Why DigitasLBi’s Matthew Jacobson practises the art of magic | Creative Pursuits
By day, Matthew Jacobson is the global executive design director of DigitasLBi. By night, he transforms into his magical alter-ego, with tricks and illusions he’s practiced since he was seven years old.
It was his grandfather who first introduced him to the craft as a way of building his confidence as a young boy. Pretty soon he became known as Detroit’s youngest magician and toured his own curated performance, the Magical Matt Jacobson show, at local fairs and parties.
It was the alluring imagery of old magicians’ posters that inspired Jacobson to take up design as a career. However he still continues to hone his skills of trickery on the stage.
"It’s so easy online to shop for magic," he said. "I watch a lot of magic, I read a lot about magic and I still enjoy performing it. Sometimes, in a work setting, I’m able to infuse a little bit of magic into presentations I might be giving to clients.
"It’s unexpected and fun and hopefully leaves them with something they remember."
Catch up with more Creative Pursuits with the likes of Ian Haworth, Lolly Morris and Sarah Levitt.
Other episodes in the series
Episode 1
Why Wunderman’s Ian Haworth goes cold water swimming at 6am every day | Creative Pursuits
Introducing Creative Pursuits, The Drum’s new video series uncovering the weird and wonderful hobbies undertaken by the industry’s marketing matter. First up is Wunderman executive creative director Ian Haworth, who rises with the lark six days a week to swim in Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake.
Episode 2
Why Iris’s Lolly Morris doodles pictures of strangers’ selfies | Creative Pursuits
In the second episode of Creative Pursuits, The Drum asks why Iris’ design director Lolly Morris has created the alter ego of Stalker Doodle – an anonymous Instagram artist that recreates strangers’ selfies in Post-It note form.
Episode 3
Why Saatchi & Saatchi’s Mia Silverman collects KitKat wrappers | Creative Pursuits
When she’s not creating work in her role as art director at Saatchi & Saatchi, Mia Silverman enjoys football, drawing and painting. But her most unusual hobby is adding to her 13-year-old collection of KitKat wrappers.
Episode 4
Why McCann’s Dom Butler co-founded a feminist Christmas tree angel brand | Creative Pursuits
Women To Look Up To, the side project of McCann London creative Dom Butler, marries modern feminist idols with the traditional festive tradition of placing an angel on top of the Christmas tree.
Episode 5
Why Now’s Sarah Levitt makes alcoholic candyfloss | Creative Pursuits
A trip to Japan inspired Now's associate creative director to create her own brand of candyfloss – infused with alcohol in true Soho style. Sarah Levitt tells the story of Sweet Mother Fluffer in the latest episode of Creative Pursuits.
Episode 7
Why Code Computerlove's Louis Georgiou has collected 1,500+ Transformers | Creative Pursuits
Louis Georgiou, Code Computerlove’s co-founder and managing director, is a self-proclaimed obsessive character – a trait no better illustrated than by his collection of more than 1,500 Transformers figurines.
Episode 8
Why LinkedIn's Jason Miller spends his nights photographing rock stars | Creative Pursuits
Not content with simply heading up content and social at LinkedIn Sales and Marketing Solutions, Jason Miller spends his evenings photographing the most rock ‘n’ roll of bands and musicians – and editing pictures into the early hours of the morning.
Episode 9
Why TMW Unlimited's Jennifer Cownie reads tarot cards | Creative Pursuits
Jennifer Cownie may have the word ‘strategic’ in her job title, yet outside of work it’s empathy and emotion that drive her creative pursuit of tarot card reading.