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Ideas first.
Craft also first.



I hung around my uncle’s graphic design shop during the summers from the time I was 12 until I graduated high school.  I knew immediately that if I couldn’t play basketball for money, I wanted to do creative work. I stopped growing at 13, so here we are.

For the past 16 years I've worked as a Creative Director, Art Director, and Writer. 

I’m currently leading a creative group across the US for Frito-Lay North America within PepsiCo – trying to help them do the best work of their careers for some of the most iconic brands in the world.

I put concept and cultural context at the heart of each brief I seek to answer. And I like collaborating with people who bring different perspectives and skill sets to make surprising work.

I love to lead and mentor teams, and I try to make the people around me energized and prolific. Mostly, by listening and then doing all that I can to make everyone’s jobs easier.

Some of my favorite work falls firmly in the “other” category.  The ideas that can often be relegated to the back of the deck to the forefront.  Ideas that people choose to spend time with and ultimately earn media.

I’ve been told that I’m a calming force with a good sense of humor. I’ve had nice colleagues. 

Most importantly – I want to make compelling things with nice people.

To get in touch, please email me at schaffer.matthew@gmail.com


Experience


Currently:
Creative Director at Frito-Lay North America
AdAge In-House Agency of the Year 2021
The Drum Social Agency of the Year 2022
Led creative awarded at One Show, ADC, The Webby Awards, ANA

Past (full-time):
Deutsch
Euro RSCG (Havas)
Cramer-Krasselt
Past (freelance):
Mekanism
Edelman
Pereira & O'Dell
The Fader
The Martin Agency
the community
BBDO


Education


Savannah College of Art and Design
BFA, Advertising Design

Rochester Institute of Technology
BS Program, New Media Publishing

Cannes Lions
Creative Excellence Master Class


Awards & Recognition


Communication Arts
Luerzer's Archive
Cannes
The One Show
ADC
London International
The Shorty Awards
The Webbys
Innovations in Diversity Awards
Sabre Awards
PR Week Awards
David Ogilvy Awards
Billboard
Hypebeast
The New York Times
Fast Company
Forbes
Esquire
The Source
XXL
Hot97
Complex
Pitchfork
okayplayer
Paper
Highsnobiety
O, The Oprah Magazine