I’m Melanie Rae, a UX and visual designer based in Oregon, somewhere between the mountains and the sea.

Background

I’ve worked across tech support, project management, and website work in government and education agencies, where I saw firsthand how digital tools either support people’s work or get in the way. Alongside that, I built a photography, film and design studio, telling stories for families, school, musicians and nonprofits. Those experiences taught me to notice details, translate messy requirements into clear flows, and design with real-world constraints in mind.

How I design

I bring together visual design, storytelling, and systems thinking–looking at how something appears on the surface and how it works underneath. I care about interfaces that are clear, grounded, and quietly supportive.

Beyond the screen

When I’m not designing, you’ll usually find me with a strong cup of coffee, on a nearby trail, reading a good book, or making something messy and analog just for the joy of it.