About Melissa Balkon

Current Ventures

Strong Design Studios, Founder + Lead Design Strategist
I currently am the founder and lead design strategist at Strong Design Studios. At Strong Design, we help organizations harness the power of design for their advantage. We work with small-to-medium-sized businesses, startups, and individuals to help them develop a meaningful brand image and effective online presence. We exist to champion the dreams of these organizations by guiding them through clarifying who they are and helping them tell their story to the world. Take a look at our portfolio or follow along on Instagram.

Phoenix Supply Co., Founder + Artist
I am proud to call Arizona my home, and PSC is my passion project seeking to create timeless art and paper goods that enable my fellow desert dwellers to express their love of the southwest. Phoenix Supply Co. creates art and paper goods that celebrate the Southwest. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook or shop online.

1099misctemplate.com, Founder
In running Strong Design, I struggled every year at tax time when trying to complete the 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms for our independent contractors in a quick, easy, and professional way. To solve the problem, we created a fillable template that would allow us to simply type in the information and print it out onto the paper forms supplied by the IRS or purchased from an office supply store. It worked so well for us that we wanted to make it available to other small businesses that might be struggling with the same challenge. The new template is released each year in November, and you can check it out at 1099misctemplate.com

Past Work

Forty, Design Strategist
Up until December of 2012, I was a Design Strategist at Forty. As a design strategist, I helped our clients revolutionize their brand experience through design. My job went way further than logos and websites. I designed meaningful customer experiences by tying all of a brand’s elements together—the identity, website, collateral, interior design, and more—striving to communicate their personality through every touchpoint. I have always had a passion for creating harmony between aesthetics and usability, and while working for Forty, I got to do that every day!

United Printing & Mailing, Graphic Designer
Worked as part of a small in-house design team to produce direct mail materials for clients, as well as all internal branding, print and web collateral. Tasks often included not only design but also copywriting. Clients included: Subaru of America, Advecor, MasterWorks, and other local and national clients.

Buse Printing & Packaging, Graphic Designer
Worked as a graphic designer to design print collateral and prepare it for commercial printing.

Crossroad Bible Institute, Graphic Designer
Worked directly with the organization President as an in-house design team of one to produce all print and web collateral needed to marketing the organization. Additional responsibilities included mangaging projects to meet deadlines, procuring vendor estimates, and in-house production of materials.

Invision Creative, Graphic Design Intern
Provided design and organizational support to a small boutique design agency.

Community Involvement

Redemption Arcadia Church, Communications Design Volunteer (2016–present)
Assisted church leadership with the development of communication materials for print, digital and social media.

2022 Hustle Phx, Branding Curriculum Development
Assisted the program lead in expanding the Hustle Phx curriculum's brand development module through the buildout of curriculum content and worksheets.

2020–21 Phoenix Startup Week, Design Support
Assisted the Marketing & Design Team with the development of event swag designs.

2019 Phoenix Startup Week, Senior Designer
Assisted the Marketing & Design Team leads with the development and design of event promotion materials based on their existing brand strategy.

2016 Phoenix Design Week, Creative Director
Responsibilities included development of the graphic theme for the event, curation and leadership of design team, design of deliverables, and working with vendors, convention center staff, and the entire PHXDW team to bring the event to fruition.

2015 Phoenix Design Week, Design Chair
Chaired the design planning and execution for the 2015 Phoenix Design Week. Responsibilities included design of all printed materials based on the creative vision of the event chairs and working with print vendors and convention center staff to coordinate delivery of the design materials.

2015–2019 Phoenix Ironworks Creative Freelancer Meetup, Creator and Co-Chair
Developed monthly breakfast called Ironworks meetup designed to bring together the freelance creative community in Phoenix.

2012 Lumi Phoenix Meetup, Organizer
Organized an interactive meetup designed to teach attendees about how to use the Lumi line of photo-sensitive inks.

2010–2011 Gangplank Chandler Design Mentor
As a Design Mentor at Gangplank, I volunteered a few hours each month to meet with local startups and small business owners to help them navigate the branding, website or service design process.

2010 Phoenix Design Week, Exhibits Co-Chair
Co-chaired the planning, curating, and implementation of three separate art exhibit locations for the 2010 Phoenix Design Week. Responsibilities included promoting calls for entries, working with submitting artists, organizing submissions, and setting up the exhibits.

2009 Phoenix Design Week, Committee Volunteer
Volunteered on the Spaces, Finance, and Admin committees to help launch the inaugural Phoenix Design Week. Responsibilities included locating space options, evangelizing sponsors and attendees, helping organize tasks, and writing occasional bits of copy.

2009-2010 Commpose, Education Director
Worked with the group President to plan monthly meetups. Responsibilities included brainstorming topics and reaching out to and booking speakers.

Awards

2017 Silver Addy Award for Integrated Campaigns – Method + Madness 2016
2016 Bronze Addy Award for Integrated Campaigns – Method + Madness 2015 Conference Materials