We recently connected with Melissa Hacunda and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

There is no specific playbook for success. What has been beneficial in my process is truly defining my own goals and objectives. What am I trying to achieve with my work and the pieces I create? It’s crucial to zero in on what type of work you want to take on so that you can market yourself accordingly.

Another important action is immersing yourself in the design community through events and meetups. Not only does this help in marketing your work, but this also allows you to connect with other creatives and exchange ideas or experiences.

Along with those steps, I have always delivered high-quality work to my clients. This helps positively shape my reputation and lead to repeat clients. When I create, I am meticulous and pay attention to all the little details. I ultimately circle back to my project goals to make sure I am hitting all the client’s needs and solving the problem at hand. At the end of the day, producing captivating work, adhering to deadlines, and effectively communicating with clients are what will set you apart.

Lastly, to continue being successful,  stay up-to-date with creative industry trends and software innovations. By doing so, you stay current with the ever-evolving technology and prove that you’re invested in your craft. I constantly strive to grow, experiment, and stretch my boundaries as an artist, designer, and creative.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Melissa Hacunda, the owner of Melrose Studio, a design studio based in Boston, MA. Our creative services include designing for social media, web, video platforms, mobile apps, and print collateral. As an inquisitive, answer-seeker at my core, I enjoy challenging myself to create across a range of mediums. After achieving my Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, I hit the ground running by working as an in-house graphic designer at a luxury retail company, as a lead graphic designer for non-profits and agencies, and also as a multidisciplinary designer for a range of clients in the higher education, healthcare, music, and consumer goods spaces. In addition to digital design, my background also encompasses textile design, illustration, and painting. It’s a rewarding process to go from digital work to more of the physical creation of art, such as embroidery and screen printing.

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

When you’re creating anything, you’re fulfilling something within yourself. At the same time, you are also enriching the lives of others who are encountering your art as well. Art is powerful. It can document history, enact change, and emotionally move humanity. Our entire surroundings have been influenced by creatives and the arts. It is the fundamental mechanism that inspires the beauty that we find in our daily environments. Creative minds are world-changers; it’s an exciting responsibility to be a part of a field that has accomplished so much and will continue to transform society and culture. On another note, art encourages our playful side. For me, being creative means I get to experiment with new ways to express myself and my inner world.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients has been existing clients. Maintaining clear communication, having reliable relationships, and creating thoughtful, exceptional work for your active client base expands your prospective projects and network. Above all, produce great work and this will bring in future work.

Contact Info:

• Website: melrosestudio.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/melissahacunda
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/melissahacunda