Lilacs on York
began in 2010 as a side project focusing solely on graphic design. In the years since, our current scope and capacity evolved out of the full-time work of our Founder, Alison K. Mason. Her 15+ years of combined experience in design, strategy, planning and events led her to create a team of designers and strategists serving clients to craft beautiful and unique design & strategy solutions.
Why Us
As our team has grown, we’ve stayed true to our foundation–that design and communication go hand in hand. We are unique in our ability to not only produce beautiful design but to simultaneously tighten and refine language and layout to take your idea from good to great.
Our secret sauce is that we look at
every project through the lenses of both
design & strategy.
This means that we serve as a one stop shop when you can find:
Designers to make your collateral beautiful
A thought partner on the strategy of getting a certain message into the world
Writers and storytellers to help you find the right words
Developers to build a functional online home for your idea or project
Our Values
We pride ourselves on holding space for entrepreneurs and organizations that need a partner in creating and sharpening their story. We value:
Equity
We constantly seek unique approaches to leveling the playing field.
Excellence
We pay attention to small details and always work with nuanced thinking.
Storytelling
We embrace the power of narrative language to engage human connection.
Connection
We prioritize personal relationships at every stage of our work.
Strategic Thinking
We are continuous learners who approach problem solving and design thinking expansively.
Authenticity
We foster openness and trust, allowing others to see who we really are — inviting them to do the same.
About the Name
When Alison first began freelancing while in grad school, she wanted to give her business a name that would be broader than just her given name so that it could grow beyond herself. She also wanted to give it a name that could serve as an umbrella for her many creative passions.
While still working on choosing a name, a professor shared that the name of her design firm was a combination of the street names that bordered her home. Alison instantly loved the idea of incorporating something so personal into a business venture. A few days later, she was driving and saw a large bunch of lilac bushes on the side of the highway and remembered the two lilac bushes in the backyard of the house she grew up in that she’d loved as a child. She immediately connected that to the idea about using a street name. Since she grew up on W. York street, she combined the two and Lilacs on York was born.
Working with Lilacs on York was easy and comfortable. I felt listened to as well as guided when necessary.
Red Swift Media
I worked with Lilacs on York to develop my brand and to design a logo and website. From the beginning, Alison and her team took the time to get to know me and my company and supported me through the process. They were able to help me get clear on the foundational components of my brand and design a logo and website that is far superior to what I could have hoped for. They were patient, knowledgeable, and were able to anticipate my needs – often long before I knew I had them. I credit their creativity, artistic range and ability to put themselves in the shoes of my audience as the core reasons why I am getting such rave reviews on all the assets they developed for me. I would strongly recommend Alison and her team to those just getting started in designing their brand and assets or to those that are looking for a brand refresh to take their organization to the next level.