We were lucky to catch up with Mélanie Béranger recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mélanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At the heart of my work as an art director and graphic designer, there’s a constant drive to create visual experiences that resonate on a deeper, more emotional level. My mission is to blend intuition, research, and a multidisciplinary approach to craft designs that are not only aesthetically compelling but also meaningful.

What makes this mission personal and significant to me is the belief that design is not just about visuals—it’s about connection. Whether through tactile print materials, immersive digital animations, or a well-structured layout, I aim to create work that evokes feelings, tells stories, and sparks engagement. My inspiration comes from organic forms, human experiences, and unexpected intersections between disciplines like science, philosophy, and fashion. By constantly challenging norms and exploring new creative territories, I seek to push the boundaries of what design can be.

For me, design is a language—one that transcends mediums and speaks to people in unique ways. My mission is to refine that language, to make it more expressive, and to use it as a tool for storytelling, impact, and emotion.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My journey into design was driven by a deep fascination with the way visuals can shape perception, create meaning, and evoke emotion.

I’ve always had an overflowing creativity—a need to communicate and express myself beyond words. Pursuing a creative career was an obvious choice. As a kid, I wanted to do so many different things, and even today, my interests are broad, but they all revolve around creativity, communication, and translating abstract ideas into something tangible.

At first, I was drawn to graphic design and art direction because I wanted to design fashion magazine layouts. But as I progressed in my studies, I realized the immense possibilities within design—so many different roles, approaches, and ways to bring ideas to life. That discovery was exhilarating. As I continued my education, I had the chance to collaborate with designers from other disciplines, like product and spatial design. Working alongside people with such diverse perspectives deeply influenced my own practice. It taught me to approach design holistically, to see it as a tool that transcends mediums and industries. That multidisciplinary environment shaped the way I work today and is one of my biggest strengths.

After two years working in an agency, refining my skills and gaining hands-on experience, I decided to launch my own practice. Today, I navigate between print and digital, blending different techniques to create unique and meaningful visual experiences.

One of the key problems I solve for my clients is helping them translate their vision into a cohesive and striking visual language. Whether it’s a brand struggling to define its identity or a project that needs a fresh, engaging storytelling approach, I bring conceptual depth and an intuitive design process that ensures the final result is both impactful and memorable.

What sets me apart is my ability to merge different creative disciplines. I don’t see design as a rigid field with boundaries; I love drawing inspiration from science, nature, philosophy, and art to create work that feels fresh and unexpected. My approach is highly intuitive—I like to experiment first, let ideas emerge organically, and then refine them through research and strategic thinking. This process allows me to create work that is not only visually striking but also rich in meaning and intent.

I’m particularly proud of my ability to adapt, learn, and evolve with each project. Every challenge is an opportunity to push creative limits, explore new techniques, and craft something unique. One of my most fulfilling projects recently, was exploring typography through natural rock formations, transforming organic textures into a visual language. It reflects my love for merging the tangible and the conceptual, the raw and the refined.

For potential clients or followers, what I want them to know is that my work is about more than just aesthetics. Whether it’s through branding, animation, or editorial design, I aim to craft visuals that resonate, provoke thought, and leave a lasting impression. I thrive on collaboration, curiosity, and the constant pursuit of new ways to push creative expression further.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative isn’t just about bringing ideas to life—it’s about the connections that come with it. Every project is an opportunity to collaborate, to exchange, to understand someone’s vision and translate it into something meaningful. Design is, of course, about problem-solving and aesthetics, but at its core, it’s also about people—how they experience things, how they interact with things, and how those things can create emotion or spark a reaction.

I love that my work allows me to constantly meet and collaborate with people from different backgrounds, industries, and disciplines. Each project is a dialogue, a back-and-forth where ideas evolve, get challenged, and become something stronger through collective input. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see how a concept takes shape not just through my own vision, but through the energy and insights of those I work with.

Beyond the professional aspect, these collaborations often turn into real human connections. Some of my most enriching experiences have come from working closely with others, learning from them, and sharing a creative process that goes beyond just delivering a final product. I think that’s what makes this work so unique—yes, it’s a job, but it’s also a way to build relationships, exchange perspectives, and create something that feels alive because it’s infused with different voices and energies.

At the end of the day, what drives me the most is the idea that design isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about creating experiences that bring people together, tell stories, and leave an impact.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is the idea that being multi-passionate or having diverse creative interests could be a weakness rather than a strength.

For a long time, I thought I needed to fit into a specific box—specialize in one thing, follow a clear path, and stick to it. When I started out, I believed that being a graphic designer meant choosing a niche and mastering it fully, whether it was branding, editorial, or motion design. But the more I explore, the more I realize that my creativity thrives in cross-disciplinary approaches. I love mixing print and digital, strategy and execution, combining tactile elements with animation, and pulling inspiration from completely unrelated fields.

The turning point came when I started collaborating with designers from different disciplines—product designers, spatial designers, artists—people who approached creation from angles I had never considered. It made me realize that my ability to adapt, explore, and merge different creative fields wasn’t something to suppress but something to embrace.

Now, instead of trying to narrow my focus, I see my versatility as one of my biggest assets. It allows me to bring fresh perspectives to projects, experiment freely, and create work that feels unique and personal. Unlearning the pressure to fit into a rigid mold is incredibly liberating—and ultimately, it’s what makes my creative approach what it is today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melanieberanger.com
• Instagram: @melanie_beranger
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieberanger

Image Credits

TEFAF Campaign 2024 – Directed and photographed by Design & Practice
Antalis Greeting card 2021 – Directed and photographed by Design & Practice