Mel Parada is the Owner & Creative Director of Spek Studio a multi-disciplinary art & design studio. His graphic design specilizations include branding, marketing, package design, & environmental design. Alongside his graphic design work, Mel is also a practicing artist primarily working as a printmaker but also creating artworks via painting, and mixed media. His concepts are conceptualized and designed through graphic design methods, which are then translated and executed through fine art disciplines.

Mel currently serves as an associate professor and graphic design discipline chair at Northern Virginia Community College.

teaching

Intro to Graphic Arts
Typography I & II
Graphic Design I
Professional Practices
Graphic Techniques
Experiential Design History
Editorial Design
New Media in the Creative Arts

exhibitions

2020 Soundings, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Prince William County, Va
2018 Repertoire, The Washington Ballet School, Washington, DC
2018 Rethinking Lines, Fenwick Library, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va
2018 Rethinking Lines, Solo Thesis Exhibition, School of Art, Fine Arts Gallery, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va
2018 Origins, Fenwick Library, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va
2018 Off the Wall, School of Art, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va

lectures/discussions

2018 Rethinking Lines Artist Talk, Fenwick Library, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va
2018 Origins Artist Talk, Fenwick Library, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va
2017 16-17th Century Dutch Printmaking, Denker Fellow Presentation, Library of Congress, Washington DC

fellowships & residencies

2018 Artist Residency, Discover Graphics Atelier, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, Va
2016 Mike Denker Fellow, American Printing History Association (APHA), Chesapeake Chapter

education

MFA, Graphic Design, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va
Study Abroad, Hochshule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
BS Finance, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va