Matt Holben is a designer, printer, and artist. His current practice is driven by a desire to communicate with himself, others, and the world via language and a variety of mediums and techniques. Having developed a keen interest in letterpress printing, he moved towards graphic design as a means to mesh new skills and technologies with those of the past. Drawn specifically to the handmade element of printing; he often seeks out ways to incorporate this handmade feeling into digital design projects, even if it is not always the quickest or easiest way to do things. An undergraduate degree in botany has also proven to be vital in his design work. The necessary attention to detail, step-by-step processes, and repetition found in experimental procedures have had a profound impact on his workflow as a designer.
Recently, he has been experimenting with Risograph printing, incorporating previously created work within new work. This has allowed the revisitation and reimagination of previous work within a new medium. One of the most essential qualities of his work is the use of constraints as a means to encourage creative solutions and prevent decision paralysis. Constraints present themselves in many ways: through the technology being used, the size of the materials, even the materials at hand. By accepting one (or more) of these constraints, he dives deeper and more quickly into the conceptual aspects of the work.
Another key part of his practice, especially with print, is the idea of layering. Building up layers of ink to create new forms and colors, both purposefully and unintentionally is extremely satisfying. This way of working is a metaphor for how humans travel through life. That is, each experience and interaction changes them in a variety of ways, both consciously and subconsciously. People truly are the sum of their experiences: they would not be the same without them. Similarly, each print would not be the same without all the overlapping and interacting layers.