Are you someone who values meaning over mass production, beauty over excess, and connection over consumption? Welcome to L.A.F. Designs, a multidisciplinary art and design studio creating original artwork and thoughtfully crafted jewelry, stationery, and accessories for those who value meaning, beauty, and connection. Inspired by nature and guided by intuition, each piece blends expressive color, careful detail, and mindful making—so you can celebrate moments, give thoughtfully, and hold onto what matters.
Artist Bio — Laura A. Frank is an artist and jeweler with over 20 years of experience as a designer and creative entrepreneur. She founded L.A.F. Designs in 2000 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, initially as a jewelry studio. After relocating to the Rockaways, her practice naturally evolved into a more experimental, multidisciplinary art studio shaped by her proximity to the ocean, her sensibility to see beauty in the everyday and her deep belief in the importance of self expression.
Laura’s work is intuitive and expressive, guided by a strong foundation in color theory, composition, and gestural line. Through texture, palette, form, and movement, she explores visual juxtaposition and emotional resonance, creating work that feels both intentional and organic.
Born into an artistic family in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Laura was immersed in creativity from an early age. She studied fine arts at the Art Students League of New York and graduated with honors in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in 1998. Her education, combined with study in Rome and a love of discovery through travel, continues to inform her multidisciplinary approach.
Laura’s background in fine art and industrial design led her to jewelry-making as a way to explore sculptural form on a smaller scale. Her early collections, including Metamorphosis and A Bead Affair, are recognized for their expressive movement and distinctive use of color.
While building L.A.F. Designs as a retail and wholesale brand, Laura also co-owned N.C.H. Studio, a beloved Brooklyn-based jewelry and fine crafts gallery that represented over 300 artisans. Inspired by her daughters and a desire to nurture creativity in others, Laura later began teaching art in a multidisciplinary studio environment. Today, she continues her practice as an artist, jewelry designer, and private art instructor.
Artists Statement
“I’m Laura Frank, the artist behind Laura A. Frank Designs.
My work is rooted in observation of the beauty around me, a deep love of nature, color, and mindful making. I’m inspired by the ocean, the colors and textures found in gardens, and by those quiet, everyday moments that often go unnoticed yet hold so much meaning.
Everything I create begins as an original piece of art—a watercolor or drawing made in my New York City studio. I approach my practice through a balance of intuition and design fundamentals, allowing color, movement, and emotion to guide the process while remaining grounded in thoughtful composition.
A very meaningful part of my work honors my mother, who was also an artist. Periodically, I create collections inspired by her original floral drawings and watercolors. These pieces celebrate creativity passed from one generation to the next, time spent gardening together, and the power of art to transform, hold memory and keep connection alive.
Sustainability and intention are central to everything I do. I use archival-quality, FSC-certified papers and whenever possible, eco-conscious materials, paying close attention to each step from creation to packaging. Made to order practices are used to combat the over production specially in the fashion industry.
My intention behind L.A.F. Designs is to help people feel connected—to nature, to one another, and to meaningful moments worth holding onto. Whether it’s a card shared with a loved one, a scarf or necklace that brings a unique look to your wardrove, or a piece of art in someone’s home, my hope is that the work invites people to slow down and savor beauty. Inviting moments of pause and reflection—to nature, to one another, and to what matters most.”