Matt Checkowski is a catalyst at the intersection of story, design, and technology, translating our complex world into deeply human experiences.

He leads global multisensory brand strategy and innovation at Mastercard, shaping one of the world’s most trusted brands, from AI-powered commerce to priceless experiences.

Matt’s work as an artist and designer has propelled audiences into the future, including Glyph, a conversational A.I. artwork exhibited and acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art (2020), the responsive visuals for MIT Media Lab’s robot opera at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (2010), and the iconic dream sequences in Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report (2002).

As founder and principal of the brand innovation agency, The Department of the 4th Dimension, Matt led category-defining partnerships across industries, reimagining perfume retail for Sephora, launching Monday Night Football for ESPN, and uncovering the University of California’s surprising impact on everyday lives. The agency’s work spanned science, education, and cultural initiatives — from the search for habitable exoplanets to conservation in Madagascar to platforms that elevate student voices.

An accomplished filmmaker, Matt directed the feature film Lies & Alibis, starring Steve Coogan and Rebecca Romijn; worked with Jamie Foxx, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tom Cruise; and introduced audiences to luminaries from all walks of life through his award-winning nonfiction projects.

Matt and his work have been profiled on HBO’s Vice News Tonite, in the New York Times, LA Times, Wired, Popular Science, and Refinery29; recognized by the Webbys, One Show, D&AD, Core77 Design Awards, and the FiFis, the “Oscars” of the fragrance industry; and selected by AFI Fest, Sarasota, and Savannah film festivals, among others.

As Vice-Chair of Young Storytellers, a youth arts nonprofit elevating the next generation of diverse voices for over 25 years, Matt led a research partnership into how kids today are changing storytelling.

Matt lives in Los Angeles, is a Massachusetts native, and a proud distinguished alumnus of NC State University.