Beyond the Rainbow: Designing with Pride

By Matter

A behind the scenes look at how our motion graphics designers/animators work with inclusivity in mind this month and every month. Joe Skoniecki and Sarah Delahunty share their creative processes and personal sentiments behind Matter’s newest Pride animations. 

Rockets. Shooting for the stars. Reaching beyond. The endless possibility of space. That’s what I wrote down in my work notebook when I started sketching out ideas for a Pride Month social graphic.

Using a mixed media approach, I combined hand drawn frames, photographic elements from our brand and the lovely Matter illustrations. For me, personally, as a gay man, I thought of the rocket as a vehicle to accept oneself. The liftoff can be scary but the new heights you reach are unparalleled.


Matter is a place that elevates voices from all walks of life. From our Diversity Committee and monthly #BlackVoicesMatter Spotlight to our Women’s Professional Circle, there are always a number of active initiatives, resources and committees to benefit from 365 days of the year.  June is such an important month for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and we want to celebrate that.

– Joe Skoniecki

Images of the 80’s were conjured in my mind alongside an 8-bit graphic which I evolved into the Matter logo featuring the Pride flag in a playful jump. We updated the animation from the traditional Pride flag to reflect the more recent, more inclusive Progress flag. Having discussions with our LGBTQIA+ committee was awesome in helping both Joe and I evolve our work.

As a bisexual woman, I find the LGBTQIA+ community’s strength and sense of self truly inspiring. One of the things that I deeply admire about this community is its nurturing of individualistic personalities – a community of acceptance in true self-expression. As a new member of the Matter team, it is inspiring to see the ways members of the community are recognized on their own terms and platforms here within the company. – Sarah Delahunty

Not everyone is going to know what the different acronyms mean, what each flag stands for, who Marsha P. Johnson was and the importance of the Stonewall riots, and that’s okay!

The inclusion of diverse voices is paramount to all conversations, especially those that inform larger brand discussions. Each of us is both a teacher and a student. Giving diverse voices a platform allows brands to evolve and push closer toward inclusivity. Not everyone is going to know what the different acronyms mean, what each flag stands for, who Marsha P. Johnson was and the importance of the Stonewall riots, and that’s okay! With diverse and inclusive representation, leaders will step forward and help educate. That’s a sign of a great brand.