Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Turner Lassan.
Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a designer, marketing consultant, and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience. While studying design and marketing at Austin Peay State University, I started freelancing and eventually turned that into my full-time design firm, January Creative, in 2012.
With a background in both design and marketing, I focus on helping clients create beautiful, strategic designs that drive real business results. Over the years, I’ve worked with clients across a wide range of industries and developed a passion for helping other creatives build successful careers.
I’m also the author of Student Freelancing 101, a book that’s been adopted as a textbook at several colleges across the country. I even had the opportunity to develop a full college course around it for the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. This was the culmination of my experience freelancing while in college and writing about it through my site Students That Freelance, which at the time was a one-of-a-kind site, as freelancing in college was unheard of at the time (while it is the norm now).
Outside of my design work, I’m a trained storm spotter and volunteer nowcaster with NWS Nashville, where I received their 2017 Distinguished Service Award. I also run Candleflare, LLC, my handmade soy candle brand.
I hold dual bachelor’s degrees in Graphic Design (BFA) and Marketing (BBA) from Austin Peay State University, where I graduated with a near 4.0 GPA and summa cum laude honors.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road, but I wouldn’t call it the bumpiest either. Starting my career as a freelancer while still in college meant there was a lot I had to figure out on my own, all while balancing coursework in both my design and marketing programs.
Back between 2007 and 2012, it was pretty uncommon to freelance as a design student, which pushed me to learn as much as I could and share what I learned along the way. During my BFA review, my professors were impressed that I had already built a client base and started gaining real-world experience before even earning my degree.
One of my biggest challenges early on was managing time—balancing client work, classes, and commuting. I structured my schedule so that classes were condensed into two or three days a week, which often meant back-to-back lectures and long drives—about an hour and a half each way. My days would start around 4:30 a.m. and often end close to 7 p.m. On non-class days, I worked in Bellevue, so juggling an 18-hour course load, client projects, and work required serious organization and discipline.
After graduation, maintaining that same pace brought new challenges. Interestingly, I actually had more business while still in school than immediately after, but over time, my client base grew steadily, and I was able to transition into full-time self-employment.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a graphic and web designer/developer specializing in brand identity design. For most of my clients, I’m the go-to person for everything related to their brand—from creating their logo and website to designing all of their marketing materials. When I’m not developing the brand from scratch, I work within existing branding to ensure consistency and cohesion across every touchpoint.
I’m best known for my branding and web design work, which make up about half of my projects each. Looking back over nearly 20 years in the field, I’m most proud of building a long-term freelance career and achieving some of my biggest goals—like writing and publishing a book, developing a college course on freelancing, and contributing to major industry sites such as The Next Web and SitePoint.
What really sets me apart is that I bridge both design and marketing worlds. I’m not only professionally trained and experienced in design, but I also have formal education in marketing. That dual perspective allows me to create work that’s not just visually compelling, but strategically aligned with my clients’ business goals. I like to say I speak both languages—design and marketing—and that’s something that’s still pretty rare in this industry.
How do you think about happiness?
If you had asked me this question years ago, my answer would’ve been completely different—and I think that’s true for most people.
These days, what makes me happiest is being able to do what I love, on my own terms. I get to work in a field I’m passionate about, set my own pace, and still have the freedom to enjoy life outside of work.
Freelancing has given me the flexibility to pursue projects that inspire me while also being fully present for my family—something that’s become even more important now that I have a husband and child. I work when I can, and I make space to enjoy the moments that matter most when they come up.
Pricing:
- Design: Unlimited – Unlimited design support from a professional designer, delivered quickly for a flat monthly rate. $1,995/month (current special. normal price $2,495)
- Other pricing is per project
Contact Info:
- Website: https://januarycreative.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/januarycreative
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/januarycreative
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/amberleighturner/
