Designer Matt Holland began his creative endeavors early, attending the Baltimore School for the Performing Arts where he focused on technical theater including set, lighting, sound, and costume design. During high school, Matt also had the opportunity to be a dance extra in John Water’s original Hairspray movie, which his three high school daughters love to tease him about. Growing up, Matt had the fortune of traveling with his family on a whirlwind tour, crisscrossing Europe for 21 days on overnight trains, seeing almost every major museum and architectural interest on the continent. This experience still resonates with him today, especially as it relates to classic architectural forms.  

Matt graduated from Franklin & Marshall College as a Studio Arts major, concentrating in sculpture. During an independent study in New York City at the School of Visual Arts, Matt developed the ability to communicate ideas visually. After graduation, he moved to New York City with his high school sweetheart and began a career as a visual designer at several advertising firms where he worked on household brands, including Benneton Sports, CBS, David Letterman, Six Flags, UNICEF, and Jose Cuervo Tequila.  

In 2006, after having their third daughter in four years, Matt and his wife decided to move to Maine, where her family is from. He continued working remotely for New York advertising firms but eventually decided to shift gears and circle back to architecture, a passion from his childhood. After earning his AAS in Architectural Design from Southern Maine Community College, Matt worked as a designer at one of Maine’s largest architecture and engineering firms. While working full-time as a designer, he pursued his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Maine at Augusta. After graduating from the 5-year program, Matt joined the Whitten Architects team.  

Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his family sailing, skiing, cycling, and hiking, which, fortunately, he finds in abundance in Maine.