Welcome to the online portfolio of Matt Macri, a Connecticut based (and NYC-adjacent) graphic designer with over ten years of experience in print and interactive design. A designer by trade, I also possess a working knowledge of user interface design and frontend development.
To build buzz for the launch of their new line of Metris vans, Mercedes-Benz wanted to make a splash at the SEMA specialty auto equipment show in Las Vegas. Mission: METRIS was the solution; a social media and experiential activation in which show-goers voted for their favorite of 4 modified Metris vans, using hashtags on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Voters’ posts were displayed in real time on a custom video board archway. Mercedes-Benz branding and voting instructions were displayed throughout the booth, and info about each custom van was displayed on a video board accompanying each van. Agency: Torque Creative/Mercedes-Benz USA.
Along with launching a redesigned website, Xerox needed an overhaul of their online Global Citizenship Report, an annual report detailing the company’s commitment to the environment, their community, workplace diversity, and their customers. Hundreds of pages worth of articles and information were organized and designed to be easily navigable and digestible, staying within the look of the new site while allowing the report to have a personality of its own. Agency: Scrum50.
In 2011, Bacardi's Corzo Tequila underwent a brand visual identity update. Part of this project was the complete redesign of their website, shifting from a self-contained flash site to a more mobile-friendly HTML/JQuery site, and incorporating animated page builds. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
A print ad for the August 2013 issue of Seventeen Magazine, touting Five Star's new line of Locker Organization products. After many internal rounds of creative, this clean, black-and-white layout was chosen to stand out against the ultra-colorful layout of Seventeen Magazine. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
Barbara's ran a sweepstakes offering a gift to Moms for purchasing Puffins or Snackimals cereals. Following in-store signage, shoppers would make their purchase and submit a photo of their receipt to enter. Animated web banners led users to a responsive site where they could receive valuable coupons, or to upload their recipt to enter. Agency: Colangelo Synergy Marketing.
Mercedes-Benz introduced a new CRM platform for their dealers called TouchPoint AMP, and needed a well-organized educational launch package to drive usage. The three different sized pages in the packet create a "tabbed" system, keeping the information in order, and TouchPoint AMP's vibrant oranges grab attention when paired with the premium Mercedes-Benz look. Agency: Torque Creative/Mercedes-Benz USA.
Copenhagen Smokeless Tobacco ran a promotion in which users could request free decorative lids for their tobacco tins. The microsite displayed a wooden box of assorted lids which the user could "shake" to uncover more, adding a fun, engaging twist to the average giveaway promotion. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
In 2009, Hawaiian Tropic presented a challenging project: Redesign their website with new visual assets, typography, colors, etc, without changing the site structure. Less of a redesign, more of a re-skin. The new look, designed to match the brand's new visual identity, is active to this day. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
Thinkers & DEWAR'S, a microsite for fans of DEWAR'S Scotch Whisky, offered quarterly updates that featured cocktail recipes, food pairings, promotions, contests and other unique content. One such promotion, Studio D, invited users to artfully photograph the newly redesigned DEWAR'S bottles for a chance to win a DSLR camera and other great photography gear. In 2010, Thinkers and DEWAR'S was nominated for an OMMA award for Web Site Excellence in the Food & Beverage category. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
Poland Spring looked to Facebook to introduce their new line of flavored water, Nature's Blends™. Users could explore the 7 Nature's Blends flavors, and take a short quiz to determine what flavor is right for them. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
DEWAR'S Proshop, the web presence for DEWARS' yearly golf promotion, housed cocktail recipes, promotions, games, and other golf-related content. Animated flash banners were developed yearly to drive to the site and it's related promotions. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
In 2008, the Cope Chop Shop was developed to promote U.S. Smokeless Tobacco's new offering, "Cope". The flash microsite allowed users to create and submit custom motorcycles, walking through every major step of the build process, from frame to finish. Each submitted bike was an entry to a cash sweepstakes, and thousands of bikes were submitted. Agency: Ryan Partnership.
Established in 2009, Rec-league beach volleyball team Blood, Sweat and Beers needed a logo, t-shirts, tank-tops, and a Facebook page to communicate with its ever-growing fan base. Volleyball skills notwithstanding, the team always stands out with its eye-catching uniforms and social media presence. A personal project.
Freelanced for up-and-coming agency Scrum50 on the Xerox 2015 Global Citizenship Report project. A huge undertaking with many moving parts, the Global Citizenship Report required the development of multiple visual systems, within an existing design language, to communicate over a hundred pages worth of data and articles. Designed the overall look and feel of the reports’ individual section landing pages, as well as page elements that would live across multiple areas of the site. Also responsible for developing a family of icons that could be used site-wide, that reflected Xerox’s existing infographic style.
Began freelancing as a Digital Senior Art Director at Colangelo Synergy Marketing in Darien, CT. Contributed to a wide range of online promotions, banner ads, social media activations and responsive website designs for clients such as Arm & Hammer, Weetabix, Nair and Trojan. While in the freelance role, was tasked with presenting work to clients, coordinating with print and packaging design teams, and giving guidance and direction to junior art directors.
Brought on as a freelance Art Director at Mercedes-Benz USA’s in-house creative agency, Torque Creative. Produced work primarily for the After Sales and Sprinter Van accounts, ranging from dealer/service information kits to trade show social media engagements. Responsible for projects from concept stage to production, including any necessary planning with third-party vendors.
Started as a Designer and continued as an Art Director at Ryan Partnership in Wilton, CT. Worked on numerous brands for a variety of clients, including Bacardi, Energizer, Mead/Five Star, and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco. Contributed to many digital campaigns, creating microsites, emails, rich-media banners, branded Facebook/Twitter pages and full brand websites. Also gained experience on print projects, including packaging design, in-store displays and direct mail. Won the company's V.A.S.E. award in 2008, a special recognition given each year to a select few employees organization-wide.
Worked as a Web Designer for FreeLife International, a health and wellness multi-level marketing company. Designed and coordinated email blasts, and updated the weekly e-newsletter site SuccessWeek Online. Redesigned many of SuccessWeek Online's graphics and ads.
Contracted as a production artist/designer for General Physics' branch in Mystic, Connecticut. Produced Flash animations and interactions, created illustrations and edited photos to be used in interactive e-learning modules. Collaborated with a design team and contributed to multiple projects for various clients.
Earned a bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design. Studied under Randall Hoyt, Mark Zurolo, Juliette Cezzar and Prem Krishnamurthy.
Interned as a designer for this Meriden, CT based web design firm. Started on an after-school basis in High School, and continued working summer and winter breaks while attending the University of Connecticut. Worked on several projects in varying capacities, from layout and graphic design to Flash animation and HTML coding. Worked on the team that created the company's current logo/identity. Worked under an Art Director in a small studio environment.
