As the Director of Development for a small independent school, it is imperative that marketing and communication pieces be strong, articulate and grab the readers attention. It has been an honor to work alongside Melodee to achieve the highest level of success on such pieces. Melodee has an ability to hear my thoughts and transform them into wonderful pieces. She is easy to work with, thoughtful and professional. When working with Melodee, you are guaranteed work done with the highest level of integrity.

My task was to publish a book commemorating our institution’s 160th anniversary. Melodee Stephens took my text and 600 plus images and transformed them into an exquisite keepsake volume of over 250 pages. Her experience in the print industry and her creative design talents are top shelf. She guided me, a novice, through the entire design and print process with wise advice and professional insight. Her attention to detail and her ability to capture brand are assets to her clients. The finished book received accolades from our constituents. And I so enjoyed working with Melodee, I have engaged her services for alumni communications.

Working with Melodee is a true pleasure! When I stepped into my role of Director of Marketing & Communications (a department of one) for a Preschool - Grade 8 Independent School, and inherited the working relationship with Melodee, I quickly realized what an asset Melodee was to our School and felt so fortunate to have her in my corner.

With her creative and precise talents, Melodee is expertly able to both turn my vision into reality, or help me develop my vision in the first place. I trust her to help with the ideation of projects and with the iteration of projects - she often provides multiple design options without me even asking.

I hired Melodee as a freelance designer in July of 2016 after seeing some of her work. Sometimes I would take a picture of a sketch on a napkin. I would include a small description of what it should be and Melodee will convert that concept into an image that communicates to a wide audience. She has been able to help me bridge our technical work into concepts that can be understood by a wide audience. I would highly recommend Melodee as a professional that can deliver high quality content.

Over three decades, I’ve hired, managed or directed nearly two hundred marketing and advertising professionals. Melodee Stephens is the most talented and trusted graphic designer I’ve directed. From creativity to taking initiative, and from meeting deadlines to work quality, Melodee’s professional performance is unrivaled.

I have worked with Melodee for several years for a variety of my design needs. I have worked with other designers in the past, but Melodee's work is extraordinary. She has a true gift for design - she listens to my needs, interprets it to the market and delivers results that I have always been pleased with. She is very talented, professional, timely and very reasonable. I highly recommend her - definitely 5 stars!

In my 25 years in marketing and communications, Melodee is hands down the all-around strongest designer with which I’ve ever had the pleasure of partnering. Not only does she have inspiring creative chops, she is detail-oriented, incredibly responsive, and has never missed a deadline in the six years we have worked together. She also brings to the table extensive print production knowledge and resources to support her clients from conception to delivery.

Melodee Stephens is my go-to designer on projects ranging from annual print ad development to annual report design to application of a new brand identity across multiple platforms and pieces. What sets Melodee apart, and has kept me coming back to her year after year, is the fact that in all she does she is not just a great graphic designer but also a valued strategic partner. Melodee’s designs are clean, consistent, and beautiful, but more than that she brings a practical sensibility from vision to implementation that thoughtfully marries the aesthetic appeal of a piece with its objective. Melodee’s experience and expertise in production make her a valued resource in selecting the right print partners for each job, and managing them through to successful completion. Her accuracy, eye for detail and consistency in applying brand standards and elements make her an ideal partner in both building and maintaining brand collateral.

I am very appreciative of what Melodee did for me. Most importantly in the design Melodee reflected exactly what I wanted – respectful, understated, somber, simple. What Melodee has done to improve the book over what I anticipated is stunning. I had no idea that a talented designer could provide such a positive impact.

Melodee elevated our marketing materials from simply satisfactory to 'wow'-and with the first issue of our newly redesigned Alumni magazine, we were recognized with a First Place Award in the design category by the Delaware Scholastic Press Association (2020). We also saw an uptick in annual giving as a direct result. In an increasingly competitive and saturated admissions market, independent schools in particular must clearly articulate their brand and mission to prospective families. Melodee's design will accomplish just that.

Need a designer? Melodee Dill Stephens is the total package. I have had the privilege of working with Melodee for many years. In addition to having a great creative eye, Mel has an extensive skill set, which includes production / printing coordination, budget management, a keen eye for detail and excellent adherence to schedules. Her professionalism is outstanding, she always delivers the highest quality product, and she is a delight to work with!

Melodee was instrumental in bringing our brand to life. With nothing more than a nascent brand deck, she used the guidelines as a starting point and worked alongside us to co-create a visual identity that clearly differentiated our school amidst a competitive landscape. Our new brand, in every design expression, set us apart as a joyful and rigorous learning institution. Melodee’s willingness to dive into a project — regardless of the timeline — made her an indispensable member of our small marketing and communications team. Melodee’s classic aesthetic, combined with her astute attention to fine detail, makes her a true creative force who produces inspiring work.