About
Most designers can't build. Most developers don't design. Almost nobody does both, and also holds accessibility credentials from Deque, builds AI automation in production, and has traditional illustration practice. That's a specific combination. It's also genuinely rare.
I'm the design director and frontend developer at Lion and Panda, a fractional CMO firm in Central Ohio. In practice I lead creative direction, build websites, run accessibility audits, develop automations, architect WordPress themes, design brand identity, print design, and integrated campaigns. I built the agency's proprietary WordPress boilerplate in 2020, and it has been the foundation for every client site we've launched since.
Digital accessibility is where I'm most credentialed. I build accessible-first as standard practice, conduct formal audits using axe and manual testing, and handle remediation when it's in scope. Automated tools catch about 30% of accessibility issues. The other 70% requires a human, and that's the part most developers skip. Full-loop capability (audit, build, remediate) is rare in the regional agency market. I think it's also increasingly non-optional.
The project that shows the combination best? Six consecutive annual illustrated mugs for the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Each is an embossed clay stamp design: two effective values, no gradients, unpredictable glaze, historically researched. The 2025 mug hid a Caesar cypher. Fans who decoded it visited a landing page I built, triggered a conditional email automation, and received a personalized PDF certificate from Merlin. Design, development, campaign, automation. One project.
On the AI side: I hold Anthropic certifications, Zapier + MCP workflows pulling from ClickUp, Gmail, and Slack, production chatbot training, and an ongoing effort to build a structured AI adoption approach at the agency level. I'm not just using the tools. I'm figuring out where they create real leverage and where they get in the way.
Open to conversations where the rare combination is the point.
Work
Lion and Panda
|Creative Director and Frontend Developer
Central Ohio, Ohio, US
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Summary
As Creative Director and Frontend Developer at Lion and Panda, Laura Osburn leads creative direction, builds websites, and integrates AI automation, establishing the agency's proprietary WordPress foundation and elevating digital accessibility standards for diverse clients.
Highlights
Architected and maintained a proprietary WordPress boilerplate since 2020, serving as the foundational framework for every client site launched by the agency.
Developed the Ohio Renaissance Festival Progressive Web App, enabling offline functionality and enhancing user experience with integrated schedule and map features.
Standardized agency's pre-launch and post-launch procedures, streamlining project delivery and ensuring consistent quality across web projects.
Led comprehensive ground-up branding projects, encompassing logo design, brand standards, and full collateral systems for diverse clients.
Executed extensive print design across multiple formats, including brochures, trade show materials, signage, and direct mail, demonstrating deep print production expertise.
Implemented accessible-first design and development practices across all web projects, conducting formal audits with axe and manual testing, and providing full-loop remediation.
Provided creative leadership for client projects, guiding design direction, managing revisions, and mentoring interns on live client work.
Spearheaded the Dewey's Pizza April Fools fortune teller campaign (2022), a tarot-themed quiz that won the AMA Cincinnati Pinnacle Award for Best Content Marketing Campaign, driving social sharing and lead capture.
Clark State Community College
|Adjunct Instructor, Graphic Design and Web
Springfield, Ohio, US
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Summary
As an Adjunct Instructor at Clark State Community College, Laura Osburn educated students in graphic design and web development, rebuilding curriculum and guiding aspiring professionals for a decade.
Highlights
Managed the graphic design program during a critical transition, completely rebuilding curriculum and simultaneously teaching first- and second-year classes while ensuring student graduation.
Contributed as a Subject Matter Expert for the Ohio Board of Regents Arts and Communication Pathway Workshops in 2014 and 2016.
Served as an Invited Item Writer for the Ohio Board of Regents Arts and Communication Pathway Workshops in 2014 and 2016.
Evaluated numerous graduation portfolios and career tech students during articulation panels, ensuring high academic and professional standards.
Penda Publishing
|Head of Media Services
Springfield, Ohio, US
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Summary
As Head of Media Services at Penda Publishing, Laura Osburn managed print and digital media, significantly increasing website traffic and establishing foundational expertise in CMS and print production.
Highlights
Developed and maintained multiple HTML and CMS-based websites, incorporating e-commerce, newsletter, and subscription functionalities.
Increased company website traffic by 10x through strategic redesign, optimized content management, social media initiatives, and SEO enhancements.
Directed all aspects of print design, including advertising, brochures, catalogs, branding, and sales materials, ensuring brand consistency and quality.
Leveraged foundational expertise in Joomla CMS, print prepress, bleed and color profiles to manage daily-deadline production schedules efficiently.
Education
Clark State Community College
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Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Graphic Design
Grade: 3.8 GPA
Awards
Adjunct Professional Excellence Award
Awarded By
Clark State Community College
Awarded for exceptional teaching and professional contributions as an adjunct instructor.
Student Excellence Award
Awarded By
Clark State Community College
Recognized for outstanding academic achievement and contributions to the graphic design program.
Certificates
IAAP WAS Certification Preparation
Issued By
Deque University
Web Accessibility Curriculum
Issued By
Deque University
Customer Service for People with Disabilities
Issued By
Deque University
Skills
Web Accessibility
WCAG, Axe-core.
Creative Direction
WordPress Development
Digital Accessibility Auditing
Front-End Development
Web Technologies
HTML, CSS, SCSS.
AI Workflow Integration
Prompt Engineering
Brand Identity Design
Graphic Design
WordPress Theme Development
JavaScript
PHP
Progressive Web Apps
PWA.
Unbounce
Figma
Automation Tools
Zapier, Make.com (formerly Integromat).
Adobe Creative Suite
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Typography
Logo Design
Print Design
Print Production
Prepress.
Illustration
UI Design
SEO
Email Marketing & Automation
Email Marketing, Marketing Automation.
Project Management
ClickUp.