This Designer Turns Beloved Movie Characters And Childhood Nostalgia Into Eye-Catching Works Of Graphic Art

Ghostbusters, Disney princesses, Beetlejuice, and a certain marshmallow-loving monster might not seem to have much in common, but they all look right at home in the colorful universe of Mattson Creative. Founded by graphic designer Ty Mattson in 2004, the California-based studio has spent more than two decades giving some of entertainment’s most recognizable characters and franchises fresh visual identities.

Mattson’s designs have a wonderful knack for making complicated things look deceptively simple. Bold silhouettes, geometric compositions, punchy color combinations, and playful typography come together in illustrations that often borrow the visual language of vintage movie posters, comic books, and mid-century graphic design. There’s a healthy dose of nostalgia here, but the results rarely feel stuck in the past. From the supernatural silliness of Ghostbusters to the fantastical worlds of Disney, each project manages to capture something essential about its subject while giving it a distinctive graphic personality.

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Growing up surrounded by comic books, action figures, and classic movies left a lasting impression on Mattson, and that childhood enthusiasm has become a defining part of his creative philosophy. His studio has since collaborated with Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Coca-Cola, and numerous other household names on everything from illustrations and branding to packaging and merchandise. It’s a reminder that commercial design doesn’t have to be boring, especially when the people making it are just as excited about the characters as the fans themselves.