I'm Laura Reilly, though you'll usually find me creating under my studio's name, TheThumbprint.
I went to university at a strange time to become a designer. I learned traditional art while the industry was busy replacing X-Acto knives with computer mice, print shops with websites, and magazines with mobile experiences people could actually interact with. Some people picked a lane. I got curious and decided to learn all of them.
That curiosity took me through studies in psychology, fine arts, digital illustration, and just about every human centered creative rabbit hole I could find. Before graphic design became my full time career, I worked in set design, airbrushing, teaching music, print production, and whatever creative job I could find. They weren't always obvious steps toward a design career, but each one taught me something about making things, solving problems, and understanding people.
Eventually I landed at a small tech startup just as social media and digital advertising were taking over the internet. Sixteen years later I'd gone from designer to inventing whole product lines on web and mobile, designing complicated specs and prototypes, leading international teams, and helping create thousands of campaigns for brands like Disney, Honda, Macy's, HBO, and Sony. Somewhere along the way I realized the medium never mattered nearly as much as solving the problem.
The work kept changing, so I did too. As my role grew, somewhere in there I discovered Agile and realized I enjoyed building processes almost as much as the creative work itself. Becoming a Scrum Master felt less like changing careers and more like adding another tool to the toolbox.
These days I split my time between design, illustration, and the organized chaos of Scrum. I genuinely enjoy untangling messy problems, building systems that help people do their best work, and learning whatever comes next. I always want to make things, invent things, work with people. It's just how my brain likes to spend its time.
Technology will keep evolving. It always has. AI is the latest chapter in a career built around adapting to change. I embrace new tools when they help me work smarter and reduce administrative work, but the art itself—the ideas, the craft, and the human touch behind it—will always be the part worth protecting.
I'm still learning, still experimenting, and still happily refusing to pick just one lane.
Ready to Collaborate?
Whether you have an exciting job opportunity, a creative project in mind, or simply want to connect, I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out to me through my contact form or via email at thethumbprint@gmail.com.
