Gary Koepke
American businessman (1955–2024)
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[according to whom? ] 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]
References
^ Garfinkel, Mark (September 11, 2008). "Ad agency Modernista relies on out-of-the-box thinking" . USA Today .
^ Anderson, Mae (June 16, 2003). "Gary Koepke, Co-Founder, Modernista!, Outdoor and Press Juror" . AllBusiness . Archived from the original on October 6, 2009.
^ Hayman, Luke; Moghadam, Rami (September 9, 2008). "New Work: 'Vibe' " . Pentagram . Archived from the original on February 11, 2009.
^ " "26"/AGFA Journal" . AIGA Design Archives .
^ Newman, Robert (November 30, 2010). "The Art Direction of Musician Magazine: Gary Koepke" . The Society of Publication Designers . Archived from the original on March 16, 2017.
^ Williams, Alex (December 22, 1997). "The Great American Sellout" . New York Magazine . Vol. 30, no. 49. p. 87. ISSN 0028-7369 .
^ "Strange Ritual" . David Byrne . Archived from the original on February 10, 2014.
^ Hunter, Sandy (June 5, 2002). "Koepke directs Bowie" . Boards . Archived from the original on March 28, 2012.
^ "The @U2 Interview: Gary Koepke" . @U2 . February 5, 2007.[permanent dead link ]
^ Macleod, Duncan (December 23, 2006). "U2 Window in the Skies Music Videos" . The Inspiration Room .
^ "U2, "Window in the Skies" – Dir. Gary Koepke" . Videofeast . 2006. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011.
^ "Oakenfold Taps Modernista for 2008 Tour Visuals" . Advertising Age . April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on January 28, 2014.
^ "American Beauty" . Communication Arts . September 2007. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
^ (RED)NIGHTS concert site, http://rednights.joinred.com Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine .
^ "This Is Your Land," in Communication Arts 2010 Interactive Annual , http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai10/thisisyourland.html Archived 2011-02-22 at the Wayback Machine .
^ "Boulder Digital Works Partners with Modernista!," in AgencySpy.com, June 8, 2010, http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/boulder-digital-works-partners-with-modernista_b6681 .
^ "Stop Handgun Violence Debuts Dramatic Billboard in Massachusetts….", Stop Handgun Violence press release Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Security Check Required" . Facebook.com . Retrieved April 4, 2017 .
^ "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, [1] .
^ "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/ [permanent dead link ] .
^ "With Service-Career Focus, TIAA-CREF Hones Message," in USBANKER, October 2004, http://www.americanbanker.com/usb_issues/114_10/-231217-1.html Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine .
^ "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/ Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine .
^ "Regional Agency of the Year: Modernista!," in AdWeek , Jan. 12, 2004, http://www.adweek.com/aw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2066162 .
^ "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 .
^ "Modernista!," in Communication Arts 2009 Interactive Annual , http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai09/Modernista.html Archived 2010-12-24 at the Wayback Machine .
^ "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/ Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine .
^ "Showtime (Dexter): Serial Huntress", in Creativity Online
^ "Last Day for Staff at Modernista Is Friday" . Advertising Age . April 27, 2011.
^ "SapientNitro Taps Industry Maverick Gary Koepke to Lead Global Brand Content Innovation (NASDAQ:SAPE)" . Shareholder.com . Retrieved April 4, 2017 .
^ "The 32nd Exhibition: 2 American Art Directors" . DNP.co.jp . Retrieved April 4, 2017 .
^ "TREMEMBERING GARY KOEPKE, THE LAUDED DESIGNER AND MODERNISTA CO-FOUNDER" . DNP.co.jp . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .