I’m a Detroit-area art director, designer, and visual storyteller producing advertising, illustration, and typographic work for retail, corporate, and editorial clients. I combine concept development, hands-on design, and copywriting to create brand-driven content—from campaign visuals and digital advertising to editorial illustration and industry-focused storytelling. --- **Employment and project experience** **Senior Designer** Apple Inc. _January 2017 - March 2017_ **UX Designer** Airbnb Inc. _January 2019 - March 2019_…

Matt Johnson

I’m a Detroit-area art director, designer, and visual storyteller producing advertising, illustration, and typographic work for retail, corporate, and editorial clients. I combine concept development, hands-on design, and copywriting to create brand-driven content—from campaign visuals and digital advertising to editorial illustration and industry-focused storytelling. --- **Employment and project experience** **Senior Designer** Apple Inc. _January 2017 - March 2017_ **UX Designer** Airbnb Inc. _January 2019 - March 2019_…

Available to hire

I’m a Detroit-area art director, designer, and visual storyteller producing advertising, illustration, and typographic work for retail, corporate, and editorial clients. I combine concept development, hands-on design, and copywriting to create brand-driven content—from campaign visuals and digital advertising to editorial illustration and industry-focused storytelling.

Employment and project experience

Senior Designer Apple Inc.
January 2017 - March 2017

UX Designer Airbnb Inc.
January 2019 - March 2019

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Language

Work Experience

Creative Director at The Barrett Group
July 5, 2021 - December 15, 2025
I lead design direction and ensure brand consistency across campaigns, digital assets, and experiential visuals. Working closely with executives, I aligned creative deliverables with strategic goals and influenced key stakeholders to maintain a clear, unified brand presence. My work included developing immersive visual concepts that elevated the customer experience and reinforced brand identity, as well as producing AI-generated imagery to support weekly blog narratives and digital thought-leadership content. I also created conceptual visuals and graphics for career-focused digital initiatives, including product launches, along with animated and static ad campaigns.
Creative Director+Freelance Graphic Designer at Banker & Brisebois Advertising + Various Clients
April 15, 1998 - December 14, 2017
I developed brand narratives through a combination of design, copywriting, and visual storytelling, executing a wide range of deliverables including advertising layouts, business cards, signage, and campaign collateral. My work included editorial and conceptual illustration, freehand digital illustration, and typography-driven design tailored to consumer, dealer, and corporate audiences. I collaborated directly with clients to translate ideas into clear, engaging visual solutions, often working hands-on in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to produce high-quality creative. I also scripted and supported promotional video content and contributed to new business pitches through concept development and presentation design. With a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and communication, I delivered work that was both visually compelling and strategically aligned, helping secure new client relationships and long-term engagements.

Education

BFA-Graphic Design/Graphic Communication at College for Creative Studies
August 17, 1981 - May 10, 1985

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Retail, Professional Services
    paper Typography & Lettering Exploration

    A focused exploration of typography and custom lettering used across advertising, branding, and visual storytelling. This work emphasizes composition, readability, and expressive type as a primary design element. See https://www.twine.net/signin for examples.

    paper Editorial Illustration

    A series of editorial and conceptual illustrations developed to support storytelling across digital and print platforms. Work ranges from freehand digital illustration to stylized compositions designed to communicate complex ideas through visual narrative. See https://www.twine.net/signin for examples.