Meet Lohar (Laura) Chan of Glendora

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lohar (Laura) Chan.

Hi Lohar (Laura), we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Taiwan and moved to the U.S. with my family when I was young.

Like many kids with Asian parents, I grew up hearing the same script: be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer.

But while those careers came with prestige and stability, they didn’t spark anything in me.

What did? Music and art.

I was that kid who got lost in sketchbooks and stayed up late tinkering on instruments—chasing melodies and ideas no one else could see.

Eventually, I studied graphic design at a university in Long Beach, where I finally felt like I was aligning with what I was meant to do. After graduation, I started building my career in the design world, working across several industries before landing a full-time role at a fashion company in Beverly Hills.
It was everything I was “supposed” to want—a stable job, a good salary, a shiny title.

But something felt off. The daily LA commute, the rigid 9-to-5 (and beyond), and the slow drain on my creative energy left me questioning everything. I had just bought my first house—with a mortgage to match—and yet in 2016, I made the scariest decision of my life: I quit.

No backup job. No detailed plan.

Just a deep belief that there had to be more.
My friends and family thought I was losing it—who walks away from security with bills to pay?
But I knew I needed to carve out space to breathe, to think, and to create on my own terms.

I gave myself a year to explore, to freelance, to travel, and—most importantly—
to reconnect with the parts of me I had buried under deadlines. I played music again. I made design just for the joy of it. And somewhere in that messiness, I started rebuilding.

In 2017, I launched my own design studio. It was rough at first—I had to learn everything: how to manage projects, set timelines, handle clients, and keep it all afloat. But slowly, things started to grow.

By the second year, I was earning more than I ever did at my corporate job
—and more importantly, I was free.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, and remote work became the new normal, people around me finally began to understand the life I had created—years before it became trendy.

Then came another plot twist: I became a mom. 😉

Juggling motherhood and running a business is hands-down the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But it’s also the most meaningful. Now, I get to raise my daughter, work with clients I love, and still find time to play instruments—keeping that creative fire alive.

Looking back, quitting that job was the turning point. It was terrifying, but it led me to a life that feels honest, energized, and entirely my own.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I first quit my full-time design job, a lot of my friends and family thought I was out of my mind. I had just bought my first home and taken on a mortgage—and there I was, walking away from a stable paycheck without having another job lined up.

Everyone around me was telling me to play it safe. “Just find another full-time job,” they said. But deep down, I knew that 9-to-5 life wasn’t for me. I had always dreamed of building something of my own, even if it meant starting from scratch.

The first year was tough. I didn’t have a roadmap. I spent months networking, freelancing, and slowly building relationships with clients—learning to pitch, price, and manage everything myself. I wore all the hats: designer, project manager, marketer, and client service rep.

By the second year, things began to click. Referrals came in, projects flowed steadily, and I finally felt like I had found my rhythm.

Then last year, life threw me another curveball—in the best way. I became a mom. Balancing the sleepless nights, newborn care, and the demands of running a creative business was unlike anything I had experienced before. It was messy, overwhelming, and beautiful all at once.

Looking back, I’m proud of the risks I took and the resilience it required. It’s far from easy, but I wouldn’t trade this path for anything. I built a business on my own terms—and now, I’m building a life that reflects who I truly am.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I appreciate your invitation and am excited to introduce myself as a Los Angeles-based designer with a proven track record of delivering successful outcomes for my clients.
I believe that great design is not just about craftsmanship but also about creating a seamless user experience that establishes a balance between necessity and elegance.

My approach to design goes beyond aesthetics—I focus on creating seamless user experiences that strike a balance between functionality and elegance.
My Services Include but not limited to
* Branding
* Logo Design
* Deck Design
* Web Design
* Social Media Graphics/animations
* Email Marketing
* Digital Banners
* Packaging & Label Design

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I quit my job right after buying my first home—which, looking back, was a pretty wild move. I had a mortgage to pay and no steady income lined up. It was risky, no doubt. And truthfully, working from home isn’t for everyone. It takes a lot of discipline and drive. But I knew myself. I’ve always been focused, self-motivated, and able to juggle multiple things at once. If anyone could make this work, it was me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theinovia.com ( was way too busy didnt get chance to update my site since 2021)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinovia/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lohar-chan-26b2ab55/
• Youtube: not business related: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdGZ3WpVBYaMxgZuty90CTg

Image Credits
Lohar Chan