“Toss aside your map of the world.
All your beliefs and constructs.
Dare the wild unknown.”

—LORIN ROCHE

ABOUT ASHLEY MELIN

Pronounced ma-LYN. Not melon. Although I do have a really big head!

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, smiling, stands against a dark wooden wall. She is wearing a maroon button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, light blue jeans, and jewelry including rings, a bracelet, and earrings.

My design journey began in 2001 at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, designing retail environments for Nike Basketball, Tennis, and Running across Niketown and Indirect stores. For more than 5 years I worked 12+ month contract cycles and 3-month breaks, during which I traveled solo through India and South America—without a phone! My 3rd world travel adventures not only provided countless stories, it also enriched my ability to connect to people, make intuitive decisions quickly, and refine my design aesthetic.

In 2006, I went fully independent — partnering with top Portland agencies and continuing work with Nike, Columbia Sportswear, and SOREL. Fast deadlines, crazy hours, high stakes, and decades of creative work across retail, branding, and executive presentations shaped everything I do today.

Now I balance corporate design for global brands with ground-up brand building for small to mid-size businesses. Helping visionary leaders bring their ideas to life — in a cohesive, authentic, and beautiful way—is what lights my fire and keeps me inspired.

MY ADVENTUROUS SIDE

Outside the design studio, I live the Bend lifestyle to the fullest.

My yoga and meditation practice began in 1992 — sparked by my very first class with Richard Odom at the Sun Valley Athletic Club. It became a lifelong obsession, studying with some of the world's most renowned teachers long before yoga was a thing. In 2004, I followed that call all the way to the Himalayas — a solo, 3-month journey through India that cracked me wide open and eventually led me to guide hundreds of people on spiritual adventures throughout India.

I’ve run 10 marathons and summited 25 peaks over 11,000 feet (including Mt. Kenya, the Matterhorn, Mt. Rainier, and 15 Colorado 14ers.) These days you'll find me mountain biking, skiing, hiking, lifting, and recovering with a river plunge & sauna. I love live music, comedy shows, and read daily. A recent milestone: reading the Bible cover to cover.

But above all — I'm a mom. My 16-year-old son is my greatest adventure. We mountain bike, travel, lift weights, have deeply honest Truth-seeking conversations, and share our home with our rescue crew: Desi, Marley, and Shasta.

Risk-taker. Boundary-pusher. In the mountains, in life, and in every brand I build — I show up ALL IN.

Two people doing yoga at Wayna Picchu overlooking Machu Picchu and lush green mountains in the background.
Ashley Melin, Woman mountain biking on a trail in a dry, rocky landscape with sparse vegetation and a clear blue sky.
Ashley Melin and her son in helmets and cycling gear fist bumping on mountain bikes in the Sacred Valley, Peru.
Woman dressed in traditional Peruvian colorful clothing, standing outdoors in front of round, thatched-roof buildings. She is wearing a vibrant, multi-colored hat and scarf, with a layered skirt and casual shoes.
Ashley Melin, Woman with blonde hair smiling on a mountain trail, with mountain landscape and snow-capped peaks in the background.
Ashley Melin & Rebecca Bell, Two women smiling and standing together at Boss Sports Performance gym, wearing matching sleeveless SoulJour gray shirts with a graphic design featuring a butterfly, geometric patterns, and text.
Ashley Melin in a ice bath filled with ice and water outdoors, with a house and greenery in the background.
Two cousins - Ashley & Philippe Melin – smiling hikers in jungle, woman in gray tank top and cap labeled 'SOUL JOUR' and man in red shirt with backpack, surrounded by lush green tropical plants.
A group of people doing yoga poses in front of the Taj Mahal in India during daytime.

A FEARLESS DESIGNER

Being a fearless designer takes more than just skill. It takes leadership. Desire. An ability to communicate. There’s an internal flame that just won’t go out.

Being a fearless designer means checking your ego at the door. It can be humbling sometimes.
And, when you least expect it, rewarding. Working as a team makes good designs great.

Being a fearless designer means being a trailblazer. Both on and off the computer.
Exploring other passions feeds the overall design. Experiencing life rather than watching it pass you by.

Being a fearless designer requires patience.Yelling at your computer won’t accomplish much.
Frustration at yourself won’t either. Accept deadlines. They are what they are. Stay up later.

Being a fearless designer is a never ending journey. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the path. Sometimes the path is obvious. Other times, it twists and turns. In the end, a beautiful design always shines through. The search is half the fun.

Explore. Experience. Transform.

—Ashley Melin
Written in 2004

A group of smiling school children in blue uniforms, along with a woman, posing on a busy street in India.