Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Mayer.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My interest in design began in high school, when I stumbled into a newly offered commercial art class as a junior. I didn’t really know what graphic design was—I mostly wanted to make a logo for my ska band. That class set me on a path that would eventually become a career.
After briefly attending college, I spent the next decade immersed in the DC metro and Baltimore music scene, designing posters, stickers, and logos for bands while teaching myself Adobe. I eventually moved to Baltimore to pursue graphic design full-time, and over the years, my work has included extensive packaging design and marketing collateral for the health and wellness industries, including CBD and nutritional products, as well as more recent work in biomedical research and science communications with organizations such as the Institute for Genome Sciences and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Today, typography and type history have become central to my practice. My MFA research at the University of Baltimore explores typeface revivals, refreshes, and remixes, with a particular focus on Baltimore’s type-design history and the designers, printers, and foundries that helped shape it. It feels like a natural progression from what has interested me throughout my career: music, design, typography, and the history behind what we make.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been smooth at all. There were plenty of hiccups along the way and periods when I questioned whether I was actually going anywhere. I spent years building a career while figuring out the business of being a designer, learning new software, taking on whatever work came my way, and developing a voice of my own. I also took a pretty unconventional route with my education and didn’t finish my bachelor’s degree until I was 40. Going back to school after spending so many years in the profession was scary, but it also gave me a completely different perspective. I realized that I wasn’t starting over—I was bringing more than 20 years of experience into a new chapter.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is rooted in typography, color, and a little bit of punk-rock attitude. I specialize in packaging, poster, and publication design, and I’ve always been drawn to work with a strong visual voice. I like dynamic typography, vivid color, unexpected combinations, and energetic designs. A lot of my early design education came from making posters, stickers, and promotional materials for bands, and that influence is still very much present in my work today.
I’m particularly proud of my poster work because it lets me push typography and color in ways that aren’t always possible in more practical design projects. I enjoy balancing communication and experimentation—making something that grabs your attention but still works as a piece of design.
My professional work has also given me wide-ranging experience designing within the health and wellness industry, particularly packaging and marketing materials. I’ve worked on everything from CBD and nutritional products to biomedical research and science communications. I think that combination—commercial design experience paired with a genuine obsession with typography and design history—sets my work apart. I can work within very particular constraints, but I’m always looking for an opportunity to make the work a little more interesting.
What makes you happy?
I’m happiest when I’m creating something. Whether that’s writing music or designing a poster, I love taking an idea and turning it into something real. I also enjoy collecting records and design ephemera like matchbooks and adverts from the 50s and 60s, riding my bike, baseball, jazz, funk, punk, and spending time with my family and my dog.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://matthewscottmayer.carbonmade.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hew_dsgn/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedominokid/
