Rare Medium is a brand studio and creative consultancy based in Los Angeles. We amplify the uniqueness of your story,
and transform it into a form that is authentic, engaging, and deeply resonant.
Our work spans brand design, illustration, packaging, print, and web—but the projects we love most are the ones with heart. Sometimes we do a bit of strategy, too. No matter the medium, our goal remains the same: to create work we’re proud of with purpose-driven, imaginative people who want to do the same.
Founded in 2021 by creative director Malissa Smith, Rare Medium is the culmination of over a decade of brand-building experience in New York City, where she designed identities for names like Stripe, Dunkin’, Target, and Chase (plus plenty of brands you haven’t heard of—yet). She’s worked across agencies, in-house teams, tech startups, and as an independent designer, always following her curiosity to new creative frontiers. Her work is meticulous yet full of heart—rooted in a passion for helping clients and collaborators feel truly seen.
Rare Medium is a creative practice, a philosophy, and proof that the best ideas don’t always fit neatly into categories.
It’s about embracing the in-between—the space where different disciplines intersect, overlap, and blend into something unexpected. It’s not just one thing; it’s many. It’s about paying attention, listening closely, and holding space. It’s about what we create, and how we make people feel.
(Disappointingly, the name has nothing to do with ordering steak—though for the record, we stand by the fact that ‘medium rare’ is the only correct way.)
Our work spans brand design, illustration, packaging, print, and web—but the projects we love most are the ones with heart. Sometimes we do a bit of strategy, too. No matter the medium, our goal remains the same: to create work we’re proud of with purpose-driven, imaginative people who want to do the same.
Founded in 2021 by creative director Malissa Smith, Rare Medium is the culmination of over a decade of brand-building experience in New York City, where she designed identities for names like Stripe, Dunkin’, Target, and Chase (plus plenty of brands you haven’t heard of—yet). She’s worked across agencies, in-house teams, tech startups, and as an independent designer, always following her curiosity to new creative frontiers. Her work is meticulous yet full of heart—rooted in a passion for helping clients and collaborators feel truly seen.
Why Rare Medium?
Rare Medium is a creative practice, a philosophy, and proof that the best ideas don’t always fit neatly into categories.
It’s about embracing the in-between—the space where different disciplines intersect, overlap, and blend into something unexpected. It’s not just one thing; it’s many. It’s about paying attention, listening closely, and holding space. It’s about what we create, and how we make people feel.
(Disappointingly, the name has nothing to do with ordering steak—though for the record, we stand by the fact that ‘medium rare’ is the only correct way.)
What we do
Strategic Positioning
Brand Identity
Packaging Design
Illustration
Hand-lettering
Creative Direction
Web DesignCollateral & Merch
Personal Commissions
Some of our favorite projects are personal commissions and gifts.We specialize in creating highly personalized, bespoke artifacts that carry meaning and will be cherished for years to come.
How we do it
PHASE 01
Discovery
—Brand Audit
—Landscape Analysis
—Competitive Market Positioning
—Brand Personality
—Mission, Vision, & Values
PHASE 02
Design
—Moodboards
—Brand Mark
—Color Systems
—Typography
—Iconography & Illustration
—Photography Art Direction
—Voice & Tone
—Brand Guidelines
PHASE 03
Application
—Packaging Design
—Website Design
—Signage
—Branded Templates
—Collateral & Merch