Mat Benson
Digital designer, artist, and lifelong creator, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Hey, I'm Mat.
I’m a digital designer, artist, and lifelong creator.
My main focus is digital design, with Adobe Illustrator at the center of my work. I also work in Photoshop, InDesign and Procreate, and I enjoy exploring everything from illustration and branding to video editing and whatever else a project needs.
I’ve always loved making things. There’s something incredible about taking an idea that exists only in your head and turning it into something real, whether that’s a piece of artwork, something made by hand, or a visual identity for someone else’s business. There’s a particular satisfaction in seeing an idea take shape, especially when you get to be part of someone else’s excitement as their vision comes to life.
Art and music are two of my biggest passions, and that curiosity carries into everything else I do. I have taken on woodworking, blacksmithing and leatherwork, and I pick up new crafts whenever something catches my interest. Working with physical materials has given me a real appreciation for craftsmanship, for detail, and for the character that comes from something being made by a person.
As a freelance designer, I bring that same care into digital work. Good design should be functional and clear without becoming boring, and creative without sacrificing purpose. I like designs that reward a second look, with that feeling of effortlessness while hiding the thought, precision and craftsmanship that went into making it.
This site is a collection of the things I’ve made, the ideas I’ve helped bring to life, and a glimpse into the person behind them.
Two philosophies, held separately
Art and design ask different things of me. I don’t think they should be judged by the same standard, so I’ve written them out separately.
Making is part of being human
I believe making things is part of the human experience.
There is something deeply satisfying about taking an idea that exists only in your mind and giving it a life of its own. When I create something, I’m putting a small part of myself into the world. My experiences, interests, emotions, imperfections and the way I see things all end up in the work. By the end, the finished piece becomes more than an object or an image. It becomes a reflection of the person who made it.
That’s what I love about art. It can communicate something words cannot, preserve a moment, capture a culture, provoke an emotion, or simply make someone stop and think. I don’t believe art needs one clear answer or interpretation, but I do believe it should create some kind of human interaction. There should be something there that makes you feel, wonder, remember, or look a little closer. I love adding subtle details that reward people for looking deeper.
I’m drawn to work with character and intention. I appreciate precision and craftsmanship, but I also appreciate the imperfections that remind you a person made something by hand. Those imperfections can be just as meaningful as perfect lines and carefully measured details.
In essence, I make things because I love the process of making them. I love the moment an idea stops being imaginary and becomes something you can see, hold, experience, and share with someone else.
Simple to use, not simple to make
I believe good design should make things feel simple without necessarily being simple.
The best designs communicate a great deal of information with as little unnecessary friction as possible. They should be clear, functional and intuitive, but that doesn’t mean they need to be boring. I want the thought and craftsmanship behind a design to make the experience feel effortless, to create something that simply feels right, even if an enormous amount of work went into making it that way.
Function comes first, but function and beauty don’t have to compete. A successful design should accomplish its purpose while still having enough personality to be memorable. I value originality, but creativity should be intentional. Familiar conventions exist for a reason, and sometimes the most thoughtful decision is to follow one. Other times, breaking the expected formula is exactly what a design needs to stand apart.
When working with clients, my role is not to impose my own taste on their ideas. My goal is to understand what they’re trying to accomplish and help bring that vision to life in the strongest way possible. I want to be the catalyst between the idea in someone’s head and the finished thing in the real world.
Above all, I want my work to feel human. Not perfect for the sake of perfection, not different simply for the sake of being different, but thoughtfully made by someone who genuinely cared about getting it right.
What I bring to a project
- Brand identity systems: marks, type, color and usage rules
- Typography and layout consistency across digital and print
- Editorial and publication design, prepared correctly for press
- Illustration, both vector and hand-drawn
- Turning client feedback into clean, purposeful revisions
- Hands-on production: printing presses, CNC and laser engraving
- Physical fabrication in leather and wood
The kit
Adobe Illustrator is the center of my workflow. It’s where most of my design and vector illustration happens.
Adobe Illustrator · Adobe Photoshop · Adobe InDesign · Procreate · Print Production · Typography · Brand Systems · Vector Illustration · Video Editing · CNC · Laser Engraving · Printing Press · Leatherwork · Woodworking
Experience
Freelance Designer
Twisted Raven Design Co.
- Designed custom graphics and logos for new and growing businesses
- Built and adapted layouts to hold consistency across digital and print formats
- Collaborated with clients to refine work against feedback and project requirements
- Delivered published editorial design and illustration for Voyageur magazine
Wood Production
Beam and Board Reclaimed Lumber LLC · Green Bay, WI
- Operated CNC machinery and laser engravers to produce precise design elements
- Designed and programmed CNC work for showroom display pieces
- Took on leadership in the supervisor's absence, delegating tasks and keeping production moving
- Trained six team members in production processes
Education
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
Bachelor’s in Graphic Design, Emphasis in Design and Illustration
University of Wisconsin–Stout
Game Design, Emphasis in Animation
Request my resume
Happy to send a full resume on request. Drop me a note with your name, company and the role you have in mind, and I’ll get it over to you.