mike melia
Design is important. It communicates the best we have to offer as human occupants of our small world and shines a bright light on our need to evolve and change. Ideas, education, services, products and technology are clarified and empowered by the insightful imaginations of designers. This has been my design focus for over 35 years, design with purpose.
I have always been focused on what’s next along the design continuum. My studio was one of the first to embrace interactive communication in the early nineties and we quickly added web, interactive, motion media and exhibit design which evolved into a robust set of clients who saw the value of developing brands that could be effectively applied with one consistent voice. Adding social media to the mix empowers us with a direct feedback loop and is a natural fit with our storytelling style.
Designing remains my full time passion but I am now focused on identity design and video, two areas I have enjoyed the most throughout my career. This site shows my current identity portfolio, you can view my video portfolio at vimeo.com/showcase/2715253
Mike Melia, mike@meliadesign.com
Career Highlights
National Geographic
Melia worked with National Geographic magazine, National Geographic Channel and Traveller for over 8 years producing 2 iterations of the suite of websites as well as 70+ interactive features and the first consumer photo contest - the “Your Shot” app. The work garnered a wide range of awards but most importantly it helped bring a younger audience back to the Society and expanded the Society’s research content into multimedia delivery
Capella Hotel Group
Identity and brand rollout for Solis Hotels worldwide including, ID standards, web sites, print, hotel collateral, video, photography art direction and advertising. We also worked on the six star Capella Hotel brand in Asia as well as the parent company based in Atlanta. We delivered brand programs in Singapore, Shenzhen China, Switzerland, Ireland and Sochi Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics. This was a great 8 year relationship guided by the head of marketing John Drake and and the challenge of meeting the high standards of the President Horst Schulze.
Turner International
Exhibit, promotional design, video and print that helped launch Turner programming in Europe and Asia as well as the Cartoon Network in the Americas. We also developed on-air program branding, animation, motion media and redesigned the TNT logo. Client relationship - 7 years
The Smithsonian
Websites, specialty promotions, Portrait Gallery opening, contest app and exhibit. This was a 6 year engagement serviced by our Washington DC staff.
cooperworks / jenifer cooper
We have been successfully working together for Higher Education and Non-Profit clients over several lifetimes and happily married for 18 years. Jenifer joined my staff in 1994 after we worked together at Agnes Scott College. We developed a wide range of clients together including VH1, The College Board, Iona College NY, Butler University and many others. Ongoing projects include three kids and a large chocolate lab at home as well as my son Michael who is a digital marketing director in NYC.
Check out the Cooperworks site for our work in Higher Education and Non Profits - www.cooperworks-inc.com
Recognition
Client success is the greatest reward however industry kudos aren’t bad either - If you are counting we have won over 200 regional and national awards, multiple projects included in Graphis, Communication Arts, Webby Awards etc. and I was honored to be chosen as a Communication Arts Design Annual Judge.