Your Past Doesn’t Define Your Future | with Matthew Tapia
How Did This Foster Kid from O‘ahu End Up Designing the Cleveland Guardians Logo?
For Matthew Tapia, success was not something that was easily handed to him; it was something he had to chase, fight for, and prove he deserved.
Born in Honolulu, Matt’s childhood was marked by instability. Foster care, boys' homes, and juvenile hall formed his early life. But, rather than allowing that past to write the script of his future, he made up his mind to continue, to continue creating, and to claim a place among designers in this world.
Perseverance Through Struggle
Matt's youth was unsteady. His parents' split led to a revolving door of custody. By the time he was 12, the instability became unbearable, and he ran away. He’d crash at friends’ houses, or roam Waikiki for stretches of time. But, without a real place to land, he eventually found himself cycling through the system: foster care, group homes, juvenile hall.
Matthew on far right with father and siblings.
“Just getting away and doing my own thing felt like a solution. It wasn’t, but at the time, it felt like it.”
Taking the First Step
At 19, back in Hawai’i with no job and no clear future, Matt knew he had to start somewhere. Working odd jobs, he still clung to his love of drawing. One day, working at a car dealership, he recognized a customer: the legendary bodyboarder Kainoa McGee who, at the time, had a small clothing brand. In a bold move, Matt left a note in Kainoa’s car, introducing himself and offering his artwork.
“I felt like, just take a chance. The worst that can happen is he doesn’t see it.”
It had been a month, and Matt lost hope. Until one day, Kainoa called him back. That conversation was his foot in the door. It led him to other people who saw something in him and who gave him an opportunity, even as he was still in the process of developing his design skills.
Proving Them Wrong
Not everyone believed in Matthew. One shop owner bluntly told him, “You should do something else with your life. You’re not cut out for this.”
Instead of letting that break him, it lit a fire. Every rejection, every setback became fuel to push harder, learn more, and prove that he belonged in the design world. He spent late nights hunched over borrowed computers, eyes burning from hours of trial and error in Adobe Illustrator. After five years of struggling, he earned his break—a job offer to work with Ecko Unlimited in New York.
Moving to New York was a turning point. With over four years at Ecko, Matt immersed himself in the fast-paced world of streetwear design. He refined his skills, learned to navigate high-pressure creative environments, and absorbed everything he could about digital design.
Designing the Cleveland Guardians Logo
After his time with Ecko, which provided him with the experience he needed to go off on his own, Matt transitioned into freelance work, taking on projects that would challenge and hone his skill. It was during this period that he was given the opportunity to be part of the Cleveland Guardians’ rebranding. Colleagues from his time at Ecko, recognizing his vision, pushed for him to take the lead on the project. Despite the high stakes and immense pressure, he accepted the challenge.
“To only have one art director and one designer and something like that is unheard of in my opinion… being the only designer on there was, I mean, that was an honor.”
During the process, he faced criticism and debate over the final design. But, he stood by his work, refining every detail to ensure the logo embodied both the city’s legacy and a fresh, modern aesthetic.
“Some people loved it, some people hated it. I mean, that’s to be expected…but you do the work, you do your best, and part of the work is selling the idea through.”
Choosing Your Path Every Single Day
Matt’s career has taken him from designing for major brands like Nike to working on the Cleveland Guardians’ MLB rebrand. But his success wasn’t about luck. It was about choosing, every single day, to keep going.
“You cannot expect to say, this is what I want to do one time and expect that to hold you forever. You got to decide it every single day over and over again, and before you know it, that’s what you’re doing.”
Even after reaching heights he once only dreamed of, he still asks himself the same questions: Can I make it? Will I do okay? Am I going to fail? The difference now? He knows the answer.
Matthew did the lettering and installation of the iconic Surfjack Hotel Pool in Waikiki.
What’s Holding You Back?
Matt’s story is proof that where you start doesn’t have to define where you end up. The path isn’t easy. But it’s possible.
So, what’s stopping you? Take the risk. Write the note. Prove them wrong. And most importantly, choose your path, today and every day after.
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