ENTERTAINMENT ADVERTISING   |   BRANDED CONTENT

Welcome! My name is Melanie but everyone calls me Mel. I am very passionate about the creative side of projects both within the entertainment industry and beyond. I am currently partnering with Doodlebetts Studio launching a whimsical brand by adapting original hand made artwork into a suite of products. When I'm taking a break from bringing ideas to fruition, you can find me reading a new addition to my book club or making a new recipe I found on TikTok. Enough about who I am, I bet you're wondering where my credentials are. I studied at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Visual Media Studies with a minor in Business Administration

​

During my senior year, I was given the opportunity to intern with a boutique Advertising Agency in LA called Stockholm Design. I owe it to Stockholm Design and the amazing clients, peers and projects that exposed me to the world of Key Art and Home Entertainment Packaging. I have been inspired beyond my years and incorporate my creative process into everything I do. While at Stockholm I grew immensely — in which — I wore many hats; Project Manager and Production Designer overseeing all aspects of production while project managing Key Art for Print, Digital, Out of Home, Home Entertainment, Product Suite for Streaming and often times representing the agency at various client facing events. 

​

While living my dream — like many others — the COVID-19 Pandemic turned things upside down. I was terminated through no fault of my own and began searching for my next career move. A growing pain and blessing in disguise, which led me to Gallegos United Collective. The collective broadened my knowledge of commercial advertising, specifically, conceptual thinking and content development for broadcast television, online video + pre-roll, radio and social media tone of voice. There I dove head first into the most important campaign of 2020 — The California Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Awareness campaign. Among other celebrated accounts and campaigns, I learned how to communicate through a multicultural lens, where each campaign was culturally attuned to resonate deeper within the Latinx community. My takeaway is this, storytelling is just as powerful as the creative, if not more. To make a lasting impact is to challenge one another in thinking bigger so that each individual connects with a brand's identity in an authentic way.

​

After Gallegos United, I found myself yearning for television and film. I quickly found myself joining the CBS Interactive creative marketing display team where I produced campaigns for Paramount's streaming platform, Paramount+. It has been a dream come true learning from the P+ team and joining the studio side of the industry. My peers and I worked seamlessly and efficiently as we glided towards a collective goal of becoming the most watched streaming platform around the world. Since joining the team I've had the pleasure of pitching design concepts for Paramount's Hispanic Heritage Month campaign as well as joining the Email Marketing team — designing newsletters.

​

Following my time with P+, I made a jump to join Apple at MarcomLA. Not only a new role, but a move back to LA where I had gotten my start. At Apple, the production designer role is very different. I am no longer designing production packages for campaigns. I work with agency partners to QC their production packages to ensure the artwork is clean and deliverables meet Apple standards and specs. A leadership role where I also have the opportunity to art direct. On the App Store side of the business, I partner with marketing to art direct always on, organic social static and motion assets. I enjoy art directing very much, especially storyboarding junket footage with trailer assets. When tapped to join other LOBs, I find myself designing for Apple Sports, Maps, Business Connect and Books. I've learned how to use the Sketch program where I've designed email newsletters for Business Connect. I was also part of the team that launched Apple Invites, an iCloud+ product. The whole experience is very inspiring and I'm grateful to be surrounded by a team that is quick to help, available for learning and creating the best work. 

​

When I am not at the beach with my Mini Sheepadoodle, Rufus, I am pouring my creativity and creative strategy by launching brands with small businesses owners. From 2020 and 2023, I partnered with Divana Mushrooms, an adaptogenic supplement company, to help with their rebrand. Divana is in the wellness space, producing adaptogenic mushroom supplements through e-commerce and online engagement. Within the first year the company's social media following increased by 75%. After rebranding the entire suite of products, I helped launched a new product called Flowstate Nootropics. It didn't stop there, my passion for design combined with my packaging expertise quickly compounded into a startup creative department type of role. I designed product packaging, art directed product shoots for the website and oversaw strategic partnerships with influencers. I naturally stepped into Head of Branding as a leader for their creative sector. I owned the launch of Flowstate, a huge feat after learning of the positive feedback from mushroom tinctures. The launch meant that Divana needed several brand activations which is when I came up with Divana's LIVE event series on social. I hosted Q&A's with the founder as well as giveaway events and informationals. 

 

More recently, I partnered with Doodlebetts Studio to launched a new home goods brand called Doodlebetts. I apply my design and production chops by adapting hand drawn illustrations into a collection of whimsical products such as greeting cards, tote bags, seasonal cards and soon we will be coming out with a new book. Working with a new team has had its challenges and lot's of excitement hearing the founder's joy for the vision coming to life. More than anything this whole experience has shined a light on my natural ability to approach creative with a can-do attitude, no matter how scrappy things may seem at the start. Over the course of 2025 and now into 2026, I've tackled client briefs and pitched my own ideas that have been produced and are now live on the shop. I look forward to continuing my partnership and growing the product offering with Doodlebetts.

​​

In this portfolio you will see a mix of projects that represent my career path and who I am at heart. I've worked on some of these projects individually and as part of a team during my time at Stockholm Design, Gallegos United Collective, ViacomCBS, at Apple and including freelance. My involvement includes Project Management, Production Design and Art Direction for Print, Digital, AV and Social, as well as, various odd-end freelance branding and design work.

 

I am a passionate woman that is willing to take on creative asks that are placed in front of me. Often asking for more and possessing the know how to step into more senior opportunities while learning new tools along the way.​ I am learning, growing and always open for new projects and/or collaborations (personal + professional) that come my way!

 

I'm happy to announce that I remain open for work, whether it be a contract, freelance or part/full time. It's taken me a global pandemic and ongoing layoff culture to release the fear I once held and to embrace my capabilities as I look forward to expanding my network. I continue to be a student of advertising, a community leader and an overall ambitious creative professional.