Part creative studio, part consultancy—fully devoted to shaping ideas into real world form
About the Studio
The Very Idea Studio is a space for applied creativity—where process, curiosity, and form meet. Through design, sound, materials, and strategy, ideas take shape in ways that are unexpected, thoughtful, and deeply human.
We blend strategy, process, design, and craft to develop our own products as well as tailored solutions via commissions or consultancy.
Our practice does not cater to any specific industry—we welcome and are energized by new, cross-disciplinary challenges. Past clients in education, technology, and art have all drawn value from our work.
Applied Creativity?
We use creative thinking to solve real-world problems, develop meaningful experiences, and produce tangible outcomes. It’s creativity with intent and impact—not just for expression, but for transformation.
In contrast to "pure" creativity, which might be exploratory or expressive with no set goal, applied creativity mean you might find us:
Designing a sound sculpture that acts as a contemplative object in a public space
Working with a nonprofit to build a strategic engagement plan using visual storytelling
Designing a chair that evokes a time or place through form and tension
At the core of our studio is our ability to work directly and collaboratively with clients to get to know their specific wants, needs, and pain points and through our process-oriented approach, deliver solutions.
In a world quickly being obfuscated by AI and already saturated with content, The Very Idea offers uncommon clarity—an invitation to experience meaning through matter, and strategy through sensation.
About our Founder
The Very Idea was founded in 2025 by creative polymath Joel Mellin after years honing his process-based approach to solving problems and developing new ideas. His work spans interactive systems, learning design, sound, sculpture, and strategic consulting.
Joel has worked with some of the world's most successful companies to shape brand experiences and build engaging products for millions of users. With over two decades in interactive technology, Joel has led teams to award-winning work for PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, WNET, NBC, the US Department of Education, and the American Legion.
While his work bridges disciplines and defies easy categorization, the same core principles run through-out: curiosity, creativity, a deep understanding of client and process, and a commitment to follow through with tangible and meaningful impact.
The Very Idea is the synthesis of this practice.It is a space where conceptual rigor meets experimental play, and where insight is channeled into artifacts, strategies, and experiences that resonate across contexts.
