Matteo C.

he/they - 20


A Khmer American self-taught artist and graphic design student who loves to draw out their delusions.[email protected]

~ last updated: september 25, 2024 ~

About


Previously going by the alias 'toycrutches' on social media, Matteo is a Khmer American and nonbinary digital artist based in Oregon and majoring in graphic design. His favorite ice cream flavor is cookies & cream, and their biggest pet peeve is poor planning.

"I need [insert character] so bad."


Interests


  • Older Male characters with tragic pasts who need love

  • Legends of Advantris/Dungeons and Dragons

  • Airports

  • Pastel colors

  • Rainstorms, thunder, lightning

  • Everything to do with the fall season

  • Cowboys


Materials


  • iPad M2 (2022) w/ Apple Pencil

  • Wacom One (2021)

  • Clip Studio Pro

Projects

PERSONAL + PROFESSIONAL

Click or tap to learn more about these projects.



Illustrations

FANWORKS

I do enjoy using pastel colors. It makes my drawings appear dreamlike and cutesy.



Sketches & Studies

Let the ideas flow

Studying and creating small doodles for myself is just as important as creating finished pieces.


Visual & Brand Development

Southeast Asian Association

At my university, a group of students and I created a student organization that focuses on the experiences, cultures, and voices of Southeast Asians. Often, East Asians are prioritized when celebrating the broader Asian culture and AANHPI month in May. Fortunately, we want to create this club to highlight underrepresented Southeast Asian communities and be a bridge to other SE Asian clubs on campus. I was tasked to create the logos and branding for SEAA, utilizing colors pulled from the ASEAN flag and iconography such as the lotus flower.



Queer & Trans Students of Color Conference

QTSOCC is an annual national conference held by my university's Queer Resource Center that invites college students from across the United States to participate in workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities for BlPOC students. This creates a safe environment for us to share stories, freely take up space, and co-exist with one another. I created visuals for the conference, such as a logo, graphic, and artwork to advertise QTSOCC.


Sticker Designs

Plaster it on

Just like how logos represent a brand, plastering your favorite stickers on personal items acts as your endorsement. I've designed stickers for QTSOCC and for 2024's Portland Pride Parade.


Comic Creation

A Mini comic on asexuality

Asexuality and similar sexualities are often overlooked and misunderstood. This short comic/graphic narrative explores my journey and experience with discovering my asexuality through hookup services. I've written, illustrated, and colored the entire comic, utilizing the same color scheme used in an app called 'Grindr.' Creating this mini-comic was cathartic as it was healing for my soul. Going through multiple hookup experiences only to realize it was just a performance was mentally and physically draining.


Postcards

From Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley, as shown multiple times in my portfolio, is one of my favorite games. It's calming and demonstrates that the people who enjoy it yearn to escape the city and live on a farm. The postcards I've illustrated reflect the warmth and freedom one would feel if they visited or inherited a farm plot from their late grandfather.


Portland Gear Internship

marketing & advertising experience

My internship at Portland Gear, a brand made for and by the Pacific Northwest, taught me beneficial skills such as marketing, advertising, branding/brand identity, and content creation. As an artist and someone pursuing graphic design as a career, all these skills are necessary to succeed. Using the Cascade Backpack as a template, I created mockups of potential new designs for the bag, such as one to prepare for the renovations of the Portland International Airport, a Gravity Falls-themed backpack, and a bag for Pride Month.


UX/UI Design

Self-serve Kiosk

Ensuring users can navigate your interfaces without complications is a difficult but achievable feat. Utilizing my love for the game 'Stardew Valley,' I created a prototype that shows what it looks like if you'd purchase a bus ticket to the infamous location of passing seasons and the simple life, all bearing homage to the Pacific Northwest. You can try out my Figma prototype with the button below (works best on a computer).


7 AM Clothing: Brand Deck

Mockups and Brand Identity

Mornings shouldn't be the main complaint of shallow conversations when they can be reinvented into something... cozier. '7AM' is a clothing brand for everybody, ensuring you get out of bed refreshed just like the night before.