THIS IS US!

We celebrate color, personality and emotion.

We wave our strategy magic wand to uncover your full potential and craft meaningful, bold brands, that (finally!) show your true colors.


*And brands with a conscious mission hold a special place in our corazoncito.

Welcome to my virtual casita. I’m Marlene!

Panamanian creative director, graphic designer, founder of Marlene Franco Studio and fan del tres leches.


Through our studio we offer conscious entrepreneurs a strategy-led, research-focused approach to branding, rooted in curiosity. We help you identify your uniqueness, encourage you to show up as your truest self to create stronger connections, and help your business attract the right people (your people).

Behind every stunning visual there’s a strong strategy, a relatable story, a powerful purpose...and a bold founder.


What we stand for

And since we know you’re our people...

Here are some of our (shared) values — which you might also appreciate:

  • We’re guided by it. We’re inquisitive by nature, eager to learn and research everything (in-depth!)! Le buscamos la quinta pata al gato.

  • We encourage it. Connection to the emotion we want our brand to convey, connection to you, to our project, and shared values. Warm, huggable energy. Cerquita del corazón.

  • The bright and colorful kind. We’re not afraid to shine bright and stand out. We can’t help but to be called to everything bright and happy and colorful! Colorinche al full!

  • Rooted in story and strategy. To truly discover the full potential of a brand, strategy must come first. Branding goes beyond a beautiful end product. What story do we want to tell? We aim to connect meaning and emotion to your brand visuals.

  • And its diverse perspectives. We serve as the bridge between the Latin and the US market. Marlene has lived in both Panama and Los Angeles, allowing her to blend the best aspects of both cultures, in addition to the insights she has gained through her passion for travel.

  • A positive one. In everything we do, we seek to make our mark, leaving the world better than we found it. There’s a special place in our corazoncito for brands that have a consciously-minded approach to their mission.

Timeless can be FUN!
Don’t be afraid of color, especially
when your rainbow-colored soul can’t contain its sunshine.

IN CASE YOU MIGHT BE THINKING,

“OK, I kind of vibe with her. So, who is this Marlene person?”

Well, here’s the scoop:


Soy Panameña, born and raised! I’m fluent in Spanish and English, and I’ve lived (and worked) in Panama and across the US (shout out to mi gente in Savannah, North Carolina, San Francisco and Los Angeles!).

I’m mamá to Isa Mar and Eva Luna (my favorite thing to be!) and I’m crazy in love with nature, as you can tell from my daughter’s names (Mar means sea and Luna means moon in Spanish).

I’ve been using my creativity and love for detail to solve problems since I can remember—I crafted illustrated summaries to better understand the lessons in my textbooks – I've always loved to simplify the complex.

My Faves


Now that we've gotten acquainted:

What story do you want to tell today?

Every project is a unique narrative waiting to unfold. Share your vision with us, and let's craft your brand story together.