We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lee Turner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lee below.

Lee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are often hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

In addition to design work, I am a painter. My small hometown in Virginia had an annual yard sale that the whole town participated in. I was there with my family, and I had some unsold paintings there just to see if anybody was interested. A couple stopped by our area, and one of them distracted me with a long conversation about some of the family stuff while the other one lifted a painting. I was disappointed, but moved on. Fast forward ten years, and I was in a new role as gallery director in a space where I was helping install work by artists booked by the previous director. During my first installation, the artist showed up with a rework of my painting that had been stolen ten years earlier! After quite a bit of consternation about how to approach the situation, I asked the artist to tell me the story of the piece. Turns out, she had found it for sale in a junk shop two counties over and nine years after it left me. It was so wild! That artist is a beautiful soul and now dear friend. For me, this is a story about connection and the exchange of positive energy, even across spans of time and in situations that may seem negative at first.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My creative work and research explores how graphic design can function as an agent of change. Currently, I am focusing on environmental stewardship and climate justice. Through my work, I am advocating for a fundamental shift in societal values—one that celebrates human connections, ecological balance, and the beauty of simplicity. The endeavors into which I put my time and energy matter greatly to me, and I am striving to make a difference in the work I do. Through graphic design, I seek to take steps toward a more equitable, just, and peaceful future.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth. Hands down, not even a contest with anything else. This and the connections that I make in-person have yielded far, far more business opportunities than any other marketing strategy. Pairing that with being open to taking on risky projects and not being scared to fail at trying something new have been the best strategies for growth.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

This might seem simplistic, but the value of knowing how to use YouTube and Google when I have a question, and going to those resources immediately when I have a question.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leeturnerdesign.com/
• Instagram: @leeturnerdesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeturnerdesign/