About Great Big Yarn
Psychologist Adam Mastroianni writes about finding “the job that’s crazy in the same way that you are crazy,” and many years ago, I found mine as a designer.
Great Big Yarn is the independent studio of Melissa Stafford-Woodruff. The studio focuses on creative direction, design and strategy for organizations in clean energy, technology, and media. Nerds are her people.
Melissa is a seasoned designer with over 20 years of experience in graphic design, art direction and business strategy. Her work includes more than a decade as a gallery director and curator, years of freelance design work, and five years as creative director at an agency focused on renewable energy, climate and sustainability. She’s organized over 75 exhibitions, shaped brands, and helped companies explain complicated ideas. Her freelance and agency work has included projects for The Marshall Project, The Guardian, Latitude Media, Ohmium, the Zero Emission Transportation Association and WeaveGrid.
These days, Melissa lives in upstate New York with her husband, their two kids, a dog named Johnny and four lazy cats. You can often find her at a museum or bookstore, or hunting for vintage derpy animals at thrift stores.
The studio’s name is a small nod to Fresh Yarn, a site from the internet days of yore devoted to personal essays. I’m a sucker for stories and believe we all have some good ones in us. I’m excited to help tell yours.
