Today we’d like to introduce you to James Lano.
Hi James, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Looking back, it’s hard to tell where I started exactly, but there’s a story I like to tell about being in high school in a web design class at around age 16. My fascination with computers made me excel in the class and it wasn’t long before others started to take notice. The guy sitting next to me, who ended up being a good friend of mine, asked me if I would be able to build a website for his punk band. Wanting to be cool and accepted, I told him I could even though my skills hadn’t yet matured outside of the class assignments. I knew that if I could figure something out for them, it would lead to more people asking me to work for them, so I went home that night and scrambled to put something together. I managed to put together a full site in a few days and they were so impressed by it that they offered to have me design their flyers, t-shirts, etc. This would become the model for my design business for the next 20 years as I’ve continued to help my friends and clients create assets for their bands, brands and businesses.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The creative path is a lot like surfing to me, sometimes you are on the wave and everything feels effortless, but sometimes you are having to paddle back out against the current to reach the lineup. There have been a ton of ups and downs on my creative journey, especially with technology and the internet changing so rapidly I’ve had to adjust my vision as well as the mediums I use to continue being of service to others. To me, it has always seemed like those who can adapt to the climate are the ones who are best suited for the changes.
I’ve had my share of failed startups and I think every creative has their share of ‘clients from hell’ but all of these hardships have sharpened by sword as I’ve navigated the freelance world over the past two decades. Besides the outside influences, sometimes it can be difficult to remain in a constant state of inspiration, so I’ve done my best to try to stay in practice while also giving myself time to relax in order to stay focused on my visions.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
“I pledge allegiance to no one medium” is a quote that always comes to mind when I think about my work because my skill set is so diverse that it’s hard to put a label on myself. My portfolio is full of graphic design, photography and video projects, all of which allow me to specialize in creating strong visual assets for brands which I think is my specialty. I think this sets me apart because I’m able to provide many different services to my clients with a strong background in each medium.
In terms of projects, I am most proud of, a few years ago I was able to design a drum set for Tre Cool, the drummer of Green Day, which was one of my favorite bands as a kid. It’s these types of ‘full circle’ projects that really inspire me and remind me that I’m on the right path. I’ve been able to work with a lot of people that I’ve admired along the way so I’m grateful for all of these experiences.
Another project I am particularly fond of is in 2015. I was asked by Samsung to travel the country with their mobile devices in order to create content for their social media feeds. Some of the photos I provided ended up being part of their marketing campaigns and a few of them won several online awards as well as being printed in Popular Photography magazine.
There are many other solid examples of work I am proud of and I think remaining humble and grateful for the chance to be creative has allowed me to continue on this path for nearly 20 years.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the diversity of the city in terms of both the people and culture that exists but also in the landscape. I love how you can be downtown at one moment and in the middle of the swamp by going just a few miles in either direction. Orlando has so many different areas to experience and I’ve tried my best to soak in all that it has to offer. It helps with inspiration being able to change your scenery so easily. I’ve spent a ton of time around the many lakes of Orlando, one of my favorite places to be.
There aren’t too many things I dislike about the city which is why I’ve never ran off to the west coast or NYC like many creatives do. I’ve always wanted to create a strong foundation here instead of trying to escape to somewhere else. While it’s definitely been a challenge, it’s been great to grow with the city as Orlando becomes more popular with people leaving other states to seek the sunshine here.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.jameslano.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jameslano
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameslano
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jameslano
- Other: https://dribbble.com/jameslano
Image Credits
All images courtesy of James Lano.
