We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Matarese and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Taxes. Originally I started this business for no other reason than accounting. While still at a small section of adidas, I went and got an LLC because I was doing too much freelance work on the side and was worried of getting audited.

When I left adidas I figured I would freelance for a bit to bridge the gap. Essentially giving myself the freedom and time to wait out the next good/big job rather than take the first thing because of money. I realized that I was actually making more freelancing than I was as a FT designer in-house so waited a little longer for a “perfect job”. One day I looked back and it had been years and I was happier than I had even been working with clients I could barely dream of.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets us apart at The Barn is our goal to make something we call a “franchise brand”. Much like a “franchise player” in sports, we want to make work that an entire organization can rally behind and be seen as their guiding rock.

Beyond that, everything that leaves our doors we try to connect with a local community rather than just make something “look cool”. Usually that is by hiding easter eggs inside the logo marks that only locals might understand. Whether that be landmarks, design elements, or local legends.

What we hear a lot from our clients is that we not only go the extra mile to make the best work possible, but “we get it”. A vague term that essentially means to us that we pull in all our knowledge, resources, and expertise in our field to not only get the job done, but help the client. A good example of this is knowing production possibilities and restrictions. This can speed up timeframes, stop a project from going down the wrong rabbit hole, or understanding what needs more or less time on the project.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have lived in northern Delaware which not only gives us access to local minor league baseball like The Wilmington Blue Rocks, but also quick access to everything Philadelphia has to offer and a quick ride to Baltimore and DC. So sports, food, and places to visit is essentially limitless… Which is why I like where I live. I jokingly call it the suburbs of the 95 corridor. There might not be very much to do RIGHT here, but everything is within reach.

If staying in northern Delaware I might go to a local brewery like Dew Point and then go to a Blue Rocks game with the family… but if it was for the weekend we might go down to the Delaware Beaches and the boardwalk.

Beyond that I am a big Philadelphia Flyers fan so going up to Philly and enjoying a game and then maybe one of the great Italian restaurants in Little Italy (Villa di Roma, Victor Cafe to name 2) beyond the obvious cheesesteak. haha.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There many people responsible for my success. The obvious being my wife, Jenn. Allowing me to take the risk and always be the support I needed in the early stages when I was “figuring it all out” to this day when sometimes I just need someone to vent to.

Another would be a non-traditional source, of an old employer. While in-between adidas and really digging into building my own business I did a 6 month freelance stint at an agency called Hanlon Creative. A smaller firm not too far from my house and run by another UD Visual Communications major like myself. In my time there I recognized that “success” was not necessarily about size. During my internships and employments I had only been at mega-agencies and global companies – while Hanlon Creative showed me that there is strength and freedom in being a small to mid-sized agency. You can still do great work, everyone can be happy, work/life balance, and make more than enough money. It really re-shaped what I thought success was in the creative field.

Website: TheBarnCreative.ORG

Instagram: @thebarncreative

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-matarese/

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