LAUREN LESTER

Custom brand systems, web design, and creative media production for nonprofits, small businesses, creatives, and community orgs.


BRAND STRATEGIST | WEB DESIGNER | CREATIVE

DESIGN IS HOW STORIES FIND THEIR PEOPLE



Behind every smooth-running business or org is a simple system that holds the story, the site, and the operations together — not just a logo or pretty website. I partner with nonprofits, small businesses, creatives, and community orgs to build brand foundations and websites that are clear, accessible, and built to scale with you.

We start by naming who you serve and what you offer in plain language. Then we turn that into a lean design system, clean information architecture, and a site your team can edit without a developer on speed dial. I connect the pieces behind the scenes — forms and automations, CRM/email, SEO and analytics — so people can find you, trust you, and donate, volunteer, or book with ease.

If you’re past the duct-tape stage (or never built the bones in the first place), I’ll help you build a clear brand and a website that’s easy to run. You’ll get reliable guidance and a clean handoff so your team can keep things consistent as you grow.

Ready to get started? Tell me what you’re building.

BRAND STRATEGY / COPYWRITING / VISUAL IDENTITY & GRAPHIC DESIGN / WEB DESIGN / BUSINESS SYSTEM WORKFLOWS / CONTENT STRATEGY / SEO & ANALYTICS / CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION / FULL-STACK MARKETING CONSULTING

WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER, at a glance.

THE BACKSTORY

My career started in college with Wicked Spatula, a digital recipe and lifestyle publication I founded while working at a local nonprofit.

What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into a thriving platform, leading me to launch my own agency, Healthful Creative, in 2015 — specializing in content development, branding, and photography for brands and independent publishers world-wide.

In 2017, my partner Alex and I founded Cast Iron Keto, scaling it to an audience of millions within months. That success led to a cookbook deal in 2020 and the eventual sale of both Wicked Spatula and Cast Iron Keto to investors. After those exits, I shifted my focus to helping others, working with clients across digital media, branding, and content strategy with a deep focus on small businesses and nonprofits.

Over the years, I’ve built and scaled businesses, consulted on multi-million-dollar acquisitions, and developed digital platforms that have shaped how brands connect with their audiences. 


PERSONAL PROJECTS


Art, food, and cultural storytelling are part of the ecosystem that fuels my work. Explore my personal projects below.

HAVE A PROJECT IN MIND?

Let’s build your thing. I’m available for freelance and pro-bono work on projects that are thoughtful, creative, or values-driven. Use the contact form if you want to share a bit more.

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