Matthew Bennett

I thrive on setting creative standards and leading brand vision from concept to execution. I'm energized by collaboration—especially with talented people who challenge me to grow—and I believe in honest critique as the path to better design. I'm committed to sustainable creative culture: giving teams the right tools, respecting individual differences, and protecting against burnout.

On a personal level, I draw daily and have a perpetual love affair with typography. Most of all, I just love getting to work.

Art Director at Katz & Associates (2018-05 – 2025)

Led and developed a high-performing creative team delivering award-winning campaigns across video, graphic design, illustration, animation, and web design. Spearheaded new business pitches that secured key accounts and drove significant agency growth.

• Pure Water San Diego — Comprehensive campaign development
• San Diego International Airport New T1 Construction — Created original branding for the terminal project
• Mid-Coast Trolley San Diego — Branding, logo design, and celebration event design
• NAVWAR — U.S. Naval information warfare systems project
• California High-Speed Rail — Statewide infrastructure communications
• BART San Jose & San Francisco — Bay Area rapid transit communications
• Embarcadero San Francisco — Bike lane video and renderings
• SFMTA — Quick-Build projects communications
• SANDAG — Regional transportation authority campaigns
• Recharge Fresno — Water sustainability initiative
• Aliso Canyon Health Research Study — Public health communications
• Morro Bay 'Our Water' — Community water program branding
• El Estero Santa Barbara — Environmental/water treatment communications
• City of Santa Barbara — Municipal communications
• Think Blue San Diego — Stormwater awareness campaign
• OC Streetcar — Transit project communications
• City of San Diego — Various municipal initiatives
• Sites Reservoir — Water infrastructure project
• EMWD (Eastern Municipal Water District) — Utility communications

Creative Arts Director, Graphic Designer at Horizon Christian Fellowship (2004-01 – 2017)

As the Creative Director, I was 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.

• Sermon Branding
• Manage All Printing
• Work with Outside Vendors
• Manage Creative Team
• Work with Senior Staff
• Maintain Church Branding
• 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

Lead Independent Designer at Dikaioo Restaurant (2003-01 – 2004-01)

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.

• Develop a brand independently from logo to interior design having all the creative tasks assigned to me
• Executing at a level of agency work

Senior Graphic Designer at Father Joe's Villages (2002-05 – 2003-06)

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.

• Launching the first annual Thanksgiving Day Run/Walk Campaign
• TV/Radio Commercials
• Re-brand of all the logos used at Father Joe's Villages
• Redesign of the 'Village News' for their monthly newspaper publication

Art Director at I-Street Magazine (2000-01 – 2002-05)

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.

• Paginate and layout the monthly magazine
• Work with writers on design and photo/illustrations for articles
• Work directly with printer for press checks
• 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

Art Director at Inside Publications (1998-03 – 2000-01)

Art Director for weekly Chicago North Side family owned newspaper. Responsible for weekly layout and design of ads and editorial content.

Graphic Designer at The Post Tribune (1997 – 1998)

Lead designer for the automotive and real estate newspaper sections. Developed multiple ad campaigns, created custom graphics for the editorial department, ran 4 color process film to press plates for the press team and implemented the first PDFs to print/film for the art department.

General Education – Purdue Calumet (1995 – 1995)

Art, Audio, Creative Writing – Columbia College (1996 – 1997)

Certification in QuarkXpress – Mac University (1997 – 1997)