CREATIVE DIRECTOR, DESIGN PACKAGING AND FORMA STRUCTURAL PACKAGING
Evelio Mattos is the award-winning Creative Director of both Design Packaging, and FORMA Structural Packaging, as well as the Editor in Chief of The Dieline Packaging Blog. Evelio’s reputation as a leading structural and visual packaging designer for global brands has led to collaborative partnerships that span industries including fashion & beauty, tech, and wine & spirits. With extensive experience beyond visual design, including streamlining and retooling manufacturing processes, material development, and color management, he’s launched the first ever “Creative Production” team with Design Packaging. The team reinterprets each visual designer’s intent into production-ready files by applying design-thinking to manufacturing, delivering on-screen expectations to an in-hand experience. Additionally, Evelio recently launched FORMA, a structure-only packaging design firm that architects memorable unboxing experiences through structural design. This approach to packaging and structure has retained clients that include Coach, DKNY, Barneys New York, Birchbox, Anagrama, Pentagram, and most recently Lily Pulitzer. Evelio believes that ideas are meant to be shared, not owned. This belief is evident with the release of “Packaging & Dielines: The Designer’s Book of Packaging Dielines 1, and 2”. These two books contain dielines free to download, design, and share. Similarly, FORMA Structural Packaging has released a library of 3D structures available to download that enable designers to visualize their packaging design in presentation ready renders.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN? WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
I was born in Cali, Colombia and having grown up with a wanderlust father I’ve lived all over the world. Scottsdale AZ has become my basecamp.
DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?
I attended several design programs around the country during my time in the Marine Corps as well as apprenticed under various craftsmen, designers, and artists.
LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty
MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
24/7
FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU’VE ALWAYS IDENTIFIED WITH?
I’ve always loved the blind determination shown by both Howard Roark in Fountainhead and the unnamed protagonist from Hamsun’s Hunger.
ARE YOU MUSICAL AND/OR DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
Short answer, no. Long answer, no, but I secretly wish I was in Slayer.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TV SHOW?
Different Strokes, Jeffersons, Gilligan, Threes’s Company, What’s Happening, Hannah-Barbera, I could go on.
ANY PETS?
A 13 year old Queensland Healer named Logan
WHAT LANGUAGES ARE YOU FLUENT IN?
Spanish and English
FAVORITE MOVIE?
American Werewolf in London. I was 5 and it scared me to death and changed my life.
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
I’ve been a fan of Donald Robertson ever since seeing his work taped to the walls of the Violet Grey offices behind the Chateau Marmot.
FAVORITE CHARITY?
K9s for Warriors
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Hiking, climbing, or swimming in Sedona with my family.
WHAT’S THE LAST COMPLIMENT YOU GOT?
Compliments make me blush.
DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING?
No, collecting anything is a gateway to hoarding everything.
COLOR USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
White
TYPEFACE USED MOST OFTEN?
In package design, it is never a personal preference.
DO YOU HAVE A DESIGN MENTOR OR INSPIRATION?
I love this question. Angie Miller, Timo Von Thyman Merrering, Steve King, Chris Turbyfill, Marsha Ray and, of course, my mom and dad. I can’t emphasize how important it is to find a mentor. And as you mature so should your choice in mentors. Find a mentor right now. If you can’t, contact me. Seriously.
GREATEST STRENGTH/WEAKNESS AS A DESIGNER?
Collaborative and competitive.
ADVICE TO A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
Be fearless, set goals, learn print production.
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
I’d still be in the Marine Corps
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
Train Big, Fight Big.
