This document outlines the career timeline of Matt Stevens, a designer and illustrator from North Carolina. It shows his early career working various jobs to gain experience, followed by 12 years looking for stability at one company. He then spent a year doing freelance and personal projects while not sleeping well. This led him to start his own design office, taking the leap to be self-employed. The document provides details on the types of work he does, clients, timelines, and experiments. It concludes with lessons learned, such as fighting to do work you're passionate about and putting your own work out there to attract the right clients.

1. FIGHT TO DO THE WORK YOU LOVE

2. MATT STEVENS | Designer + Illustrator from North Carolina

3. fig.2013
The Definitive and Authoritative
Timeline of My Design Career
23 41
Not so great
“Right out of School”
Jobs
4 YEARS
PAYING DUES

4. fig.2013
The Definitive and Authoritative
Timeline of My Design Career
23 41
One Job
Sr. Designer
Creative Dir.
12 YEARS
LOOKING FOR STABILITY

5. fig.2013
The Definitive and Authoritative
Timeline of My Design Career
23 41
Freelance &
Personal Projects
1 YEAR
NOT SLEEPING

6. fig.2013
The Definitive and Authoritative
Timeline of My Design Career
23 41
the Design Office
of Matt Stevens
1.5 YEARS
THE LEAP

7. the Design Office
of Matt Stevens
50%
Brand & Identity
50%Illustration

8. Clients
35Different Clients

9. Average
Payment Time
36Days

10. Weight Gain
20Pounds

11. Self Indulgent
References
06Batman / VW References

12. Self Indulgent
References
07Batman / VW References

13. I almost died
02Projects I really wanted
but did not get

14. Experiments & Personal Projects

15. Batman

49. A thorough exploration of the graphic
program surrounding a historic presidency
A thoughtful exploration of design
philosophy and thinking

50. *A book of 100 Shoes

65. MAX100 IN 60 SECONDS
Do not watch: if you are a nursing mother, prone to motion
sickness or hate shoes for some reason.

67. D U S E L D O R F F G E R M A N Y

69. D U B A I / U A E

70. D U B A I / U A E

71. D U B A I / U A E

81. Putting pop culture in a safe place for later.

89. “Sir, please let go.”

107. ******STOLEN LOGO******

110. A blatant rip-off
of an unofficial version
of a real mascot
for a pretend rebrand
that I did because
I was burned out.

124. Client Work

143. TAKEOUT
take
take
out
take
out
out

162. Unofficial
Mr. Badge Guy

191. Can anyone say...
Nate Salciccioli

192. natesayshello.com

193. Hello.

196. Hello.

205. Editorial and Brand
Illustration

227. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:

228. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:

229. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:
The best clients are clients that
want your unique perspective.
(and have money)

230. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:
To attract that kind of client, put work out
there that shows the world how you think &
what you’re passionate about.
(make up projects if you have to)

231. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:
Weird Works
Brands are looking for
something new.

232. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:
You make your own
momentum.

233. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:
Doing work you care about is a battle.
Fight to find those projects.
Fight to connect to the ones you have.

234. In Conclusion / Lessons Learned:
Fight to do the work you love.

235. Thanks!
hellomattstevens.com | @mattstevensclt