-Cali, and L&L Holdings define their user experience for large-mixed-use projects; to brand strategy for entertainment, retail, and hospitality clients such as Melissa McCarthy, Disney, Nickelodeon, Marriott International, and Absolut Vodka. Lauren inspires teams and clients with her intellectual and energetic approach to create transformational thinking and enhanced human experience. Her work and thought leadership have been celebrated by Fast Company, the New York Institute of Technology, and the Society for Experiential Graphic Design, among others.