Blank Canvas:
I’m an artist. I knew I was different. I sensed it when I was in grade school. I didn’t know what it was at the time but i needed to create, build and explore. The perfect gift from my grandmother was a white plain gift box full of colored and drawing pencils with a white pad of drawing paper. A blank canvas for my future. What was next? This created opportunity for me. She saw something in me that I couldn’t nurture at a young age but she could through the simple gift of art supplies and her availability. Her background as a graduate of the Art Institute in Chicago plus her time spent as commercial artist before settling on the farm gave her the ability to see potential in me and she encouraged the process to have the creative gene passed down through our family. As I grew older and got better at drawing I began to understand her work and wanted nothing more but to emulate her work. Ask questions, ask about technique. I wanted to have my grandmothers skills as a artist. It was the opportunity she gave me as a child through a box of art supplies and mentorship that allowed my growth as an artist. I was blessed to have her as my teacher to go on and teach others, help others to see shapes, design and color. Ultimately to fall in love with drawing, photography and typography. Knowing now that the “difference” I felt when I was young was an amazing blessing to be fortunate enough to actually live it out to this day as a graphic designer. To use my skills daily in design is a honor in what I get to do. I was given an opportunity and I want to give back by creating and improving design for whatever comes across my path.
Going on 25 years of professional design, I’ve experienced all sides of the creative process. I still wake up needing to create. My passion for art not only stems from my childhood of countless hours of drawing and spending time with my grandmother but from the four season farm I grew up on. The forests next to our farm would turn to fire in the Autumn with the changing of the leaves to vivid shades of red and orange and the snowfall in Winter that would blanket the pastures, and then the yearning for Spring to see some blades of green peak through the asleep ground and the Summer nights of lightning bugs sparkling in the corn fields. This fuels me still to this day, the respect of change and the great influence it has in design. It’s like the trends of marketing, there’s always going to be change. Who’s first to do it and who sets the change? This is how digital media relates to nature, regardless of technology people will always crave being outside, it simply refuels, refreshes and allows us to go back and sit in front of our devices capturing the next big marketing pitch. I appreciate all of the midwest values instilled in me as child as I execute design. I appreciate the seasons and the details of life as these elements reflect in my designs. It’s not simple type or random pictures, but it’s a story in the design; a reason that causes a reaction to the viewer that is enduring. Design that causes you to step back, or to think and ultimately gets you excited about art and causes action! Design is contiguous, we are attracted to good design and that is what I want to create for each brand I work with.
Identifying my super power. As a designer in Ministry for the last 13 years I’ve realized a few things. I had no idea what I was getting into and the adventure that was in front of me. I had goals and I was honored to learn so much through this process to reach them and learn from others. I took the church from no marketing department to a full creative team department. At first, being the one man creative show helped me with wearing many hats in the creative industry. This grew me fast and stretched me in areas I was unfamiliar with. I no idea what I was capable of once I had the right team around me. Until then I was the brand developer, the copywriter, graphic designer, web designer and project manager.
As the church grew I was able to show the need of adding layers to the creative team. How important the brand was and how we could execute it with excellence and compete with in the community. Just because we are a church doesn’t mean we can have great design! This included print, social, video, web and stage design. Humbly I went off. I dove into the culture of community to develop the brand story and messaging. I worked closely with the staff and other departments to get the right messaging done to tell the story of the church. I was able to polish the brand identity, to have a complete makeover of the look and feel of all printed materials, website and weekend media for the church. As we continued to grow, I managed the creative team which included web designers, video editors, web developers, graphic designers, social media, lighting, audio and stage design. As a creative director I could never be hands off - just sketching ideas and handing them off was not my play, I was in the trenches with everyone, executing the creative. I never wanted to be separate from the crew, it was the constant communication the woven web of the team that help produce excellence. The relationships were important to me, a big part of the equation for that “excellence”.
I realized we were the in house agency for the church supporting all the different ministries of the church and K-12 Prep School. A few different things played into our creative department. First of all I realized I am “creative” - taking ownership of that word. Clear vision of who and what we wanted to accomplish through our creative outlets. We had to think different, research different, develop different to make the best product we could with the time allowed each week. Going back to how I knew I was different as child, I now had a chance to give back and empower others to step out and take creative risks, to grow and have a blast being creative with the concepts and storyboards we would work on. So number one: I’m creative and number two would be the communication with others to capture their ideas and needs and turn it into a final design. Learning how to communicate with all types of people, learning to get into there minds, knowing they can see what they want but they’re not sure how to get there? Creatively helping them with the process is rewarding when we finally land on the design. Number three would be the creative team. Working with other creatives is good for the soul. We speak a whole different language. Working in the trenches with people who are passionate about the same goals is contagious.
The byproduct of a great team is discovering what my strengths and weakness are. The honesty in wanting to get better as a designer and ownership of the brand only gets better as you are open to your strengths, weaknesses and mistakes. The process is gratifying when you have the right team around you. When I’m stuck on a design concept being able to stop and ask for critique or step away from the process has been a healthy learning experience. To help others work through a concept, the pairing of fonts and brand logo development is such a great learning experience for all involved. Creating by yourself can work, however as a team when the right people are in the right positions it flourishes when they given the right tools and encouragement.
Call this number four…I’m in love with the process. Whether it has been with a small group of creatives at a church or the one on one with freelance clients. I have grown to respect and fall in love with the creative process every time. The excitement to create a new brand or illustrate for someone is a honor. It’s energizing and with the set of skills I’ve acquired in ministry. I see my strengths in carrying out the brand, telling a story through the design, executing the brand with in it’s guidelines, but searching it out, exploring different mediums, making it different, collaborating with a creative team with great leadership to make the design excellent. Secondly I would see myself as the polisher, the fixer, the helper to maintain the consistency but also to be the dreamer to reach this digital age. Whether it’s through digital, print or social media. I know this: I’m not done. I want to make an impact, collectively with what I’ve learned I want to take it to the next level. Art is apart of me, it always will be. I would like to have an opportunity to continue learn as a designer while contributing my current skill set to be a part of something great.
– Matthew Bennett
Resume:
Matthew Bennett
858.703.7017
What I enjoy everyday:
Knowing that everyone is different • Setting the creative standards and objectives • Not burning people out • Giving people the right tools to succeed
Working with people who are better than me • Honest critiques to make the design better • Drawing everyday • Falling in love with type over and over
Leading and executing the vision for the brand • Lastly, getting to work!
Creative experience in the following:
Illustration • Logo & Branding Design • Layout • Ad Design • Book Design • Stage Design • Interior Design • Video Titling & Graphics • Web Design • Copywriting • Build Brand Style Guides • Clothing Design • Environmental Design • Digital App Design • Multimedia Video Projection Content
Strengths:
Creativity • Technology • Typography • Leading a Creative Team • Time Management • Communication • Multitasking
Current Freelance:
MomsmakingSixFigures.com: Brand Management • Print Design • Social Media Design • Blog Design • Video Production
Hope Leadership Academy: Brand Management • Print Design • Web Design • Event/Fundraiser Design
Premier Energy Strategies: Powerpoint Design • Print and Brand Design • Web Design • Marketing
Hybrid Homes: Powerpoint Design • Print and Brand Design • Web Design • Marketing
You Power: Branding & Design
Other Sons Agency: Branding & Design - Kilroy/Little Italy Project
Potsreplacement.com by MarketSpark: Branding & Design • Web Design • Social Media Design & Marketing • Video Production
Touch Germ Block: Branding & Design • Web Design • Social Media Design & Marking • Video Production • APP Dev.
Professional Experience:
Katz & Associates
San Diego | Los Angeles | San Francisco
Art Director - May 2018 - Current
Horizon Christian Fellowship, Rancho Santa Fe, CALIF
Creative Arts Director, Graphic Designer - January 2004 - 2017
As the Creative Director, I am responsible for the creative process for designing, creating and executing all creative elements used in weekend worship services as well as the brand management and communication channels for the church and ministries. Along with those tasks I lead the Video and Graphics team working with them directly on all design projects.
Weekly tasks:
Bulletin Design • Flyer Design • Sermon Branding • Web Design & Management • Live Production Design • Manage All Printing
Work with Outside Vendors • Manage Creative Team • Work with Senior Staff • Marketing & Large Campaign Design • Maintain Church Branding
Key Achievements:
Developed brand standards for Horizon during a strong season of growth for the church • Built a creative team for Horizon to execute excellence in the community through design • Created effective presentations on a weekly basis for the weekend services to set a new standard for design in ministry at Horizon • Developing stage designs that complimented the sermon series branding on a weekend basis.
Dikaioo Restaurant, Encinitas, CALIF
Lead Independent Designer, January 2003 - January 2004
I was given the opportunity to create a restaurant concept from the ground up. The tasks included: logo and brand development, website, menu design, ad campaigns for all marketing and advertising, merchandise design: t-shirts etc., interior design i.e. color, design of tables and booths, wall finishes, color and layout.
Key Achievements:
Develop a brand independently from logo to interior design having all the creative tasks assigned to me. Executing at a level of agency work.
Father Joe's Villages, San Diego, CALIF
Senior Graphic Designer, May 2002 - June 2003
As the Senior Graphic Designer, I worked directly with the Communications Director on all Design and Marketing Projects as well with Father Joe Carroll on the larger Capital Projects.
Monthly tasks:
Monthly Newspaper Design • Capital Campaign Design • Direct Mail Design • Logo Design • Working with Inner City Youth Teaching Art Classes
Launching the first annual Thanksgiving Day Run/Walk Campaign • TV/Radio Commercials
Key Achievements:
Re-brand of all the logos used at Father Joe's Villages • Developing Brand Standards for the organization. Redesign of the "Village News" for their monthly Newspaper.
I-Street Magazine, Chicago, IL
Art Director, January 2000 - May 2002
As the Art Director, I was responsible for working directly with the editor and copywriters on a monthly magazine publication that covered the dot.com technology start-up scene of Chicago. i-Street magazine was a full color tabloid production.
Monthly tasks:
Paginate and layout the monthly magazine • Work with writers on design and photo/illustrations for articles • Work directly with printer for press checks
Key Achievements:
I was hired to redesign the magazine and give it a new look via layout, photo and editorial design to build consistency of the brand and through the website.
Inside Publications, Chicago, IL
Art Director, March 1998 - January 2000
Art Director for weekly North Side family owned newspaper. Responsible for weekly layout and design of ads and editorial content.
The Post Tribune, Gary, Indiana
Graphic Designer - 1997 - 1998
Education:
Purdue Calumet - 1995, General Education
Columbia College - 1996 -1997 - Art, Audio, Creative Writing
Mac University - 1997 - QuarkXpress Certification
“There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.”
- Milton Glaser”
