Welcome to Merit & State

Bringing your business value & vision together

We’re a collaborative creative studio that partners with entrepreneurs and small businesses to create cohesive, personality-packed brands. By blending thoughtful messaging and bold design, we help you stand out, connect with your audience, and show up confidently.

Sara Beukema and Megan Hopkins co-owners of Merit & State.jpg

We create brands that get noticed

Simplicity and personality are at the heart of what we do. We get to know your business, then combine strategic messaging with bold, tailored design to deliver work that feels uniquely you. Our collaborative approach makes the process easy, impactful, and (dare we say) fun—delivering results that not only look effortless but connect with your audience in a big way.

how it started

Elevating brands with high-quality design & copy is sort of our signature move

When we met 10 years ago at a corporate job, the connection was instant—real-life besties and work soulmates from day one. And while yes, we’re different in plenty of ways (Sara loves her hot lattes, while Megan prefers iced anything), we think our unique skills make us the perfect match.

Sara’s knack for bold, impactful design and Megan’s talent for crafting words that connect made teaming up kind of a no-brainer. After years of working with everyone from startups to billion-dollar global brands, we saw firsthand how much simpler and more effective it is to combine design and copy under one roof—and so, Merit & State was born.

Sara Beukema partner & principal designer of Merit & State.jpg

Sara Beukema
Partner & Principal Designer

Sara brings the aesthetic eye to the team. As a hands-on designer and creative director, she builds memorable brands through unique, instantly identifiable visual design. With a focus on strategy, she anticipates the best solution for each client’s needs that will continue to serve them as they grow.

Megan Hopkins partner & principal copywriter of Merit & State.jpg

Megan Hopkins
Partner & Principal Copywriter

Need some wordsmithing? Megan’s your girl. She’s been helping businesses get results through compelling, conversion-focused copy with a side of strategy. A self-proclaimed copy nerd, Megan knows what it takes to effectively reach your ideal clients and what to say once you have their attention.

Merit & state values

Kindness, respect, and thoughtful collaboration lead to amazing things.

Uniqueness is worth celebrating—and it’s the secret to success.

Stay curious, creative, and always be ready to learn.

Less but better. Quality over quantity every single time.

  • “This was such a great experience! Our company's rebrand and new website turned out amazing. After giving Megan and Sara my vision, they were really able to bring it to life! Their onboarding questionnaire was a game-changer, helping me clarify exactly what I wanted. Sara brilliantly transformed my ideas into a stunning design, while Megan found the perfect words to capture everything I had in mind. Great job, ladies!”

    Christy Greico-Smith
    Founder, Perfect 10 Promotions

  • “Sara and Megan are a dynamic duo. When my business needed some TLC, they helped me refresh my branding and totally overhaul my website. With my own client work keeping me busy, it was a huge relief they worked together seamlessly so I didn't have to manage multiple creatives. Seriously, these ladies are magic and everything they touch turns to gold. Can't recommend them enough!”

    Sandy Diaz Haley
    Founder & Principal, SDH Communications

  • “When I initially launched my business, I started with a self-made website. It got the job done, but I knew it wasn’t reflecting the quality of the work I do with my clients. Hiring Sara and Megan made all of the difference. They helped me create a stunning new site that's not only beautiful but also super functional. They really captured my voice and helped me better articulate my story and my business. They were easy and efficient to work with, and I loved working with them both!” 

    Julia Harman
    Owner, Harman Leadership

  • “I loved working with Sara and Megan! Not only are they both super talented, but they’re also personable and made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. Their insights throughout the process were so helpful — from navigating building a dual language website to setting me up with the tools I needed to start building my email list. My new brand and website are so ME! Seriously couldn't have asked for better partners to work with.”

    Dr. Alex Reyes, DO, FACOG, MSCP
    Gynecologist & Menopause Specialist

  • “Sara and Megan have become an extension of our design family. From the first meeting, they had an uncanny ability to read my design sensibility and approach to creative work. They not only created our firm’s brand standards but have become go-to partners for ongoing project work for our clients.” 

    Mary Bledsoe
    Founder, Mary Bledsoe Design Studio

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