Hey there! I’m Melissa.
I grew up in Ohio but moved to LA in June of 2005 (I still love it here). The hole-in-the-wall restaurants, the emphasis on art and history, the community; it’s been the best journey. I’ve come to realize that LA is basically a small town in a big town’s body. You know everyone and the community is truly so strong – as long as you don’t live West of the 405 and North of the 101, lol (if you know, you know).
How I got here
I got my degree in Art (concentration in Graphic Design) with a minor in Marketing many years ago and worked in multiple corporate and startup settings right out of college, but I eventually transitioned to freelancing so I could work with clients who are more aligned with my vision of making the lives better of the people we serve. For that reason, I’m focused on nonprofits and small businesses – this has been so incredibly fulfilling.
I basically didn’t want to be a cog in the corporate wheel and not actually be making a difference any longer. So now I’ve spent the last 9 years building (humble brag alert) stunning brands, designs, and websites for mission-based businesses.
All of them have one big thing in common: they focus too much on the work they do to focus on their brand. This is why we make the perfect team!
This is the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro (southern tip of Los Angeles near Long Beach). My boyfriend convinced me to participate in Conquer the Bridge on Labor Day 2023, and we did a 5.5 mile round trip walk over the bridge and back. He’s lucky I love him. I thought I was going to die. Not really. It was fun. I got coffee after, so I was happy. And I enjoyed it so much, we did it again in 2024!
My Philosophy
I fully believe that design can be both fun and logical. Doing something for the sake of doing something just never sat right with me. Design IS communication. When we design with intention and with a comprehensive understanding of your business and your brand, we can say so much without saying anything. So often I see business owners making decisions for the sake of making decisions and it ends up wasting them so much time and money in the long run.
My goal is to make sure you don’t find yourself in that same position.
Fun Facts About Me
I love goats
I’ve always been the wonky one in my family and have definitely never been afraid to embrace my weirdness. This has manifested in a love of goats. These silly little creatures are the weird ones of the barnyard and aren’t shy about it. If there’s ever an opportunity to hug a goat, I will hug that goat.
I love McLaren
In the early 2010s, I discovered the McLaren MP4-12C – I’ve loved it ever since. This led me to their Formula 1 team which I also fell in love with. The technology and power behind the cars absolutely fascinates me. I ended up driving the 12C a few years back and it was the best experience of my life.
I love my cat
I found this little angel under my car just after Valentine’s Day in 2016. She was about 6 weeks old and 3 pounds, so I had no choice but to take her home. I was unsure if I should keep her, but I just fell in love with her. She’s the absolute love of my life – she is sassy and just the perfect level of clingy.
