Designing Success: How Lolo (Lauren) Albano ’13 Turned Curiosity into a Creative Career

The secret to Lolo Albano’s ’13 success? Stepping out of her comfort zone. Since her time at Florida Southern College, Albano has received global recognition for a remarkable career in design, entrepreneurship, and creative leadership.  

Albano credits her education as the spark that ignited her lifelong passion for visual communication and problem-solving. Her journey began during her first year with a design fundamentals course that revealed how psychology and design intersect to shape human response. From there, she quickly fell in love with design and found a home at Florida Southern in the Arts department.  

“My passion took off when I moved into print design classes and my Senior Thesis,” Albano said. “There, I gained not only technical skills, but also a deeper understanding of how design can influence the success of a business. My professors at Florida Southern encouraged me to think not only about what looks good, but how our work can fit into a bigger picture. That is what hooked me for life!”  

Since graduating from Florida Southern, Albano has left her mark across diverse industries, spanning hospitality,  events, media, and  beauty.  Namaka, her vegan skincare brand, has been retailed in Urban Outfitters and she credits this project with validating her vision of design as a driver of connection and revenue. 

Albano later moved on to lead the consumer revenue design team at Condé Nast for Vogue, Architectural Digest, GQ, and Condé Nast Traveler. There, she directed creative campaigns to drive subscription growth, launched new revenue-generating memberships, and leaned into her passion for helping businesses succeed through impactful design. Currently, Albano is the Creative Services Director at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, where she utilizes the skills she’s learned throughout her education and career.  

After working in many different roles, Albano shared, “Be confident that you can learn anything. Every time I’ve stepped into a new role or industry, I didn’t have all the answers on day one. What gave me confidence was knowing I was resourceful enough to figure things out, ask the right questions, and grow into that new area. Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t about already being perfect for the job; it’s about believing in your ability to learn, adapt, and rise to the challenge.”  

Albano’s path demonstrates how curiosity, resilience and vision can turn creative passion into meaningful impact. Her journey serves as an inspiration for current students and a testament to the enduring influence of a strong foundation in design education.