Matt Checkowski is a catalyst for innovation at the intersection of design, technology, and culture.

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 pioneering work as a multidisciplinary artist has propelled audiences into the future, including Glyph, a conversational A.I. artwork 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. Dedicated to the power of design and storytelling for driving positive change, the agency has worked across science, education, and civic initiatives, including conservation in Madagascar’s rainforest, the search for habitable exoplanets, and championing first-generation college students to rewrite what’s possible.

An accomplished filmmaker, he 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, the NY 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.

He serves on the board of Young Storytellers, a youth arts nonprofit that’s been elevating diverse voices for over 25 years, helping to position the organization for a new chapter of impact.

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