Greetings and Salutations on this fine day!
I would first like to express my sincerest gratitude to you, gentle reader, for meandering onto my website today—thank you. I invite you to peruse my archives and explore the work I’ve shared here. But before you do, I’d like to offer a small glimpse into who I am.
I am a Kansas boy—born and raised in the capital city of our great state, Topeka. I’m a middle child between two sisters and the only grandson on both my mother’s and father’s sides of the family. Sports (basketball in particular), movies, and art are three things I absolutely love. If I had to choose one film, song, and book to take with me to a deserted island, they would be Jackie Brown, “Mack the Knife,” and the Holy Bible.
I graduated from Topeka West High School in 2019 and began my college education that fall at Fort Hays State University. I chose to pursue a degree in Graphic Design—something that combined my creative interests with real-world functionality.
During my five years at FHSU, I developed a keen attention to detail, strong technical design skills, and a deep working knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, along with other design software. Along the way, I discovered new passions, including black-and-white film photography and relief printmaking. I had the opportunity to participate in several exhibitions showcasing work across all three of these mediums. In May of 2024, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree.
After graduation, I worked as both a freelance designer and a screen press operator in Hays while my fiancée, Ali, completed her MBA. In June of 2025, we moved—along with our two dogs, Harlow and Ziggy—to the Kansas City area, where we now reside.
While this offers a snapshot of my background and professional journey, there’s more to me than a résumé. I strive to be kind and considerate. I think and feel deeply—and while that hasn’t always led to perfect decisions, I enjoy the experience of being human. I love art, and I’m passionate about making things that people enjoy looking at.
Please enjoy your time here. Take it all in. The work presented under my personal branding, MELVIN, is among what I’m most proud of and best represents who I am as a designer. If that resonates with you and you’d like a more in-depth look at what I’m exploring, feel free to visit my Instagram, @newflute, where I post frequently and share ongoing experiments.
You’re also welcome to reach out through social media or the contact page on this site. I look forward to hearing from you.
In closing, thank you for visiting. You are, simply, the best. And if no one has told you today—just know that I thought of you.
Graham Melvin Teter