Dave Mattfield is the Creative Director of Presentation Design at VerdanaBold. Dave has over ten years of presentation design experience and is our resident expert at taking complicated process graphics and data charts and distilling them down to visually beautiful designs that anyone can understand.
When he’s not helping create kick-ass presentations at VerdanaBold, you can find him spending quality time with his wife and five-year-old, cloistered away in a dimly lit studio making loud noises with his band, or riding his bike all over Chicago.
---
What aspect of your personality adds the most value to your work at VerdanaBold?
Before I went to art school, I went to engineering school because I happened to be good at math. I eventually realized that engineering wasn’t for me, but I am eternally grateful for the experience. Having that left-right brain balance makes me especially enjoy tackling complicated infographics and data visualization.
How do you measure the success of your designs at VerdanaBold?
Judging the success of a project is all a bit relative; in our line of work, we are often asked to enhance or rethink existing presentation collateral. When we are able to re-think the story, consider the content and apply high design principles to the often under-considered medium of presentation design, the before and after results are dramatic.
If you were to start a company from scratch, what values would you build it on?
For Danielle and me, this question is not-so-hypothetical. For me, an unwavering commitment to quality work is at the top the list. Always striving to deliver an excellent product, in a way, IS our brand. Beyond the work, I want everyone to feel good about showing up every day. To me, that means fostering an environment of mutual respect, inclusivity and being mindful of the work-life balance.
Would you rather: no La Croix in the office fridge or no espresso machine on the office counter?
As a coffee lover, it pains me to say this, but I would rather give up the espresso machine than relinquish my La Croix. The former is an occasional indulgence, whereas I might collapse into a paralyzing withdrawal without my La Croix.
What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago?
Is it weird that I’m the most self-conscious about this question out of all of them? Chicago is such a passionate food city, I hope others don’t read into this as much as I am. There is an empanada place in my neighborhood called Merla’s Kitchen. It’s a cozy joint with a small menu, but EVERYTHING is killer. I dream about that place.
What are three things still left on your bucket list?
1. Write, direct and produce a short film. 2. Visit all the continents save for Antarctica (I endured plenty of cold winters growing up). 3. Walk out of Whole Foods spending less than $50.