Since you found your way to my cozy corner of the internet, you just might be a...

✦ small business owner with a sincere client-first mentality

✦ non-profit making a difference in the world with your mission

✦ startup with high energy and a deep belief in your innovative offering

✦ established organization with your brand vision already in motion

I’m so happy to meet you!

Hi there! I’m Allison Burns, an experienced graphic and branding designer working from my home studio near Minneapolis, Minnesota. I specialize in creating beautifully designed visual identities and marketing collateral to help passionate small businesses authentically connect with their audience and drive their mission forward.

I founded my design studio, AllieMarie Design, in 2012. While working on freelance graphic design projects, my love for collaborating and building relationships with clients grew and in 2015, I made the leap into running my business full-time!

It’s a decision that I’d make all over again in a heartbeat. My business has allowed me to do what I love and serve incredible clients through branding and graphic design, all while having the flexibility to be at home with my young kids. I truly feel like I’m living my dream.

After working with 100+ small business owners,

I’ve found my purpose not only in creating clean, minimal designs that effortlessly fit my clients, but also in educating them on how to easily implement our visual designs into their marketing strategy.

When we work together, you can expect a personal, one-on-one collaboration that digs into your brand vision and values during the design process. You can also expect helpful timelines that ensure we keep momentum and stay right on track for your launch. Rest assured that I will be your one point of contact during our time together and here for support and guidance every step of the way.

Learn how we can work together

On a personal note…

✦ I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BFA in graphic design and BA in journalism with a minor in French (because why not?)

✦ My days aren’t complete without spending quality time with my two amazing kiddos and a cup of coffee (or three).

✦ After spending a summer studying abroad in Paris, I fell in love with the city. Then, I visited Edinburgh on my honeymoon and fell equally in love. I can’t wait to go back!

✦ If I’m not designing, you can usually find me hanging out with my fam, supporting new designers through my Mentorship Program, grabbing brunch with a friend or teaching dance classes and bonding with my hard-working students whom I adore

✦ My love for the stage extends from the ballet to live theater performances here in the Twin Cities.

✦ I’m as happy traveling to different corners of the globe as I am settling into my chair with a good book.

✦ My favorite thing about my business is my clients! Their energy and passion for their own business fuels mine.

My Core Values

SERVICE & EXPERIENCE

Above all, I pride myself on giving my clients a one-on-one, personalized experience. I treat every design project as a fun collaboration, not a transaction, so I take the time to understand your unique business, goals, values, and needs, before I open an art board and start designing.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Communication can make or break a project. With me, you can be sure it will make it that much more enjoyable! Your feedback and opinions are respected and encouraged in all stages of the branding process. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing what to expect during every phase of our project.

INSPIRING COLLABORATIONS

I like to work with my clients rather than for them. You'll be invited to choose between a curated set of brand concepts, so your brand feels exactly like you. In an equal collaboration, we’ll be able to meet our timelines, create an incredible finished product, and enjoy every step along the way.

GENUINE CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS

When we collaborate, it feels like we’re two friends chatting over coffee. I love learning about you as a passionate business owner *and* a human. This genuine connection will make the branding process feel extra delightful and your brand feel so aligned, because it’ll be designed with the true YOU in mind.

PERSONAL FULFILLMENT & FAMILY

I find personal fulfillment in partnering with small business owners with big-hearted missions that fit my core values and doing so with a flexible schedule that gives me the freedom to prioritize my family too. I know this is the key to producing my very best design work and serving my clients well.

My Promise

I promise to infuse joy and intention into our collaboration. I promise to prioritize our scheduled deadlines, give you a voice in the design process, and create a positive and collaborative environment we’re both excited about.

I’ve thoughtfully made every step of our design process, from digging into the story behind your business to selecting your favorite branding concept, a fun and exciting collaboration you look forward to.

View more of my design work

Kind Words from Lovely Clients

Testimonial Roll

“With my new brand, I’ve experienced more bookings, more ease and more confidence.”

Working with Allison has helped me feel much more confident in how I’m sharing my business with the world. Her process goes beyond design - she helped me take a step back, roll up my sleeves, and clarify my mission, vision and the “why” behind my business, and then designed a professional and memorable brand that represents that. Since launching my new brand, I’ve experienced more bookings, as well as more ease when reaching out to my target market and differentiating myself from my competitors. Thank you!

SADIQ DAHIR, Owner of Amana Financial

“I AM SO THANKFUL FOR HOW MUCH VALUE YOU BROUGHT OUR COMPANY.”

Allison helped us to design and flesh out our brand identity and given us incredible guidance on brand consistency and perceived image. Our style guide has especially been an enormous help to us and will be a valuable tool going forward. The process was incredibly well-organized, seamless, and fun -- Allison is so down to earth and has an absolute heart for helping her clients. I am so thankful for the results and how much value working with Allison brought to our company. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

STEPHANIE FOWLER, Founder and CEO of Austin | Fowler

“She helped me visually convey that I’m the real deal and clients can trust me!”

I really wanted to start my business off on the right foot with a professional look. Working with Allison helped me accomplish this and convey to my potential clients that I’m the real deal and they can trust me! Her process also helped me break through roadblocks and figure out the direction I really wanted to go with my business. My new brand set things up really nicely for creating my website, too! Allison is very talented, knows her stuff, and her collaborative nature and systems make her really easy to work with. I receive so many compliments on my new brand!

LACEY JONES, Lacey Jones Coaching

“A WARM AND SINCERE APPROACH TO BRANDING.”

The anxieties of starting my own business were softened by Allison's warm and sincere approach to branding… her level of energy and interest was just what I needed! Allison listened to my vision and created a visual brand for Self-Alchemist inclusive of all I had in mind...and more. She helped me to match words with visuals that have a lasting impression and I really valued every part of our process. She is passionate about her craft and perfectionist about the outcome. If you have a clear and meaningful message to convey to a specific audience, she's your gal.

LAUREN ADSEM, Founder of Self-Alchemist

“FOREVER SINGING HER PRAISES!”

Allie is an absolute pro at transforming concepts visually. I gave her a challenge and she delivered so spot on with what I was looking for. Her process, strategic mindset and willingness to collaborate is what makes working with Allie so unique... I am forever singing her praises!"

ALEX KOLLER, CXO at PS: Alex

“YOU MAKE IT VERY ENJOYABLE & EASY . . . YOU MAKE BRANDING HUMAN.”

I never expected to be so lucky to find Allison and her services! She is extraordinarily talented and supportive, openly sharing her knowledge and expertise throughout the process (which is invaluable to small business owners like me)! With a collaborative approach, Allison had a genuine interest in understanding my perspective and week by week, each delivery from her contained ever more beautiful visuals. I continually felt re-energized watching my business come to life! You make it feel very enjoyable and easy, Allison. You make branding human.

ENDA BRENNAN, Owner of Rua Creations

“A Smooth, efficient and fun process.”

I can’t believe how smooth, efficient, and fun the design process was with Allison! She really takes the time to get to know her clients and their goals. She took my general ideas about what I wanted and turned them into designs that perfectly capture the spirit of my new business and the message I want to send to potential clients. Allison especially understands women entrepreneurs and small business owners, and is passionate about helping them make their vision a reality.

GINA SAUER, Founder + President of Attavita

“BETTER THAN I HAD EVER IMAGINED!”

From start to finish, Allison was outstanding! She is fun, friendly, and an extremely talented designer. I now have a clean, crisp, and inviting visual brand that provides a welcoming atmosphere for my clients and a website that’s better than I had ever imagined!

MARK LAMASTER, Speaker + Coach + Author, Uplifting Dads

“MY NEW BRAND HAS ME SET UP FOR SUCCESS FOR YEARS TO COME.”

From our very first conversation, I knew Allison was the perfect fit for me and my business — I never even considered going with anyone else! She connects with her clients on a personal level, which made me feel super comfortable and excited throughout our time together. My new professionally designed brand set me up for success for years to come. Allison is professional, sweet and friendly, and she will be your biggest cheerleader... I wish she could handle every aspect of my new business!

PATRICIA SJULSON, Owner of Winnie Lu

“SHE TOOK TIME TO REALLY DIG INTO WHAT I DESIRED.”

Allison understood my vision from the get-go and took time to really dig into what I desired. I’ve received many compliments on my logo and my color palette seems to have stolen the show… people love it! Allison is an incredibly talented designer who went above and beyond for me, and I’m so thankful I had the chance to work with her. I just adore her!

KAYLA HOLLATZ, Copywriter + Website Strategist, www.KaylaHollatz.com

“SHE HELPED ME BLOCK OUT THE NOISE TO FIND MY DIRECTION.”

Allison had genuine excitement and enthusiasm to learn about my vision and the process in place to bring it out in me. She helped me focus on my brand integrity so my vision could be seen and helped me block out the noise to find my direction. Allison is so easy to work with and makes collaborating a comfortable experience — I recommend her whole-heartedly!

HOLLY WOODS, Owner of Southern Hostess

“SHE GOT TO THE HEART OF WHAT I WANTED AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.”

My amazing new visual brand design turned out better than I ever could have imagined and I know my business will be successful because of it. From the beginning, I felt I was working with the right person. Allison’s process is fun, collaborative, and made me dig deep into my business values so we could get to the heart of what I wanted and what was important to me. We had a really good connection and it shows in the final product... I feel like I have not only gained an amazing design partner but also a friend.

FABIENNE JOSS, Owner of The Wedding Dot

“I’D CHOOSE TO WORK WITH HER EVERY TIME!”

Allison thinks of the little things that help make it easy on me as a business owner, and she's been fantastic at translating my ideas into tangible, beautiful design pieces. I've worked with a number of designers, but I'd choose to work with AllieMarie Design every time!

JOY McBRIEN, Founder of Fair Anita

“HER ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS AMAZING.”

Allison was fantastic in designing my new brand and website… she just got me! The quality of my new brand is exactly what I was looking for. Allison’s work ethic is professional and her attention to detail is amazing. I would absolutely recommend her to any one of my peers.

JEANNE RIHM, Owner of FashionJeanne

“ALLISON NOT ONLY KNOWS DESIGN, SHE KNOWS PEOPLE.”

Allison is a unique combination of professional, organized, deeply creative, genuinely approachable and willingly adaptable. She not only knows design, she also knows people and relates to each client individually. She took time to really listen and understand me, my business and my vision, and she created a detailed strategy that fit my goals, timetable and my processing style. As a result, I have a wonderful visual brand that truly embodies my message and reflects the essence of my business.

KAREN JOHNSON, Owner of Thrive Life Coaching