small nod
design
small
nod
design
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Completed Projects
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Years of Combined Experience
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Years of Combined Experience
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Years of Combined Experience
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Happy Clients
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Happy Clients
Open Studio Nov 15–16.
Come wander, take up space, and say hi
stop no. 254 on Austin Studio Tour.
Shape how your story is remembered.
We build brands that are felt—in the room, on the page, and over time.
Designed with presence, not performance.
small nod design helps small businesses, creative teams, and entrepreneurs create brands with gravity—the kind that move. The kind that last.
Building data-backed brand systems for small businesses ready to scale.
Coming Soon: Join the Grid.
A twice-yearly rhythm to evolve your brand with clarity, presence, and continuity.
$900 / 6-month season.
Add yourself to the list very soon.
By blending data, empathy, and creative precision, we're equipped to complexity into momentum.
[01 Workflow]
Building brands that feel lived-in—and last.
Grounded strategy that listens, learns, and leads to clarity that compounds.
Your brand should grow with you, season to season.
01
Listen
We start with a business reset: a conversation to understand what is shifting in your work and life.
01
Listen
We start with a business reset: a conversation to understand what is shifting in your work and life.
01
Listen
We start with a business reset: a conversation to understand what is shifting in your work and life, and what is needing alignment.
02
Shape
We design for your next season through Tinker™ — hands-on, iterative intelligence. Responsive to what you want to embody next.
02
Shape
We design for your next season through Tinker™ — hands-on, iterative intelligence. Responsive to what you want to embody next.
02
Shape
We design for your next season through Tinker™ — hands-on, iterative intelligence. Responsive to what you want to embody next.
03
Scaffold
We lay soft structure through Tinker™ to refine tone, presence, and story without losing soul.
03
Scaffold
We lay soft structure through Tinker™ to refine tone, presence, and story without losing soul.
03
Scaffold
We lay soft structure through Tinker™ to refine tone, presence, and story without losing soul.
04
Sustain
Lean. Measure. Evolve. Good design compounds over time + in community.
04
Sustain
Lean. Measure. Evolve. Good design compounds over time + in community.
04
Sustain
Lean. Measure. Evolve. Good design compounds over time + in community.
[02 Services]
Three ways to partner with us. Creation. Clarity. Continuity.
Three ways to partner with us. Creation. Clarity. Continuity.
Three ways to partner with us. Creation. Clarity. Continuity.
Launch & Grow System
For businesses & boutiques ready to scale
Get every new client or click faster. Walk away with a brand system with sales-ready visuals, voice, and workflows.
From $9–14k
What's Included
What's Included
What's Included
A cohesive workflow your team will actually use
A cohesive workflow your team will actually use
A cohesive workflow your team will actually use
Creative that sells your story, day one
Creative that sells your story, day one
Creative that sells your story, day one
Clear positioning to attract your people
Clear positioning to attract your people
Clear positioning to attract your people
Delivery in 4-5 weeks
Delivery in 4-5 weeks
Delivery in 4-5 weeks
Popular
Popular
Brand Sprint Kit
For small businesses who need clarity quickly
Your vibe, live in 2 weeks. Define your story, look, and set out with launch-ready assets on your platform of choice.
From $4–6k
What's Included
What's Included
What's Included
A brand you can share confidently next week
A brand you can share confidently next week
A brand you can share confidently next week
Style guides to keep every post on-brand
Style guides to keep every post on-brand
Style guides to keep every post on-brand
Messaging you can lift straight into social
Messaging you can lift straight into social
Messaging you can lift straight into social
Delivery in 1-2 weeks
Delivery in 1-2 weeks
Delivery in 1-2 weeks
Audit my Brand
For founders & creatives ready for what's next
For those who sense their branding isn’t landing. Find what's working, what's slowing you down, and where to invest next.
$2k
What's Included
What's Included
What's Included
A next-step roadmap that saves weeks of guesswork
A next-step roadmap that saves weeks of guesswork
A next-step roadmap that saves weeks of guesswork
A ranked list of what to fix vs keep
A ranked list of what to fix vs keep
A ranked list of what to fix vs keep
Messaging clarity and visual direction
Messaging clarity and visual direction
Messaging clarity and visual direction
Delivery in less than 2 weeks
Delivery in less than 2 weeks
Delivery in less than 2 weeks
*Prices listed are estimates based on typical project scopes. For a precise quote, please contact us.
[03 Our Philosophy]
Doing more with less.
Powered by Tinker ™, our artistic-intelligence engine, we turn creative intuition into repeatable clarity—less rework, faster resonance.
Strategic attention where it matters most.
Focus
Strategic attention where it matters most.
Focus
Strategic attention where it matters most.
Focus
A feedback engine built on intuition and insight.
Artistic Intelligence
A feedback engine built on intuition and insight.
Artistic Intelligence
A feedback engine built on intuition and insight.
Artistic Intelligence
Design that scales without losing soul.
Brand Systems
Design that scales without losing soul.
Brand Systems
Design that scales without losing soul.
Brand Systems
Membership access, monthly studio hours and creative peer-spaces that turn collaboration into pipeline.
Community
Membership access, monthly studio hours and creative peer-spaces that turn collaboration into pipeline.
Community
Membership access, monthly studio hours and creative peer-spaces that turn collaboration into pipeline.
Community
Let's build something together.
Build something together.
We partner with:
Service-based SMBs
Real estate + design professionals
Founders ready for their next brand system
If you care about alignment, craft, and clarity, we’ll get along great.
We partner with:
Service-based SMBs
Real estate + design professionals
Founders ready for their next brand system
If you care about alignment, craft, and clarity, we’ll get along great.
[03 Workflow]
Strategy that feels—and performs.
Intuition + intelligence that work side by side.
01
Discovery
See what’s working, missing, and what your audience actually feels with our Artistic Intelligence engine.
01
Discovery
See what’s working, missing, and what your audience actually feels with our Artistic Intelligence engine.
01
Discovery
See what’s working, missing, and what your audience actually feels with our Artistic Intelligence engine.
02
Design
Guided by the Tinker Factor ™, we move fast from insight to form—building visual + verbal systems shaped by Artistic Intelligence.
02
Design
Guided by the Tinker Factor ™, we move fast from insight to form—building visual + verbal systems shaped by Artistic Intelligence.
02
Design
Guided by the Tinker Factor ™, we move fast from insight to form—building visual + verbal systems shaped by Artistic Intelligence.
03
Deploy
Turn clarity into motion. Launch, learn, and refine with intention.
03
Deploy
Turn clarity into motion. Launch, learn, and refine with intention.
03
Deploy
Turn clarity into motion. Launch, learn, and refine with intention.
04
Evolve
Clarity that scales. Grid Memberships include quarterly creative tune-ups and audits powered by Tinker-led™ recommendations.
04
Evolve
Clarity that scales. Grid Memberships include quarterly creative tune-ups and audits powered by Tinker-led™ recommendations.
04
Evolve
Clarity that scales. Grid Memberships include quarterly creative tune-ups and audits powered by Tinker-led™ recommendations.
[04 About]
Creative minds. Practical magic.
We believe great design listens first.
We build brands like timeless stories — crafted fast, lived long, felt deeply.
Our Team
Mel Lau
Founder & Creative Strategist
Turning what feels right into what works.
2 Designers
1 Project Manager
1 Creative Lead
2 Designers
1 Project Manager
1 Creative Lead
2 Designers
1 Project Manager
1 Creative Lead
[05 Client Reflections ]
Words from our partners.
Scott Francis
Founder & Advisor (BP3)
Melissa joined our team for a critical redesign that directly impacted revenue. Her mix of design clarity, communication skill, and disciplined process made her an ideal fit. A+ accountability and systems work.
Andy Bassiri
Senior Product Designer (IBM Design)
Melissa immediately strengthens any team she joins. Her proactive, professional attitude keeps projects organized and ahead of the curve, and she brings steady positivity to fast-paced environments.
Scott Francis
Founder & Advisor (BP3)
Melissa joined our team for a critical redesign that directly impacted revenue. Her mix of design clarity, communication skill, and disciplined process made her an ideal fit. A+ accountability and systems work.
Andy Bassiri
Senior Product Designer (IBM Design)
Melissa immediately strengthens any team she joins. Her proactive, professional attitude keeps projects organized and ahead of the curve, and she brings steady positivity to fast-paced environments.
Scott Francis
Founder & Advisor (BP3)
Melissa joined our team for a critical redesign that directly impacted revenue. Her mix of design clarity, communication skill, and disciplined process made her an ideal fit. A+ accountability and systems work.
Andy Bassiri
Senior Product Designer (IBM Design)
Melissa immediately strengthens any team she joins. Her proactive, professional attitude keeps projects organized and ahead of the curve, and she brings steady positivity to fast-paced environments.
Scott Francis
Founder & Advisor (BP3)
Melissa joined our team for a critical redesign that directly impacted revenue. Her mix of design clarity, communication skill, and disciplined process made her an ideal fit. A+ accountability and systems work.
Andy Bassiri
Senior Product Designer (IBM Design)
Melissa immediately strengthens any team she joins. Her proactive, professional attitude keeps projects organized and ahead of the curve, and she brings steady positivity to fast-paced environments.
Scott Francis
Founder & Advisor (BP3)
Melissa joined our team for a critical redesign that directly impacted revenue. Her mix of design clarity, communication skill, and disciplined process made her an ideal fit. A+ accountability and systems work.
Andy Bassiri
Senior Product Designer (IBM Design)
Melissa immediately strengthens any team she joins. Her proactive, professional attitude keeps projects organized and ahead of the curve, and she brings steady positivity to fast-paced environments.
Scott Francis
Founder & Advisor (BP3)
Melissa joined our team for a critical redesign that directly impacted revenue. Her mix of design clarity, communication skill, and disciplined process made her an ideal fit. A+ accountability and systems work.
Andy Bassiri
Senior Product Designer (IBM Design)
Melissa immediately strengthens any team she joins. Her proactive, professional attitude keeps projects organized and ahead of the curve, and she brings steady positivity to fast-paced environments.
Verified LinkedIn recommendations.
[07 FAQ]
Clarity begins with honest answers.
How long does a project take?
Branding runs 4–6 weeks start to finish. Smaller Brand Pulse Reports land in under two weeks. Fast enough to stay inspired; paced enough to stay thoughtful.
What's included in Future-Proof my Brand?
Branding runs 4–6 weeks start to finish. Smaller Brand Pulse Reports land in under two weeks. Fast enough to stay inspired; paced enough to stay thoughtful.
What’s included in a Grid Membership?
No problem. We’ll help you figure it out. Whether it’s a quick call or a deeper discovery session, we’ll guide you through it.
Who do you usually work with?
For projects, we usually split payments into 2 or 3 milestones. For monthly plans, billing is done upfront each month. Everything is clear and agreed upon before we start.
What's the first step?
Schedule a call with us. We’ll start with a short conversation or written brief to pinpoint what you need most. No pressure—just clarity and direction.
How long does a project take?
Branding runs 4–6 weeks start to finish. Smaller Brand Pulse Reports land in under two weeks. Fast enough to stay inspired; paced enough to stay thoughtful.
What's included in Future-Proof my Brand?
Branding runs 4–6 weeks start to finish. Smaller Brand Pulse Reports land in under two weeks. Fast enough to stay inspired; paced enough to stay thoughtful.
What’s included in a Grid Membership?
No problem. We’ll help you figure it out. Whether it’s a quick call or a deeper discovery session, we’ll guide you through it.
Who do you usually work with?
For projects, we usually split payments into 2 or 3 milestones. For monthly plans, billing is done upfront each month. Everything is clear and agreed upon before we start.
What's the first step?
Schedule a call with us. We’ll start with a short conversation or written brief to pinpoint what you need most. No pressure—just clarity and direction.
How long does a project take?
Branding runs 4–6 weeks start to finish. Smaller Brand Pulse Reports land in under two weeks. Fast enough to stay inspired; paced enough to stay thoughtful.
What's included in Future-Proof my Brand?
Branding runs 4–6 weeks start to finish. Smaller Brand Pulse Reports land in under two weeks. Fast enough to stay inspired; paced enough to stay thoughtful.
What’s included in a Grid Membership?
No problem. We’ll help you figure it out. Whether it’s a quick call or a deeper discovery session, we’ll guide you through it.
Who do you usually work with?
For projects, we usually split payments into 2 or 3 milestones. For monthly plans, billing is done upfront each month. Everything is clear and agreed upon before we start.
What's the first step?
Schedule a call with us. We’ll start with a short conversation or written brief to pinpoint what you need most. No pressure—just clarity and direction.
Presence is our medium.
Build something together.
We bridge emotion and structure—
turning intuition into systems, and story into space.
We listen for what already feels true, then shape a brand that moves and remembers the way its people do.
Built for those who care how their work feels—not just how it looks.
We partner with:
Service-based SMBs
Real estate + design professionals
Founders ready for their next brand system
If you care about alignment, craft, and clarity, we’ll get along great.
Ready to move?
Build a brand that works—
and feels right.
2025© All rights reserved.
Phone
Ready to move?
Build a brand that works—
and feels right.
2025© All rights reserved.
Phone
Ready to move?
Build a brand that works—
and feels right.
2025© All rights reserved.
Phone