What’s the Story Behind the Squid?

Some of you have been curious about Buzz the Squid, so I thought I’d share how it all came to be.

Over the years, we’ve created a variety of screen-printed shirts for the studio. These designs have featured different languages and graphic styles, uniquely celebrating who we are. It’s been incredibly gratifying to see our shirts pop up in photos from all over the world—Paris, Tokyo, Israel, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Korea, Italy, China, and of course, across the U.S. Thank you for sharing those moments with us!

As we approached the 20th anniversary of our State College studio, we knew we had to create something special. That’s when we turned to our talented friend and illustrator, Maggie “Memphis” Wong from Vancouver. She’s an absolute powerhouse when it comes to bringing ink to life on paper. One of my all-time favorite cameras, the Mamiya RZ-67 II, inspired the design, and Memphis’s famous cephalopod (squid) illustrations took it to the next level. Fun fact: I first came across her work on those amazing Starbucks cup doodles—her talent is insane.

And that’s how Buzz the Squid came to life. The squid, along with my trusty RZ-67, now stars in our 20th-anniversary t-shirt design. Buzz has also become a symbol of the creativity and collaboration that’s at the heart of everything we do here at the studio.

To celebrate, we’ve released a limited-edition 20th-anniversary tee. It’s 100% super-soft cotton, and you can snag one for just $20 (including shipping within the U.S. – international rates vary). If you want one, send me a personal note through the contact section below, and I’ll make sure it gets to you. Thank you for your incredible support!

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