Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson

Experience Designer in Chicago

About

My background in sculpture and passion for new media collide to tell human-centered stories through interactive experiences, brand/product design, motion graphics, UI/UX, and strategic service journeys across digital and physical touchpoints.

Contact

Are.na
Behance

Work Experience

2023 — Now
Chicago, IL

An astrology app for pets! Designed to strengthen the bond between people and their furry friends by leveraging personalized, astrological insights backed by custom AI. I’ve worked across the entire project development lifecycle—approach/strategy, brand identity, UX/UI, marketing collateral, web, socials, partnerships—to bring this product to market.

2023 — Now
Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA

Two person art & design studio activating brands and products through interactive surfaces, timely content, and sensory experiences.

2020 — 2023
Product & Service Designer - Senior Manager at Capital One
Chicago, IL

Joined the Experience Strategy team to define universal practices across the organization in service of advancing maturity and empowering teams to deliver their best work. I led the Social Impact Support portfolio—focused on projects that remove barriers to new and existing community-led efforts for underserved populations.

2015 — 2020
Physical Experience Designer - Principal Assoc. at Capital One
San Francisco, CA

Established a team merging physical and digital touchpoints to create marketing activations, innovative work spaces, and engaging café experiences. I led projects, designed interiors, developed collateral, and grew a PX community of practice.

2015 — 2017
Remote

Motion design for large scale stage visuals, creative merchandise direction, and video editing for NON Records; club + noise artists from Africa and the international diaspora.

Education

2008 — 2012
Richmond, VA

The Sculpture Department welcomes a broad range of approaches: from spatial-, object- and material-based practices; to performance, film and lens-based media; from social and relational to web-based and evolving technologies.

Features

2024

Bold Journey; creating space for audiences to hear real stories overcoming challenges, leadership approaches, and living life boldly.

2022

The 1717 Innovation Center opened in 2018 as a collaborative workspace for community organizations and entrepreneurs to learn and innovate together to build a better Richmond.

Volunteering

2023 — Now
Alumni Mentor at VCUarts

Answering career questions from current students as they prepare to embark on their professional careers.

2020 — 2023
Design Probono Co-lead at Capital One

Every quarter a small team of designers collaborated to review RFPs, facilitate kickoff meetings with nonprofits, and scope ~3-5 projects for the Experience Design org as part of Capital One Pro Bono initiative.

2022 — 2023
Consultant at Grow@1717

Worked with Black owned small businesses (Soul N Vinegar, Ruby Scoops, Suzy Sno, Soul Taco) across Richmond, VA to offer design consultation, mentorship, and growth opportunities to support their missions and build a stronger community.

2019 — 2021
Consultant at Bunker Labs

Growth consultant providing business strategies, brand marketing, and workshops to help military veterans and spouses start and grow successful businesses.

2020 — 2021
Volunteer at Partnership for the Future

Virtual volunteer reviewing and editing high school students resumes for jobs and college applications in order to pursue their educational aspirations.

Speaking

2022
Design Beyond Digital
Chicago, IL

A user's experience doesn't stop at screens. This panel discussion for the Brand Creative x Experience Design Conference was a crash course in physical experience design and an exploration into future trends that are bridging the gap between physical and digital experiences.

2019
Measuring Physical Experiences
San Francisco, CA

If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Cocreator, Cheng Xu, and I introduced a toolkit that measures the success of a physical experiences – a qualitative research plan, a collection of sensors to measure quantitative data, and actionable insights delivered through a bespoke analysis software.

Writing

2018

Collaboratively developed a set of principles for creating successful immersive experiences, physical touchpoints, and spaces.

Exhibitions

2017
NON The Great Disappointment at CTM Festival
Berlin, Germany
2017
Community Emerges & Interactive Mural at SXSW
Austin, TX
2016
NON Legacy Systems at New Museem
New York City, NY
2013
GME Pop-up Shop at X-Closet
Tokyo, Japan
2012
SLICEME at Just Another Agency
Tokyo, Japan
2012
Whoomp, There it is at VCU Fine Art Building
Richmond, VA
2012
VCU Sculpture + Extended Media Senior Show
Richmond, VA
2012
SLICEME at Ran's Tea House
New York City, NY
2012
The Whiteness of the Whale at Art Basel
Miami, FL
2012
AZS at Ran's Tea House
New York, NY
2011
Solo Show: LFP at VCU Student Art Space
Richmond, VA
2010
Dirty Richmond Exhibition at Gallery 5
Richmond, VA