About Me

I am a designer and letterpress printer who has worked in the industry since 1995. I began my career at Krieger Ragsdale and Co, Inc. in the pre-press department and went on to co-found Semisans, Inc (a design firm) and Dyspepsidisc (a record label) with longtime friend and collaborator Aaron Tanner (Melodic Virtue). I am now operating Matt Wagner Design, a multi-disciplinary design studio where I continue to design for local and international companies and not-for-profit institutions. I have won numerous ADDY awards and had my work featured in many international design magazines, books and traveling exhibitions. I am very active in the community here in Evansville, IN where I serve on as many committees as I can and do pro-bono work for local non-profits. I serve as Vice President of the Evansville Design Group, I am on the Ivy Tech Community College Visual Communications Advisory Committee, the Henderson County High School Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee and mentor students whenever I can.

I am a collaborator. I believe that the highest level of work is achieved when you surround yourself with people who are better and smarter than you. I am fortunate to have a network of talented friends, locally and across the country, that I can bring together to complete any project. You will see their names and their influences all over my website. My work is a testament to our collaboration.

For me, design is a lifestyle, not a job. I love what I do and people I do it for.

The Studio

Opened in 1890 and built from Indiana limestone, the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse is an Evansville icon. I am fortunate to be able to share such a grand and inspiring studio space with two great friends and respected designers Aaron Tanner (Melodic Virtue) and Rachel Wambach (Sprout Design). The studio is located in suite 301 on the third floor. Together and with the help of a some friends, we were able to bring the room, with solid oak floors and 12 foot arched windows, back to life after years of neglect. Our studio gives us a place to display our continually evolving collection of old Evansville memorabilia and vintage printing and bindery equipment, some of which we use in our work everyday.

The building was designed by architect Henry W. Wolters of Louisville, Kentucky and constructed by Charles Pearce & Company of Indianapolis. The bell tower is 216 feet high and the distinctive sound is a welcome distraction every hour. In addition to it's copper capped domes, the building is covered with beautiful and intricate carvings depicting everything from human figures to vegetables, fruits, and flowers indigenous to the area. These are all the work of Franz Engelsmann.

To celebrate their 100th anniversary, the Evansville Bar Association renovated the old courtroom on the second floor. I was hired to design a history room adjacent to main courtroom. It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the restoration and revitalization of such a magnificent room in our building. The building is being renovated slowly but surely and we hope that it will be back to it's original luster in the coming years. Feel free to stop by anytime for a visit, we love to show people around!

 

Contact

Matt Wagner Design
201 N.W. 4th Street
Evansville, IN 47708

(812) 455-2180