Mel is a designer, urban planner, and mixed-media artist based between Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA. Since 2020, she has been leading Isidor Studio, her consultancy dedicated to exploring the intersections of art, design, and urbanism.

Mel’s creative spirit stems from a fascination with the built environment—seeking to unpack how our urban fabric reflects people and culture. Her passions lie in work that connects multiple mediums and methodologies—including photography, collage, research, graphic design, web design, mapping, and illustration.

Mel holds a Master's in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Urban Studies from Brown University (with distinction as an Engaged Scholar). She has been invited to speak on her work through a number of talks and lectures including the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), Yale University, and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Aside from her creative work, Mel finds joy in trips to the beach, sci-fi novels, and cycling.

Marisol Ortega is a first-generation Mexican-American designer, illustrator, and art director living and working in the PNW. She is best known for her vibrant flora and fauna illustrations that play with texture, linework, bold color palettes, and organic shapes—reflecting an exploration of her cultures.