One look at Melody Munn’s website and you’re immediately captured by a palette of organic neutrals and everyday simplicity. You may also notice her genuine love for the Lord (as well as coffee!). As the owner, marketing director and graphic designer for Melody Joy Designs, Melody exudes pure creativity and business savvy, maintaining a significant online presence (more than 46,000 followers on Instagram) and showcasing her work right alongside an authentic faith. She offers graphic and digital design as well as a line of phone cases, which she features on her Instagram feed, in addition to photos of her travels, family and daily inspiration. Recently, Vital chatted with Melody via email to see how her business, her gifts and her devotion to God go hand-in-hand.
Tell us a little bit about your background. What role did faith play in your life, and did it guide you toward your eventual career in marketing and design?
My dad has been an Assemblies of God worship pastor/senior pastor since before I was born. Growing up, being a PK was always “who I was” to everyone at school. It took moving to another state and attending college before I truly encountered God in a fresh way and [with a] new perspective that really grew my relationship with Christ. If I hadn’t been in a Christian household, specifically AG, I would have ended up at an art or law school in a major city. The dreams of owning my own business would have never come to fruition because Southeastern University played a huge role in my design career.
According to your bio, you’ve been in the business for just five years. Tell us about starting out and finding your niche.
When I was attending Southeastern University, I wanted to do everything. For example, my first semester I ran for freshman class president, played intramurals, became the PR person for one of the tour teams in the worship department and an intern for Student Life, and then tried out for a full-time position doing design work. All of this to say, I may have overbooked myself. Everything fizzled to the sidelines going into my sophomore year except for the design jobs and the passion I had to grow in my knowledge of Photoshop and the Adobe Suite. I stayed up endless nights trying to figure out how all of the buttons worked.
Your designs and your faith blend seamlessly. How does your faith inform your work?
Faith informs my work because with each day I ask God, “Is there anything you would like me to share today via social media?” He always gives me some kind of inspiration. Some days it is very clear that I should share a Scripture or uplifting quote from an author, and without knowing the true meaning in my personal life, I would receive emails that it was just what someone else needed to hear. I know that was all God. Other times I believe He just lets me rejoice in the blessings He has given me. I try to make His name known as much as possible.
Your Instagram account has over 46,000 followers. Have you found a sort of online fellowship there? Do you feel a responsibility to them as an influencer? And how has your faith grown or changed as a result of that interaction?
Building one another up is the best thing any individual can do. Since most of the individuals I have met on Instagram also have their own businesses, we really relate to one another. I do have a sense of responsibility to share God’s Word, but not because I “have to.” I truly want to thank Him and give Him all of the glory for all of the doors He has opened for me. I honestly only feel stronger in my faith after I share His word or what He is laying upon my heart.
Graphic design, branding and photo styling are significantly creative endeavors. How do you see your creative work as an act of worship or calling?
I definitely see what I do as a ministry. I do everything for God’s glory, whether it’s setting up a quality image, listening to a client talk about her personal life after a coffee meeting that was intended for branding tal, or building friendships where friends know I am there for them. I try to do everything to the best of my ability: from a website, to a graphic, to an Instagram image. As Christians, I believe we represent God, so we should be in the forefront when it comes to quality work.
You seem to appreciate and offer an upbeat, optimistic perspective on life and work. What other social media friends do you recommend for a daily dose of beauty?
The ladies of Coast to Coast Central have encouraged me so much in my business and my faith. I am always telling my husband, “Wow, we are so blessed! God is so good,” because I honestly believe those things in my real life. I get remarks from friends, saying, “You are just so happy all of the time,” and why wouldn’t I be happy? I woke up today. I have a roof over my head. But most importantly, Jesus is the reason why I am living and if I can make His name known in any way with discernment, I will.
Originally published at Vital Magazine.