Alexia De Melo of Buckhead + metro Atlanta on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Alexia De Melo and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Alexia, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I love a routine. Working full-time and growing my business on the side is already a challenge, and then there’s friends, family, a partner, therapy sessions, getting in 10,000 steps, moving, and a lot more. Emotionally, mentally, and creatively I tend to be an extreme person–I’m either all in or not at all–so I’m always aiming to find that balance through a routine. I wake up, eat the same eggs on avocado toast with sourdough bread and tomatoes, take the same barre workout classes weekly, and try to be in bed before 11pm.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a multi-disciplinary creative based here in Atlanta. Since I was young, I have explored various creative mediums, learning photography in high school and later on graphic design in college. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Design from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida in 2020.

In 2019, I founded ASD Visuals to specialize in graphic design and photography services. Within the first 15 months, I partnered with over 30 clients while maintaining two part-time jobs and a full college course load. From 2020 to early 2022, I also served as the Family Ministries Creative ​Director at Woodstock City Church, where I created engaging environments ​for students both digitally and in person. In 2022, I transitioned to the corporate marketing world, where I have worked on design teams to create collateral for internal and client-facing projects.

I am a first-generation American, with family roots in Brazil. My parents worked tirelessly to provide for me and my brother and instill a strong work ethic in us. I’m forever grateful for them and inspired by our Brazilian culture.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
In my teenage and early college years, I was lucky enough to have several powerhouse women as mentors. I vividly remember one of my best friend’s older sister, Raissa, learning that I had just bought a camera (a Canon Rebel T5 I think) and asking me to photograph our youth group’s Sunday service. What started as a simple ask quickly grew into me leading a team of younger students, organizing, and scheduling volunteers, managing social media and running creative trainings. Looking back, it’s emotional to realize how much that one question shaped me. All because I bought a camera for fun, someone saw potential in me, a 15 or 16 year-old girl who didn’t know what she was doing. In more recent years, my partner has become that steady source of support. He sees me and my creativity more clearly than I do sometimes. When I get down on myself or mess up, he reminds me of my worth and what I’m capable of. He is my best friend and I learn so much being with him.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be this: be gentle to yourself. Like I mentioned before, I tend to be very extreme, my emotions run deep and for a long time I tied my identity and worth to pleasing others and to my accomplishments. Even now, it’s a daily practice to remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint and that small, steady steps are much more sustainable than burning out. At the end of the day, your worth as a human being will always be greater than what you produce.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I struggle with depression and anxiety so a lot of my life is a large, conscious effort to simply keep going. I can get fixated on how people perceive me and that can quickly spiral. What helps me is reminding myself that no one is paying as much attention to me as I am. You are never as bad–or as good–as people say you are.

Another truth I hold onto is that life isn’t meant to be all work. During my busy seasons, it feels like I’m being pulled in every direction, and the overwhelm can be a lot. But I’ve learned that the busyness always slows down–it’s not forever.
Obviously life ebbs and flows and some seasons are harder than others, so it varies with how much I need to remind myself of these truths, but I always go back to them.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I often feel out of my depth. Growing up a perfectionist made it difficult to try new things and even harder to deal with being bad at them. I wanted to be the best right away and when that didn’t happen it led to frustration, disappointment, and a lot of self-criticism. I’ve made progress in letting go of those expectations, but it’s still not easy for me to try something new. I am just quicker to remember it’s okay to fail and be bad at things. There are so many things to be good at, and we’re not meant to be good at it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexiademelo.com