Our Mission
At Designing With Mel, we are reimagining the traditional approach to design and by working with clients rather than for them. Our mission is to uplift BIPOC and womxn led nonprofits and small businesses to boldly take up space in the digital world, sharing their truth, unapologetically and with confidence.
Our offerings range from helping our clients develop their brand identity to building intuitive, no-to-low-code websites that reflect the rich diversity of human experiences. Through relationship-driven partnerships, we provide a creative journey crafting a visual narrative that honors our clients' values, their audience, and the social impact they’re meant to reach.
We envision a world where we...
humanize design and branding, making creativity more inclusive, easy to understand, and available to everyone.
Our Core Values
Safety | Kapwa | Inclusion | Curiosity
Designing With Mel is dedicated to my mother, who taught me to always believe in myself.
Origin Story
I’ve always straddled two worlds—the stability my immigrant parents wanted for me and the creativity that was calling my name. Growing up as the eldest daughter of Filipino immigrants, I was raised to pursue a “safe” career. But when I studied graphic design, something shifted. I saw how visual storytelling, from Wonder Woman’s comic book debut to Angela Davis’s freedom posters, could challenge the status quo and drive social change.
But the design industry? It wasn’t built for someone like me. It felt like an exclusive club, and I didn’t have the password. Instead of feeling defeated, I found my passion for community-building through a career in student affairs, working with first-gen students and championing equity. Fast forward to 2020, when the world turned upside down. I asked myself, “What’s next?” That’s when I realized: design was my calling.
I launched Designing With Mel to change how we approach design—especially for BIPOC and womxn entrepreneurs. It’s not just about making things look good; it’s about creating spaces where underrepresented voices can be heard, seen, and celebrated. We’re flipping the script on a traditional design by centering inclusion, equity, and community.
This isn’t just business—it’s about building a legacy. Design is our tool for resistance, for creating a digital world where everyone can thrive.
A web design business born in the Bay Area 🌁, raised in Los Angeles🌴.
© 2024 Designing With Mel
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