Jessie McGuire

Jessie McGuire is a brand strategist, creative leader, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of culture, commerce, and civic life. She was most recently Managing Partner of Thought Matter, the New York branding and design studio recognized with the 2026 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum National Design Award for Communication Design. Over more than a decade at Thought Matter, Jessie helped shape a practice grounded in the belief that branding is power: a tool for building trust, creating participation, and helping organizations make their ambitions visible. Her collaborators have included The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Japan Society, Misfits Market, P&G, Times Square Alliance, Union Square Partnership, and cultural and civic organizations across New York City and beyond. The studio was also known for public-facing work including For The People, a reimagining of the U.S. Constitution, and Seen / Unseen, an exploration of design, surveillance, safety, and trust. Je