Mel Castorillo

EDUCATION

University of Southern California             Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Minor in Psychology

Relevant Coursework/Certifications: Design for Communication and Social Change, Foundations in UX  

WORK EXPERIENCE

Stanford University, Boundaries of Humanity Lab, Content Designer

  • Spearheaded the development of a comprehensive tagging infrastructure for the Lab's website designed using Figma, enabling efficient content organization, accessible user experience,  and searchability

  • Facilitated collaborative content planning and development through Notion, fostering a streamlined workflow with the Web Designer, Creative Director, and Social Media Manager

  • Designed engaging content templates, scripts, and copy for various social media platforms, fostering brand awareness and audience engagement

  • Leveraged Descript to transcribe and translate conference panels and interviews, promoting accessibility andexpanding knowledge dissemination to a wider student audience

Rare Flower Media, Social Media Manager

  • Managed social media operations from start-to-finish by tracking timelines on Airtable, directing video edits, writing copy, and posting content on TikTok (513,800 followers), Instagram (96,300 followers), Youtube (140,000 subscribers), and Facebook (126,000 followers)

  • Implemented digital strategies, boosting Jesse’s Teahouse YouTube subscribers by 71.4% in 6 weeks and driving product sales on the website through product features in short-form and long-form video

  • Leveraged content partnerships and integrated new social media features to orchestrate a successful launch of the "Teatime with Jesse" podcast, with Youtube episodes drawing 5,000-12,000 views in 5 days, Instagram Reels gaining 10,000-1.3 million views in 4 days, and TikToks reaching up to 800,000 views in 5 days

Womana Media LLC, Content Designer                                                  

  • Evaluated Facebook ad performance and developed content for outreach, resulting in 100% enrollment for creative writing classes.

  • Authored compelling copy, curated persuasive Substack branding, expanding reach and nurturing a devoted readership with a 60% click rate.

  • Integrated Figma, Elementor, and HTML/CSS enhancing the user interactions of Womana sitepages.

  • Conducted brand-centric research to implement cutting-edge practices for eCommerce and Edutech platforms, resulting in optimized product offerings.

  • Created engaging still and video assets for social media channels, elevating brand visibility and engagement.

MOBI, Communications Manager

  • Explored blockchain, crypto, AI, and AV trends to spearhead content writing of a dynamic, internal newsletter; resulting in a remarkable 15% increase in working group participation.

  • Collaborated with external agencies to ensure the company website's UX design harmonized seamlessly with MOBI's design language and objectives.

  • Generated 11 press releases, captivating over 500 media impressions and earning 10 positive reviews, boosting online visibility by 25%.

  • Produced compelling marketing and presentation materials using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, amplifying the impact of internal and external research presentations.

  • Authored an engaging script for the Citopia app demo, effectively showcasing its unique features and benefits.

  • Cultivated 5 strategic partnerships, including CoMotion LA, while orchestrating a successful 3-day conference alongside the Projects Manager and COO

PEN America, Summer Outreach Coordinator

  • Developed social media ads and tracked online performance analytics (e.g. Twitter Insights, Facebook Insights) and increased online visibility on-site department traffic, Facebook and Twitter engagement: +189% mentions, +6% follows, +26% impressions

  • Produced, edited (Adobe Premiere Pro), and starred in a weekly social media video series to promote the Emerging Voices Fellowship and provide application assistance

  • Transcribed podcast episodes and developed visualizers on AfterEffects to advertise the fellowship podcast

  • Organized in-person and online outreach strategies to recruit applicants

Hum Nutrition, Content Intern

  • Designed and retouched images for social media (Instagram and Pinterest) on Photoshop

  • Filmed and edited short-form and long-form videos for Youtube

  • Assisted editorial photography shoots with partner brands and Content Lead

  • Acted as thought partner during collaborative content meetings with influencers

  • Monitored site activity and addressed feature bugs and broken links on Wordpress

SKILLS: UX Design, Graphic Design, Typography, Video Editing, Photography, Copywriting, Coordination