Meet the Characters: The Story Behind M-A Designer

We didn't set out to build a t-shirt company. We set out to make a few characters worth putting on a shirt — and it kind of took off from there.

M-A Designer started with a simple idea: graphic tees shouldn't feel disposable. Every design on our site — from Piggy's round face and zero apologies, to the Bunny's small-face-big-personality energy, to the globe-trotting Frenchie Club World Tour — began as a hand-drawn character before it ever became a print. We wanted people to feel like they were wearing something with a little bit of personality, not just a logo.

Original characters, not stock graphics

A lot of graphic tees on the market recycle the same handful of stock illustrations. Ours don't. Every character in the M-A Designer lineup — Piggy, Bunny, the Aussie Shepherd, the Moon Cat — is designed in-house and built out across our whole catalog: tees, crewneck sweatshirts, and more. If you find a character you like, chances are you can find them in more than one place in your closet.

Comfort first, always

None of that matters if the shirt doesn't feel good. We print on soft, garment-dyed and heavyweight cotton bases because a graphic tee should hold up to actual daily wear — not just look good in a product photo. That's the same standard we hold for pieces outside the character lineup too, like our Permanently Out Of Office and Nobody Knows I'm a Nurse tees, which lean more into humor than illustration but get the same fit and fabric treatment.

What's next

We're still adding to the cast. New characters, new colorways, and the occasional expansion outside of apparel (yes, that includes our carry-on luggage) are all in the works. If you want a front-row seat, keep an eye on this blog — we'll be back with new arrivals, styling ideas, and probably a few more animals.

Thanks for wearing our characters. It means more than you'd think.