Hi, my name is Martin Defatte.
My creative endeavors have always been deeply influenced by my lifelong love of music and skateboarding and their respective subcultures.
I grew up absorbing DIY zines, Thrasher magazines and punk rock records. I was particularly fascinated by album artwork. I eventually formed a band with high school friends. After a few years, I chose to take a more “behind the scenes” role in the local hardcore punk scene, designing fliers for shows and laying-out demos for my friends’ bands. Some of those bands went on tour and got noticed, which in turn, gave me opportunity to work for a variety of indie labels.
After graduating from college with an Art degree, I turned an internship into a gig as a graphic designer at a small package design firm in my hometown. I cut my teeth developing package concepts for household names like: Windex, Edge Shave Gel, Skintimate Shave Gel and Ziploc.
Concurrent to my career as a print designer, I continued to pursue my personal studies in web design and development. After devouring the first of many books and blog articles on front end development, I knew I wanted to transition front print to web design and development as a career.
After moving to Milwaukee and a couple long stints at a few area agencies, I’m currently as a Front End Developer in for a large advertising agenc. I have worked on a range of web accounts including: Door County Visitor Bureau, American Transmission Co., ManpowerGroup, Noah’s Ark Waterpark, Hunger Task Force, Visit Milwaukee, Planned Parenthood of WI and Milwaukee Art Museum.
I’m actively involved in the local music scene as a producer and musician, creating beats and producing for Guerrilla Ghost (industrial noise-rap) and Diamond Life (Italo-Disco-inspired synth pop). I also write and release solo material under the name Tron Jovi, blending my background in electronic production with the heavier sounds of my past bands. Previously, I played bass in various post-punk projects, including Volunteer, Stock Options, and the short-lived Red & Black, a 7 Seconds cover band.