Caroline Pratt & Sophie Lavine
Co-Founders of Pattymelt Creative
Great Barrington, MA
Q What do you do?
“We’re Pattymelt, a wife-and-wife creative studio. Our team of two designs for personable brands and personable people, personally.”
We partner with clients in the hospitality space to create timeless, delicious brands. We do everything together, from branding to packaging to illustration to hand modeling.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Our backgrounds are zigzags: music, PR, editorial, events, the list goes on. We spent years at major corporate companies like Edelman and Hearst Magazines. We met while working on the content and brand teams at WeWork. We bonded over feeling burnt out and tired of putting our names on projects that didn't stoke us. We didn't see ourselves in our work and it really bummed us out. We started Pattymelt to be able to have choice and agency over our creative life, and to join forces with likeminded people.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
We're literally partners in life *and* in business. As a queer couple, creating connection and community over a meal is all we care about (we both grew up in food-centric households and are dedicated home cooks). We bring that ethos into our work and try really hard to nurture our relationships with every client. When we get to know a client on a really nuanced level, we're able to make smart, informed, off-the-cuff creative choices. Those end up being the most successful. Our clients care just as much about hospitality as we do, and we really value that feeling of same-ness.
Q What are you working on right now?
We're really excited about our projects lately! We're working on a floral design brand, an independent movie theater, a cheese shop, a country store, among others. We work with clients all over the country, but we're working hard to connect with our immediate community and contribute more locally. We just started selling prints, too!
Q What’s your style?
Caroline's style tends to be more buttoned up, and Sophie is more of a maximalist. Our opposite sensibilities are a total strength- we always meet in the middle and deliver designs that are type-forward and fun, but ultimately clean and timeless.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Food styling + photo production.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
We have so many ideas for expanding Pattymelt. The list has been piling up for years. It's so easy to put your own stuff by the wayside; here's hoping this will be the year.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Do our social media for us. Promoting yourself is so hard!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Stop caring. Get out of your head. Just do whatever you want. No one is thinking about you as much as you are.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Marketing ourselves.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
We always want to work with good people, full stop. We look for branding projects that are just taking off. We love starting from scratch and getting to touch every part of the project, from the logos to printed menus to matchbooks to bathroom signage.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Restaurants and bars! Especially if they're woman or queer owned.
Q What is your rate?
Our branding projects start around $3500. That said, we like to work with our clients and tailor projects to their needs. If they only have $100 we'll find a way to work together. We try to be inclusive and meet people where they are.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email us and say hello! Let us know what's up and how we can help.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Ina Garten, obviously. Mackenzie Kruvant at Middle Child is a really thoughtful copywriter and strategist. She just gets it. Rayna Starr at Aster Place has an amazing eye and produces really gorgeous shoots. Love a girl who can always get the shot! Molly Anne Bishop is a ceramicist and illustrator who we're absolutely obsessed with. If she knew our names, we'd die.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Doing crosswords, cooking, making cocktails, hiking with our dogs.
This member profile was originally published in Janurary 2024