I am a freelance graphic designer and illustrator with commercial experience in event merchandise design and product design. Some of my clients include Reversec Ltd, Securi-Tay, Our Dolls House, Hubworld Scotland and Creative Dundee. Past projects include packaging design, illustration for digital applications and print, logo and branding design and merchandise design. I have experience in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity, Canva, Figma and Blender. My background also includes software development as a Full-stack Developer at Optimove and as a Junior Programmer at Pocket Sized Hands.

Mel G. Ayala

I am a freelance graphic designer and illustrator with commercial experience in event merchandise design and product design. Some of my clients include Reversec Ltd, Securi-Tay, Our Dolls House, Hubworld Scotland and Creative Dundee. Past projects include packaging design, illustration for digital applications and print, logo and branding design and merchandise design. I have experience in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity, Canva, Figma and Blender. My background also includes software development as a Full-stack Developer at Optimove and as a Junior Programmer at Pocket Sized Hands.

Available to hire

I am a freelance graphic designer and illustrator with commercial experience in event merchandise design and product design. Some of my clients include Reversec Ltd, Securi-Tay, Our Dolls House, Hubworld Scotland and Creative Dundee. Past projects include packaging design, illustration for digital applications and print, logo and branding design and merchandise design.

I have experience in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity, Canva, Figma and Blender.

My background also includes software development as a Full-stack Developer at Optimove and as a Junior Programmer at Pocket Sized Hands.

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Language

English
Fluent
German
Intermediate
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent

Work Experience

Associate Software Developer at Optimove
September 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026
Full-stack developer creating web applications for marketing tools; implemented new features with the product development team with attention to UI/UX; produced technical documentation for developers and product teams.
Junior Programmer at Pocket Sized Hands
May 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023
Collaborated on an NDA project using Unity and C#; troubleshooting and issue resolution; managed tasks with Jira and Confluence.
Programming and Social Media Intern at Pocket Sized Hands
January 1, 2023 - May 31, 2023
Contributed to programming tasks and social media activities supporting marketing and community engagement.
Social Media Intern at Pocket Sized Hands
April 1, 2022 - January 31, 2023
Produced social media branding and illustrations; researched marketing and online strategies to manage the company’s social media plan.
Social Media Content Creator at Abertay Students' Association
September 1, 2020 - March 31, 2022
Created online content to promote university and society events, including social media marketing and branding.
Freelance Graphic Designer at Creative n' Chaotic
September 1, 2020 - Present
Freelance graphic designer and illustrator running an e-commerce and design studio under the Creative n' Chaotic brand. Responsibilities include designing and manufacturing illustrated merchandise, managing Shopify and DTC operations, creating digital marketing materials, and developing client branding and illustration assets including work for Reversec Ltd and Securi-Tay, and collaborating on an educational cybersecurity game with Taghan Ltd.

Education

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology at Abertay University
September 1, 2020 - June 30, 2024

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Education, Retail
    Reversec Ltd Merchandise Collection (2025)
    Overview Designed a collection of branded merchandise for Reversec Ltd following their company rebrand, creating promotional t-shirts to support their presence at cybersecurity conferences and industry events. The designs needed to reflect the updated brand identity while creating memorable, professional merchandise that could be used to engage attendees and promote the company. The Brief Following a rebrand, Reversec required new merchandise designs that aligned with their refreshed visual identity and could be used across promotional products at industry events. My Role I created three merchandise design concepts that incorporated Reversec's updated branding and were developed for use on promotional products. I translated the new visual identity into engaging designs suitable for event merchandise, ensuring the artwork was adaptable and production-ready. Deliverables Three merchandise design concepts Print-ready production files Skills Merchandise Design Brand Identity Design Brand Adaptation Graphic Design Print Production Vector Illustration Promotional Design
    Mobile Hacking Village Brand Identity & Event Merchandise
    Overview Created branding assets for Mobile Hacking Village, a cybersecurity organisation promoting their work at conferences and industry events. The project focused on developing memorable visual assets that could represent the organisation while engaging attendees through event merchandise. The Brief Mobile Hacking Village needed a distinctive set of graphics that reflected their focus on mobile security and could be used to build awareness at industry events. The designs needed to work across both digital branding and physical promotional materials, creating assets that attendees could connect with and take away from the event. My Role I developed three logo concepts and two final logo designs for the organisation. I also created a collection of promotional sticker designs to be distributed as event freebies. The designs were created to be visually recognisable, adaptable and suitable for use across conference materials and merchandise. Deliverables Three logo concepts Two final logos Three promotional sticker designs Print-ready artwork for merchandise production Skills Logo Design Brand Identity Design Sticker Design Merchandise Design Vector Illustration Print Production
    Creative n' Chaotic Packaging Design
    Overview Designed the packaging and presentation materials for Creative n' Chaotic, an independent illustration-led brand creating playful alternative fashion, accessories and collectibles. The packaging was designed to reflect the brand's colourful, quirky identity while creating a memorable unboxing experience for customers. The Brief Creative n' Chaotic needed packaging that felt like an extension of the brand itself: fun, recognisable and aligned with its illustration-focused products. The designs needed to balance creativity with practical considerations, including protecting products during shipping, being suitable for small-batch production, and supporting the brand's sustainable approach to packaging. My Role I developed the packaging concepts, visual elements and customer-facing materials used throughout the order fulfilment experience. I created designs that incorporated the brand's illustrations and visual identity across different packaging formats, ensuring consistency from the moment a customer receives their order through to opening and discovering the products. Deliverables Branded packaging designs Business cards Thank-you cards Water Activated Tape design Shipping and unboxing assets Outcome The final packaging created a cohesive brand experience that extended beyond the products themselves, helping customers connect with the personality and values of Creative n' Chaotic. The designs supported a consistent customer journey while maintaining a balance between creativity, practicality and sustainable packaging choices. Skills Packaging Design Brand Identity Product Design Illustration Print Design Customer Experience Design Merchandise Design Production Artwork Sustainable Packaging Design
    Securi-Tay Annual Event Branding & Conference Design (2023–2026)
    Overview Created the visual branding and event materials for Securi-Tay, a cybersecurity conference bringing together students, academics and industry professionals. I worked with the organisers across four consecutive events (2023–2026), developing yearly event identities that maintained the recognisable Securi-Tay brand while introducing a fresh visual direction for each conference. The Brief Each year, Securi-Tay required a new event logo and supporting visuals that reflected a different aspect of Dundee's identity, while still feeling connected to the wider conference brand. The challenge was to create designs that felt unique to each year's event while maintaining consistency across merchandise, signage, digital displays and promotional materials. My Role I developed the annual event logos and expanded the visual identity into a full suite of event assets. For the 2023 conference, I focused on creating the event logo design. From 2024 onwards, my role expanded into creating complete event branding packages, including merchandise, printed materials and digital assets. Deliverables Annual event logo designs (2023–2026) Conference merchandise graphics T-shirt designs Tote bag artwork Gift bag item designs Event programme design Lanyard and lanyard schedule cards design Large-format event banners Digital screen graphics Social media assets Sticker designs Skills Event Branding Brand Identity Design Logo Design Merchandise Design Print Design Large Format Graphics Social Media Design Editorial Design Illustration Digital Asset Creation
    Creative Dundee PechaKucha Night Illustration
    Creative Dundee PechaKucha Night Vol. 32 Illustration Overview Commissioned by Creative Dundee to create the key artwork for PechaKucha Night Vol. 32, a creative event celebrating diverse voices and ideas from the local community. The illustration was used across the event's promotional campaign, including Creative Dundee's website, social media, email marketing, Dundee Rep Theatre's website, and as a large-scale visual displayed during the live event. The Brief Creative Dundee wanted a vibrant and engaging illustration that captured the spirit of PechaKucha Night: a celebration of creativity, community, and the sharing of ideas. The artwork needed to work across multiple formats, from digital promotion to a stage display, while incorporating the event branding elements including the PechaKucha Night logo, "Dundee", and "Vol 32". The design direction encouraged a playful and colourful approach that reflected the diversity of speakers and the welcoming atmosphere of the event. My Role I developed the visual concept and created an original illustration that reflected the community-focused nature of PechaKucha Night. I explored initial concepts and colour directions before producing the final artwork and adapting it into multiple digital formats for use across the promotional campaign. Deliverables Original event illustration Initial concept sketches and design directions Website hero artwork (1920 × 1080) Instagram promotional artwork (1080 × 1350) Instagram Story artwork (1080 × 1920) Stage display artwork Outcome The final illustration became the core visual identity for PechaKucha Night Vol. 32, providing Creative Dundee with a consistent artwork style across digital promotion, event presentation and their online archive. Skills Commissioned Illustration Event Branding Digital Illustration Campaign Artwork Social Media Design Layout Design Brand Adaptation Print & Digital Production illustrator
    Our Dolls House Event Promotion & Social Media Templates
    Overview Created a suite of promotional materials for Our Dolls House, a live music event celebrating iconic dance anthems from the 90s through to today. Inspired by the energy of the Ibiza club scene, the event showcases DJs and live performers, with a focus on celebrating female talent and creating an inclusive, high-energy nightlife experience. The Brief The organisers wanted promotional materials that captured the vibrant atmosphere of the event while highlighting its unique identity. The designs needed to reflect the excitement of Ibiza-inspired nightlife, the nostalgia of classic dance music, and the celebration of predominantly female performers. Alongside eye-catching promotional posters, they required reusable social media templates to introduce performers and build anticipation ahead of the event. My Role I created two promotional poster concepts that reflected the event's energetic and empowering atmosphere, combining bold typography, vibrant visual elements and a nightlife-inspired aesthetic. I also developed a reusable performer biography template for social media, allowing the organisers to showcase each DJ and live performer consistently throughout the promotional campaign. Deliverables Two promotional poster designs Reusable performer social media template Digital marketing assets Print-ready artwork Skills Event Branding Poster Design Social Media Design Marketing Materials Print Design Digital Design graphicdesigner logo designer