Matty Harper

Matty Harper is unique, one-of-a-kind, and unforgettable. You’d also be accurate to say he is amazingly kind, generous, and a prodigious talent in art/creative direction. A wunderkind designer when we first met in the mid ‘90s, Matty was instrumental in setting the high design standard that defined early GLG work. He was a whiz at Macromedia Director and what he didn’t know already he would stay up all night figuring out, often right before showtime. He lived on the edge, but he also took his creative work to the edge and we absolutely loved it. It was fresh and different and felt “big.” Everything he created made us and our clients look bigger.

Matty could have stayed at GLG as long as he wanted, but as a free spirit he was destined to branch out and explore life as a solo creative director, an early partner at Rupert, and eventually owner/founder of Sparrow Estates. We hired Matty as a freelance CD many times over the years, and in early 2020 we brought him in to help art direct and build out of the visual guidelines for Microsoft Essentials. It proved once again his artistry in Photoshop and his great taste for simplifying ideas until they are simple and bold and beautiful.

The COVID pandemic had kept Matty at a distance for much of 2020 and 2021. So, when I caught up with him on the reconnect roadshow, we had a hell of a time sitting on his deck in Leschi and reminiscing about old times and days ahead. My LinkedIn post again was brief, but here it is again for posterity.

“Had a blast catching up with one of the most talented creative directors/art directors out there, Matty Harper. We ruminated on life, creativity, and the glorious future. Can’t wait to work together again. Thank you Matty!”

#branding #creative #graphicdesign