Design Journey
Erin Young Maslowski's artistic lineage dates back generations, tracing her family’s creativity from 19th-century English art teachers to her grandfather and many other relatives (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), . She often jokes that she’s the least gifted of the bunch. Erin’s passion for art was ignited during drawing lessons with her grandfather, where she honed various techniques and developed a love for graphic design while working at his company, Young Sign Co., during her teenage years.
Her educational journey took her across the globe, studying design in London, Edinburgh, and Germany, experiences that enriched her cultural understanding and artistic perspective. Erin earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design from the University of Kansas. Over the years, she has contributed her expertise to renowned advertising agencies, the Department of Defense, specialized marketing firms, and prestigious organizations. Her career highlights include a decade-long+ contract as a senior designer for a $65 billion organization, a global senior designer role for a $4 billion company, and art direction for numerous high-profile brands.
When she’s not art directing or illustrating, Erin enjoys exploring nature and going on daily runs with her dogs. In the summer, she can often be found attempting to wake surf with her husband and three children—usually with more splashes than style. She also loves creating digital photo albums and researching family history by illustrating family trees, a testament to her ever-present creative spirit.
From Rivalry to Revelry: Uniting a House Divided
Erin’s journey into mascot art began with the search for the perfect anniversary gift for her husband, a die-hard Wisconsin Badgers fan. Realizing he’d never received anything BuckyBadger-related from her, she created a one-of-a-kind artwork of the beloved mascot to celebrate his school pride.
While working on Bucky, Erin felt inspired to illustrate her own favorite mascot, the Kansas Jayhawk. Together, these pieces became a vibrant centerpiece in their game room, symbolizing both their shared school pride and a house divided yet united through art.
What started as a heartfelt gift quickly grew into a creative endeavor. Erin has poured her passion into designing mascot art that celebrates the pride, nostalgia, and joy tied to beloved schools. Each piece captures the unique energy of these mascots, brightening spaces and keeping school spirit alive.
Today, Erin shares her artwork with others, committed to doing things the right way—methodically obtaining official university licensing and ensuring that 12% of every sale supports the schools she partners with.
Whether it’s celebrating a house divided, reliving the glory days, or finding the perfect gift, Erin’s art brings school spirit to life. Follow her on Instagram to see which mascot she’ll release next and join the celebration of shared pride and creativity! ❤️🎨
