About

Koepke began his career working with a number of major publications and brands. He served as founding Design Director of Vibe magazine and produced award-winning works including 26 magazine for AGFA, the design of Musician magazine and Benetton’s Colors magazine, World Tour for Dun & Bradstreet Software, and SoHo Journal for SoHo Partnership. He served as Creative Director for both J.Crew and Wieden+Kennedy Portland, where he helped open that agency’s New York office. Koepke designed David Byrne’s book of photography, Strange Ritual; directed the “Slow Burn” music video for David Bowie; and directed the U2 video “Window in the Skies,” which was named Best Video at the Los Angeles Film Festival. He also worked with DJ Paul Oakenfold to create the visuals for his 2008 World Tour.

Koepke founded Modernista! with Lance Jensen in 2000. The agency shuttered in March 2011. Modernista! was an independent agency with clients such as Cadillac, GAP, Showtime, TIAA-CREF, Napster, Anheuser Busch, MTV, Converse, Sears, Product (RED), the National Parks Foundation, Nickelodeon,  Food Should Taste Good, Stop Handgun Violence, and the Art Institute of Boston. One of its more interesting final projects, and Webby Peoples Choice Award winner, was an alternative reality game leading up to Season Five of the Dexter TV show.

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

In 2012 Gary joined SapientNitro as North American Chief Creative where he provided creative leadership and inspiration across the company and sets the standard of creative excellence for an always-on digital world. 

Personally, Koepke has garnered gold awards at all the major design/advertising shows. His work has been shown at the DNP Gallery in Japan, which named him one of America’s top designers. His work is also in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Koepke sits on the board of Stop Handgun Violence, the advisory board of Action Button and Air Guard. He is a past board member of the Ad Council as well as a member of Clinton Global Initiative and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. He has also served on the Communications Task Force of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and he was chairman of the American Photography Annual from 1998 to 2003.

Koepke is an avid musician and painter.