Matt Edwards is a creative director currently working at Johannes Leonardo in New York. Previously he was working at Y&R Prague. He has worked in the creative industry for the past 15 years in various fields ranging from design and publishing to digital content creation and advertising.
The South African born creative’s portfolio features work for clients such as Adidas, TripAdvisor, Biolit, Harley Davidson, MTN, Betadine, Wimpy and NYCFC.
Most recently he has focused his efforts on the Adidas Originals business as creative director where he currently oversees all global creative communication work across the brand.
His work has been awarded at the highest level at Cannes, Clio, D&AD, One Show, NY Festivals, LIAs, Golden Drum, Eurobest, Young Guns, ADC Czech Republic, Ciclope Festival and Loeries South Africa. Most recently winning the Grand Prix for Music Entertainment at the 2017 Cannes Lions Festival (5 lions in total) and 7 Clios at this years awards for the Original is never Finished Campaign for adidas.
Work Experience
Goodby Silverstein & Partners - San Francisco
Creative Director
BMW, HP, Specialized Bikes, Adobe
2019 - Current
Johannes Leonardo - New York
Creative Director
Adidas, NYCFC, TripAdvisor, Miller Lite, Google
2014 - 2019
Y&R - Prague
Creative Director
Ceska Sporitelna, Staropramen, Savo, Forbes
2013 - 2014
Y&R - Prague
Art Director
Ceska Sporitelna, Staropramen, Savo, Biolit, Harley Davidson, Betadine
2011 - 2012
Metropolitanrepublic - Johannesburg
Art Director
MTN, First National Bank, Wimpy, Aveng Group
2010 - 2011
Matchboxology - Johannesburg
Art Director
Footballers For Life, Oppikoppi, Scrutinize
2009
One Small Seed Magazine - Cape Town
Art Director / Designer
2008
Blunt Magazine - Durban
Art Director / Designer
2007
Ctrl Media - Cape Town
Designer
2005 – 2006
Freelance - Cape Town
Designer
2004
Silver Banana Design Studio - Cape Town
Designer
2002 – 2003
Honours and Notables
Recognition at the following Advertising and Design Awards and in publications including:
Cannes
D&AD
Clios
One Show
New York Festival
Young Guns
Eurobest
AICP
Golden Drum
Prague International Advertising Festival
ADC Czech Republic
Le Book
Loerie Awards
Lurzers Archive
Itch Magazine
Other Notables
2021
HP Windows of Hope wins at ADC and One Show.
BMW Calm Wash wins at ADC.
Numerous shortlists at the Webby Awards.
Invited to Judge AICP.
2020
Adobe Creativity for All wins at Webby Awards,
Art Directors Club, D&AD and AICP.
Invited to Judge New York Festivals.
2019
AICP Soundtrack for Adidas.
AICP Editing for Adidas.
Invited to Judge Advertising and Design Club of Canada Awards.
2018
Awarded Grand Prix at Clio Sports.
Awarded Gold Global Effie for Adidas.
2017
Awarded Grand Prix at Cannes Lions.
2016
Pitches Won: NYCFC
Awarded two Golds at Cannes Lions.
2014
Pitches Won: Adidas Originals, TripAdvisor
Invited to judge at New York Festivals.
2013
Pitches Won: GE Money Bank & RWE Electricity
2012
Pitches Won: Savo Cleaning Products & Biolit Insect Repelent
2011
Pitches Won: MTN Business, MTN Global
2010
Pitches Won: MTN Uganda
South African Music Award Nomination: Best Packaging Design
2009
Featured in Fly On The Walls feature length Documentary about the cultural impact of Fokofpolisiekar
2008
Created a range for Levis South Africa
Designed a range of skateboards for Revolution
2005
Invited to exhibit at Design Indaba as an Emerging Creative
2003
Invited to speak on SpectrumFM about the changing face of South African design
Publications
Conde Nast
Le Book
Colors Notebook Germany
Chew
weareawesome.com
Sub-Urban
Brand
Chew
Elle Décor
Itch
Session
One Small Seed
Blunt
Group Exhibitions
Computer Club
Whatiftheworld
Cape Town
South Africa
Us vs. Them
Berlin
Germany
Out Of Order
The Bin
Cape Town
South Africa