Matt Plaia is a Senior Art Director and creative strategist based in Santa Monica, where he splits his time between design, video production, and trying to convince his golden retriever, Lentil Soup, that deadlines do in fact matter as much as her walks (sometimes). His work spans collaborations across North America, Europe, and Latin America, leading brand development and marketing campaigns for a diverse clientele—from agencies to entertainment studios.

A former mental health research associate for UCLA turned creative, Matt’s advertising work for Warner Bros’ Stage 13 earned some notable recognition, including a Webby Award and multiple Telly Awards for the campaigns on “Special,” “Family Style,” and “It’s Bruno!” His interactive exhibit in Malibu, CA, “Sign-Posts On the Way to What May Be,” was showcased at the 2021 AIGA Design Educators Research Symposium, exploring the intersection of art as therapy and exhibition design. More recently, he’s been exploring how AI supports design and creative strategy, although he still prefers pencils and pastels.

In 2022, Matt led the rebranding of New York City real estate company Triplemint, which later merged with The Agency RE, where he serves as Senior Art Director and continues to lead design, creative production, and branding initiatives across various markets.