mattgyver.com

Mattgyver.com is a portfolio site for graphic design tutorials, projects, and resources. The featured work spans a Venetian bridge poster series sold as prints, commissioned playing card decks (including LEGO-themed sets and a Cryptids deck), a Ranger Naturalist typeface poster and samples, a 12-page Starfield advanced reactor assembly technical manual, and a long tail of one-off designs, logos, and illustration work. The site also hosts Illustrator and design tutorials and a weekly Twitch stream. If you're here to browse or buy finished artwork, the project sections below are what you want; if you're here to learn technique, the tutorials and stream are the relevant parts.

Bridges of the Grand Canal: Poster Series and Prints

This is the most commercially framed project on the page. The series is a gallery of Venetian bridges drawn by hand, described on the site as running "from Rialto's crown to Calatrava's gleam," with materials referenced as timber, Istrian stone, glass, and steel. The page presents it as a cohesive set of posters and offers two actions: view the series and buy prints.

What this means in practice:

• If you want the artwork on a wall, the print purchase path is the direct route — the series page is the entry point.
• If you want to see the full set before deciding, use the series view first; the page treats the bridges as a themed collection rather than isolated pieces.
• The page does not list print sizes, paper stock, pricing, or shipping terms, so those details have to come from the series/print page itself rather than from the homepage description.

Commissioned Playing Card Decks

A cluster of the featured work is playing card deck design done on commission. The page names these decks:

The LEGO Castle deck is surfaced three times in the recent-work block, which signals it as a flagship commission. For anyone evaluating the designer's range, these decks are the clearest evidence of full deck design — card faces, backs, and themed illustration systems — as opposed to single posters.

Ranger Naturalist Typeface Poster and Samples

The Ranger Naturalist project appears as both a typeface poster and a set of typeface samples, each viewable at full size. This is the typography-focused entry in the portfolio: a specimen-style poster plus sample images showing the face in use.

If you're a designer checking whether the typeface suits a project, the samples are the more useful artifact — they show letterforms in context rather than as a display piece. The page doesn't state licensing or download terms for the typeface, so treat the poster and samples as showcase material unless the typeface page says otherwise.

Starfield Technical Manual

A 12-page Starfield advanced reactor assembly technical manual is featured with a "Read it" link. This is a worldbuilding/document-design piece: a fictional technical document rendered as a real manual. It's the best example on the site of long-form layout and information design, and it pairs naturally with the site's data visualization and Illustrator tutorial content.

Other One-Off Designs and Illustration Work

Beyond the named projects, the page points to an "exhaustive collection of one-off designs, logos, projects, and illustration work" on the designer's Instagram and Dribbble. The homepage itself shows a grid of additional pieces (many labeled only "View fullsize") without titles, so the social profiles are the place to see the complete archive with context.

Tutorials and Live Streams Alongside the Portfolio

The site isn't only a gallery. It lists Illustrator and design tutorials, including:

• Data Visualization in Illustrator — process notes plus links to resources and public data sets
• Illustrator 3D Tools & Tips
• Synthwave Pixel Art Skyline
• Playing Card Deck Design Tips
• Creating Pop Art Portraits in Illustrator

There's also a weekly stream at Twitch.tv/MattgyverTV, Saturdays and Sundays 7–10am East Coast time, run in a tutorial style covering techniques, experimentation, and the business side of design, with chat critique encouraged.

How to Choose Where to Start

• Buying or browsing finished art: start with the Bridges of the Grand Canal series, then the playing card decks.
• Judging typography work: go to the Ranger Naturalist poster and samples.
• Seeing layout and document design: read the Starfield manual.
• Seeing the full body of work: use the Instagram and Dribbble links, since the homepage grid is only a selection.
• Learning the methods behind the work: the tutorial list and the weekend stream cover the same techniques shown in the projects.

One caveat worth stating plainly: the homepage describes the projects and where to find them, but it doesn't publish prices, print specifications, typeface licensing, or stream archives. Those specifics need to be confirmed on the linked series, print, and platform pages.

If you're new to Ahrefs and want to run your first SEO audit, the fastest path is: open Site Explorer, enter your target URL, review the Overview for a health snapshot, then dig into Organic Keywords, Top Pages, and Site Audit to find specific problems. From there, build a short prioritized to-do list instead of trying to fix everything at once.

This tutorial walks through that workflow using a realistic starting scenario, explains what the numbers mean, and shows how to turn findings into actions.

Before You Start: Pick a Narrow Scope

A common beginner mistake is auditing an entire large website on day one. The reports become overwhelming, and you can't tell which issues matter.

Instead, choose one of these starting points:

• A single important page (your homepage or a key product/service page)
• A small site (under ~50 pages, e.g., a personal blog or small business site)
• One section of a bigger site (e.g., /blog/)

For this tutorial, assume you're auditing a small business site with about 30 pages. The same steps scale up later.

You'll need an Ahrefs account to follow along. Ahrefs offers paid plans, and pricing and feature limits change over time, so check the current Pricing page for what's included in each tier before committing.

Step 1: Enter Your Target in Site Explorer

Site Explorer is Ahrefs' core tool for analyzing any website or URL.

1. Open Site Explorer from the top navigation.
2. In the search box, paste your domain (e.g., example.com).
3. Choose the Exact URL or Domain mode depending on scope. For a full-site view, use Domain or Prefix; for a single page, use Exact URL.
4. Press Enter.

You'll land on the Overview report. Don't try to absorb everything — focus on four numbers first.

Reading the Overview Snapshot

Important caveat: Ahrefs' traffic and keyword numbers are estimates based on its own data. They won't match Google Search Console or your analytics exactly. Treat them as directional, not absolute.

Step 2: See What You Already Rank For

Go to Organic Keywords in the left sidebar. This shows queries where your site appears in search results.

Sort by Traffic (descending) to see which pages bring the most estimated visitors. Then look for:

• Keywords ranking in positions 4–15 — these are often the easiest wins. A small content or on-page improvement can push them onto page one.
• Keywords with high volume but low position — potential opportunities if the topic is relevant.
• Irrelevant keywords — if you rank for something off-topic, it may signal thin or mismatched content.

Write down 5–10 of the position 4–15 keywords. These become your first optimization targets.

Step 3: Find Your Best and Weakest Pages

Open Top Pages. This ranks your URLs by estimated organic traffic.

Look for two things:

1. Your top performers — understand what topics and formats work. Can you create more content like this?
2. Pages with traffic but poor rankings — these may need on-page fixes (title, headings, internal links).

If a page gets zero traffic and targets a topic you care about, it's a candidate for a rewrite or consolidation.

Step 4: Run a Technical Site Audit

Now move to Site Audit. This crawls your site and flags technical and on-page issues.

1. Click Site Audit → New project.
2. Enter your domain and set crawl settings (default is usually fine for a small site).
3. Start the crawl and wait for it to finish.

Once complete, you'll see a Health Score and a list of issues grouped by category.

Which Issues to Fix First

Not all issues are equal. Prioritize in this order:

Ignore low-impact warnings (like minor meta description length) until the big items are handled.

Step 5: Turn Findings Into a To-Do List

You now have raw data. Convert it into a short, actionable list. Example:

1. Fix 3 broken links found in Site Audit.
2. Rewrite title tags on 5 pages with duplicate titles.
3. Improve 4 pages ranking in positions 6–12 by adding missing subtopics and internal links.
4. Remove or update 2 thin pages with no traffic.

Keep the list to 5–10 items max for your first audit. Finishing a short list beats starting a long one.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Chasing every red flag. Site Audit flags many minor issues. Fix what affects rankings and users first.
• Trusting estimates as exact numbers. Ahrefs data is modeled, not measured from your analytics.
• Auditing a huge site too early. Start small to learn the interface.
• Ignoring search intent. A page can be technically perfect but still fail if it doesn't match what searchers want.
• Forgetting to re-crawl. After fixes, run Site Audit again to confirm improvements.

Where to Go Next

Once your first audit is done:

• Compare with competitors using Site Explorer's Competing Domains and Content Gap reports.
• Track keyword rankings over time with Rank Tracker.
• Explore backlink opportunities in the Backlinks and Link Intersect reports.
• Set up recurring Site Audit crawls so new issues surface automatically.

Your first audit isn't about perfection — it's about building a repeatable habit: enter a target, read the key reports, pick the highest-impact fixes, and act. Do that once a month and your site's health compounds.

Mattgyver offers a small selection of free mockups, brushes, and other design tools intended to support creative projects, according to the site's own description. These sit alongside the site's broader collection of tutorials, projects, and resources covering Illustrator techniques, typography, product design, photography, and data visualization. The free items are presented as a curated sampler rather than a large asset library, so treat them as a starting point for a project rather than a one-stop shop.

What the site says is free

The site describes its free offerings in three loose categories:

• Mockups — presentation files for showing design work in context
• Brushes — tools for use in illustration and graphic design work
• Other design tools — a catch-all for additional creative assets

The description frames these as items "to tickle your creativity," which signals they are meant for experimentation and personal projects. The site does not publish a count, file format list, license terms, or download requirements in the available material, so check each item's page before relying on it for client or commercial work.

What else on the site supports a project

The free assets are one part of a larger body of work that can inform how you use them:

The tutorials are the most directly useful companion to the free assets: if you download a brush or mockup, the Illustrator-focused project write-ups show the kind of work the site's author does with similar tools.

How to approach the free resources

1. Start with the resource collection described on the site and note which categories match your current project — a mockup if you need to present work, a brush if you're illustrating.
2. Check the item page for terms before commercial use. The available site material does not state licensing, so confirm format and usage conditions where the download is offered.
3. Pair the asset with a tutorial. For example, if you're building a data visualization, the "Data Visualization in Illustrator" project includes tips, process notes, links to resources, and public data sets — a natural fit if you're using site tools for a chart or infographic.
4. Watch a stream if you want to see technique in context. The weekend sessions run Saturday and Sunday mornings, 7am–10am East Coast time, and are presented in tutorial fashion with chat interaction and critique encouraged.

What to keep in mind

• The free selection is explicitly described as "small," so don't expect a comprehensive library. Plan to supplement with other sources for large projects.
• The site does not list prices, download requirements, or account needs for the free items in the available material. Don't assume a download is unrestricted — verify on the item page.
• The strongest use case is creative exploration: trying a mockup or brush while following along with an Illustrator tutorial, then checking the portfolio links for finished examples of similar work.

If your goal is learning technique rather than acquiring assets, the tutorials and weekend streams are likely the higher-value part of the site; the free mockups and brushes are best treated as small supporting extras.

Mattgyver streams Adobe Illustrator and graphic design work live every weekend on Twitch at Twitch.tv/MattgyverTV. The sessions run Saturday and Sunday, 7:00–10:00 a.m. East Coast time, and are presented in a tutorial style. If you want to follow along, learn techniques, or ask questions in chat, that channel and time window is all you need.

What the Streams Cover

The show is built around real design work rather than scripted lessons. According to the site, it covers:

• Graphic design techniques demonstrated on personal and commissioned projects
• Experimentation with tools and approaches as they come up
• The business side of design — how projects are scoped, handled, and delivered

The projects shown include the kind of work featured on the site itself, such as playing card decks, typeface posters, and other illustration and product design pieces.

When to Tune In

If you're outside the U.S. East Coast, convert these times to your local zone before planning to watch. Three hours per session means you can drop in partway through and still catch a full segment.

How to Join and Participate

1. Go to Twitch.tv/MattgyverTV at the scheduled time. If the channel is offline, the page will show past broadcasts or a schedule rather than a live feed.
2. Create or log in to a Twitch account if you want to use chat. Watching without an account is generally possible on Twitch, but chat interaction requires login.
3. Use chat to ask questions, give feedback, or share your own work. The site explicitly encourages chat interaction, critique, and sharing — the stated goal is that "we all become better designers when we can learn from each other."
4. Follow the channel so you get notified when a stream goes live, which helps if the weekend timing is easy to miss.

What to Expect During a Session

The format is tutorial-style but project-driven, so the content follows whatever is on the desk that weekend. Expect to see Illustrator techniques applied in context, occasional detours into experimentation, and commentary on the business side of freelance or commissioned work. The site also notes a steady soundtrack of electro swing.

A practical tip: if you're joining to learn a specific technique, check the site's Illustrator & Design Tutorials section first. It includes written project pages such as Data Visualization in Illustrator and Illustrator 3D Tools & Tips, which give you background to bring into the live chat.

If You Miss a Live Stream

The site doesn't state whether streams are archived, so the reliable path is to check the channel's videos section on Twitch after the weekend. For finished work and one-off designs, the site points to Instagram and Dribbble, where the full collection of logos, projects, and illustration work is posted.

Common Snags

• Time zone confusion: the schedule is given in East Coast time only — convert before you plan.
• Assuming a weekday stream: the published schedule is weekends only.
• Expecting a structured course: the tutorial framing is real, but the sequence follows live projects, not a fixed curriculum.

If your goal is structured learning, pair the streams with the written tutorials on mattgyver.com; if your goal is watching design work happen in real time and asking questions, the weekend Twitch slot is the direct route.

Mattgyver offers a small set of Illustrator-focused tutorials and process write-ups: data visualization in Illustrator, Illustrator 3D tools and tips, playing card deck design tips, and creating pop art portraits in Illustrator. Each is presented as a project page with tips and process notes rather than a linear course, so they suit self-directed designers who want to see how a specific technique or project was approached and then adapt it to their own work.

The Tutorial Lineup

The site lists these tutorials under its Illustrator & Design Tutorials section:

The data visualization entry is the most explicitly described: the site says it includes resource links and public data sets intended to help you get your own data viz project off the ground. The other three are listed by title, so expect project-style notes rather than exhaustive step-by-step manuals.

How to Use Them

1. Pick the tutorial closest to your current task. If you need to turn a spreadsheet into a chart, start with data visualization; if you're designing a deck, start with the playing card tips.
2. Read the process notes first, then open Illustrator alongside them. These are project write-ups, so the value is in the decisions and technique choices, not a click-by-click script.
3. Use the linked resources for the data viz tutorial. The public data sets and resource links are the part you can act on immediately — download a data set and rebuild one of the visualizations.
4. Verify your result against the project images. Compare your output to the finished pieces shown on the page to catch spacing, type, or color issues.

What Else Is on the Site

Beyond tutorials, Mattgyver hosts a portfolio of design work — poster series (such as Bridges of the Grand Canal), commissioned playing card decks, typeface posters, and technical-manual-style illustration — plus a selection of free mockups, brushes, and other design tools. The site also points to Instagram and Dribbble for the full collection of one-off designs and illustration work.

For live instruction, the site notes a weekend Twitch stream (Twitch.tv/MattgyverTV), described as tutorial-style and covering graphic design techniques, experimentation, and the business side of design, with sessions listed as Saturday and Sunday mornings, 7am–10am East Coast time.

Common Snags

• Expecting a structured course. These are project pages; you'll need to supply your own practice project. Pick a real deliverable — a chart for a report, a card deck for a game — before you start reading.
• Skipping the resources. For the data visualization tutorial, the linked data sets are what make the practice concrete; without them you're only reading about process.
• Ignoring version differences. Illustrator's 3D tools have changed across releases, so if a step doesn't match your version, check Adobe's current documentation rather than forcing the old workflow.

If you want free assets to practice with, the site's mockups and brushes are a reasonable starting point; if you want to see finished work for reference, browse the portfolio and poster series first.