Gary Koepke Explained

Gary Koepke (November 14, 1955 – March 20, 2024) was a creative director and co-founder of the Boston-based creative and communications agency Modernista!-[1]

Early career

Koepke began his career working with a number of major publications and brands. He served as founding creative director of Vibe magazine[2] [3] and produced award-winning works including 26 magazine for AGFA,[4] the design of Musician magazine,[5] Benetton's Colors magazine, World Tour for Dun & Bradstreet Software, and SoHo Journal for SoHo Partnership.

He served as SVP, Creative Director for J.Crew, and Creative Director for Wieden+Kennedy Portland, where he helped open that agency's New York office.[6] Koepke designed David Byrne's book of photography, Strange Ritual;[7] directed the "Slow Burn" music video for David Bowie;[8] and directed the U2[9] video "Window in the Skies," which was named Best Video at the Los Angeles Film Festival.[10] [11] He also worked with DJ Paul Oakenfold to create the visuals for his 2008 World Tour.[12]

Modernista!

Koepke founded Modernista! with Lance Jensen in 2000.[13] Modernista! is an independent agency with clients such as Sears, Product (RED),[14] the National Park Foundation,[15] Nickelodeon, Food Should Taste Good, Chug, Sophos, Jack Wills, Boulder Digital Works,[16] Doc to Dock, Stop Handgun Violence,[17] and the Art Institute of Boston.[18] In the past, Modernista! has created marketing campaigns for clients such as General Motors,[19] Palm, Showtime[20] TIAA-CREF,[21] Napster, Gap, Anheuser-Busch, MTV, and Converse.[22]

Modernista! was named Regional Agency of the Year by AdWeek in 2004[23] and has won many other industry and creative awards. One version of its website was a finalist in the Webby Awards and the SXSW Web Awards.[24] The website was also selected for the Communication Arts Interactive Annual[25] and the ID Design Annual and was recognized by the D&AD Awards.[26] In addition, Modernista!'s redesign of BusinessWeek magazine took first place at the International Design Awards.

In its final years, Modernista! moved aggressively into digital marketing, communications, and social media. One of its more interesting final projects was an alternative reality game leading up to Season Five of the Dexter TV show.[27]

In spring 2011 Modernista! shuttered its doors due to the sudden exit of co-founder Lance Jensen.[28]

SapientNitro

Fifteen months after the Boston-based Modernista! shut down, Koepke joined SapientNitro as global ECD of brand content innovation.[29]

Personal life

Koepke was a musician and painter. His work has been shown at the DNP Gallery in Japan.[30] He died on March 20, 2024.[31]

Notes and References

  1. News: Garfinkel. Mark. 2008-09-11. Ad agency Modernista relies on out-of-the-box thinking. USA Today.
  2. News: Anderson. Mae. 2003-06-16. Gary Koepke, Co-Founder, Modernista!, Outdoor and Press Juror. AllBusiness. https://web.archive.org/web/20091006081816/http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/4125998-1.html. 2009-10-06.
  3. News: Hayman. Luke. Moghadam. Rami. 2008-09-09. New Work: 'Vibe'. Pentagram. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211171106/http://pentagram.com/en/new/2008/09/new-work-vibe.php. 2009-02-11.
  4. Web site: "26"/AGFA Journal. AIGA Design Archives.
  5. Web site: Newman. Robert. 2010-11-30. The Art Direction of Musician Magazine: Gary Koepke. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113150/http://www.spd.org/2010/11/musician-magazine-gary-koepke.php. 2017-03-16. The Society of Publication Designers.
  6. Williams. Alex. 1997-12-22. The Great American Sellout. New York Magazine. 30. 49. 87. 0028-7369.
  7. Web site: Strange Ritual. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140210002732/http://davidbyrne.com/art/strange_ritual/index.php. 2014-02-10. David Byrne.
  8. News: Hunter. Sandy. 2002-06-05. Koepke directs Bowie. Boards. https://web.archive.org/web/20120328131615/http://www.boardsmag.com/articles/online/20020605/bowie.html. 2012-03-28.
  9. Web site: 2007-02-05. The @U2 Interview: Gary Koepke. @U2.
  10. Web site: Macleod. Duncan. 2006-12-23. U2 Window in the Skies Music Videos. The Inspiration Room.
  11. Web site: 2006. U2, "Window in the Skies" – Dir. Gary Koepke. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110819081230/http://katclark.org/blog/?p=386. 2011-08-19. Videofeast.
  12. Web site: 2008-04-01. Oakenfold Taps Modernista for 2008 Tour Visuals. https://archive.today/20140128175307/http://adage.com/songsforsoap/post?article_id=126089. dead. January 28, 2014. Advertising Age.
  13. Web site: September 2007. American Beauty. https://web.archive.org/web/20110723132117/http://freeonlinebook.net/Others/104264/American-Beauty-Communication-Arts-Sept-Oct-2007. July 23, 2011. Communication Arts.
  14. (RED)NIGHTS concert site, http://rednights.joinred.com .
  15. "This Is Your Land," in Communication Arts 2010 Interactive Annual, http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai10/thisisyourland.html .
  16. "Boulder Digital Works Partners with Modernista!," in AgencySpy.com, June 8, 2010, http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/boulder-digital-works-partners-with-modernista_b6681.
  17. http://www.stophandgunviolence.com/press-debut.asp "Stop Handgun Violence Debuts Dramatic Billboard in Massachusetts….", Stop Handgun Violence press release
  18. Web site: Security Check Required. Facebook.com. April 4, 2017.
  19. "Marketing Muscle and Guzzle," in The New York Times, October 24, 2007, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/automobiles/autospecial/24HUMMER.html. See also "Modernista Wins the General Motors' Cadillac Account," in BusinessWeek, June 28, 2006, https://web.archive.org/web/20100706224327/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2006/06/modernista_wins_the_general_motors_cadillac_account.html.
  20. "Showtime, Modernista Amp Up Dexter, Season Five," in Online Marketing Connect, August 30, 2010, http://www.onlinemarketingconnect.com/mediabistroagencyspy/2010/08/showtime-modernista-amp-up-dexter-season-five/.
  21. "With Service-Career Focus, TIAA-CREF Hones Message," in USBANKER, October 2004, http://www.americanbanker.com/usb_issues/114_10/-231217-1.html .
  22. "A Century of Converse Shoes Have Adorned Many Feet," in the Boston Globe, Sept. 7, 2010, http://heat.basketball-news-update.com/a-century-of-converse-shoes-have-adorned-many-feet-the-boston-globe/ .
  23. "Regional Agency of the Year: Modernista!," in AdWeek, Jan. 12, 2004, http://www.adweek.com/aw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2066162.
  24. "SxSW: Can Neuroscience Trump Creativity in Marketing?," report of panel discussion featuring Gary Koepke, in Econsultancy.com, March 13, 2010, http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/5587-sxsw-can-neuroscience-trump-creativity-in-marketing.
  25. "Modernista!," in Communication Arts 2009 Interactive Annual, http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai09/Modernista.html .
  26. "Ad Agency Gets Web 2.0! Can It Be True?," in AttentionMax, March 28, 2008, http://www.attentionmax.com/blog/2008/03/ad_agency_gets_web_20_can_it_be_true.php. See also "Modernista Dismantles Site, Trusts the 'Net to Share Its Ethos," in Marketing Vox, March 19, 2008, http://www.marketingvox.com/modernista-dismantles-site-trusts-the-net-to-share-its-ethos-037421/ .
  27. http://creativity-online.com/work/showtime-dexter-serial-huntress/20867 "Showtime (Dexter): Serial Huntress", in Creativity Online
  28. Web site: Last Day for Staff at Modernista Is Friday. Advertising Age. 27 April 2011.
  29. Web site: SapientNitro Taps Industry Maverick Gary Koepke to Lead Global Brand Content Innovation (NASDAQ:SAPE). Shareholder.com. April 4, 2017.
  30. Web site: The 32nd Exhibition: 2 American Art Directors. DNP.co.jp. April 4, 2017.
  31. Web site: TREMEMBERING GARY KOEPKE, THE LAUDED DESIGNER AND MODERNISTA CO-FOUNDER. DNP.co.jp. April 9, 2024.

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