2 Days in Miami
For some reason I imagined setting down in Miami, after our flight from Frankfurt, and...
Chad Matthew Danford
Creative Director | Front-End Developer | Photographer
In February 1999, I landed my first professional job at an advertising agency in Essen, Germany. I crafted my first Bewerbung using Microsoft Word and convinced my parents to invest $100 to send my B.F.A. portfolio—packed in my now-infamous silver case. I was hired on the spot and asked if I could start the following Monday.
Skills that make an impact
Blending design, code, and creativity to craft meaningful experiences.
Art Direction
Great design tells a story. I craft visual narratives that connect and endure—defining brand identities, shaping campaigns, and refining aesthetics with clarity and purpose.
Frontend Development
I merge design and technology to build intuitive, engaging interfaces. Clean code and thoughtful details turn concepts into seamless digital experiences that balance beauty and function.
Photography
I first explored photography during my design studies and later rediscovered it as a missing creative link. It’s my way to observe, slow down, and capture light, detail, and emotion—stories only the lens can tell.
Wait, I’m in Charge?
Turns out leading design means more than picking colors.
As Head of Art Direction since 2021, I built a design team, defined workflows, and gave the brand a clear, consistent voice. I led projects from concept to launch, mentored designers, and turned design into a strategic part of the business.
Work
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OKLCH Color Scheme
When I set out to define the color system for this project, I wanted something...
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Calumet HQ
Almost a year before Calumet’s Hamburg headquarters move-in date (Fall 2024), I was asked to...
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Calumet Email Newsletter
The story of the newsletter started back when I was still a senior developer/designer on...
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Long Weekend in Paris
The German train system was supposed to be on-time and dependable. Or so I thought,...
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Calumet Rebranding
The Challenge Calumet, Germany’s largest online retailer for camera and video equipment, needed a brand...
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Calumet B2B Video
Sometimes, the best way to reconnect with your creative roots is to just dive in....
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Hiddensee Summer
Hiddensee feels like stepping out of time. The island has a quiet rhythm of its...
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Street Shots from Hamburg
Some days the only time to shoot is in the margins — a few minutes...
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Heide in the Corona Time
During the months of lockdown, when the world felt smaller than ever, we found space...
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Wempe Diamond Week
Display Animation for Wempe’s Diamond Week Before joining the advertising agency as a senior art...
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Wempe Customer Services Booklet
At the beginning of 2020, I had the opportunity to design an exclusive customer services...
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Bree Web Redesign
In early 2020, I led a two-week design sprint focused on rapidly building and testing...
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Wempe Weekly Email Newsletter
For Wempe, one of Germany’s most renowned jewelers, we developed a weekly email newsletter that...
Snapshots & Stories
A glimpse behind the lens
My Instagram is where creativity meets everyday life. From behind-the-scenes moments to spontaneous captures, it’s a space to share glimpses of inspiration, process, and the visual ideas that shape my work.
Contact
Let’s talk. If you’d like to collaborate, discuss a project, or just connect, drop me a note below. I’ll get back to you soon.
© 2025 | Chad Matthew Danford