Meet Matt Daigle | Writer, Illustrator, Cartoonist & Deaf Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Daigle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a Deaf illustrator, cartoonist, graphic designer, and writer, my online presences was a bit all over the place. I had different online stores that sold stickers, advertised my graphic design and consulting business, and my webcomic merchandise. Each one of them was a side hustle that I did while I taught American Sign Language at a local university. I realized it was getting a bit confusing for my customers so I decided to launch my own publishing company and was able to consolidate all my interests into one place. That is how HANDSAIL Publishing was born.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is driven by my Deaf experiences. So of course, there has been lots of struggle. It doesn’t matter how talented you are if the gate keepers keep you at bay afraid to open their minds to explore different or alternative ways of communicating. So I had no choice than to strike out on my own. I started to do my artwork to make me happy and hopefully assist in supporting my family. I started with what I knew best and that was my lived experience. The humor based in “That Deaf Guy” is autobiographical in nature. My wife and I would encounter the most outrageous people whose ignorance was mind boggling but instead of becoming angry we channeled all of that into comedy. Our goal for our comic was to entertain the Deaf community but we quickly learned that our type of humor hit a sweet spot between Deaf and “Hearing” audiences. In my illustration work I wanted to honor American Sign Language (ASL), therefore a lot of my designs incorporated it and soon I was getting hired by companies and individuals who were Deaf and wanted that kind of representation in their logos, print materials or their overall aesthetic. What I have learned over the years is that humor grabs peoples attention. and holds them there. People don’t want to be preached at, guilt builds more defenses but humor, thats the key, to educating people, after the giggle, there is always the hope of personal reflection.
One last thing, to artist and creatives out there. We are all scared, we all doubt, we all are afraid of internet hate and making ourselves vulnerable. You are not alone. Do your art anyway. Be brave and take the risk to create. Its life-giving.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well I am sorta a foodie. So a lot of my LA experiences revolves around good food. Breakfast at Cindy’s in Eagle Rock. It’s an old-fashioned diner that serves sweet potato biscuits and a beef brisket hash that will make you fall out of your chair plus pies- so many pies. It’s heaven. OR
Breakfast at Aroma Cafe in Studio City. The outside seating is cozy and the food is incredible. It is located in Tujunga Village is a quaint area to shop and get a great London Fog or gelato and has great stores and a lovely park near by.
A trip to Vromans bookstore in Pasadena or The Last Bookstore in DTLA. Both are iconic places to browse among shelfs and shelfs of books. My family and I love to get lost in these stores for hours.
My favorite museum is The Broad. The art is modern and hip and the HUGE table and chairs you can walk under is so fun that I never tire of it.
Now back to food….
Down the street is our local Italian market and eatery, Pinocchio’s Monte Carlo. They have the best vegetable lasagna and Gelato. I love the old fashion menu written on the wall, the lettering brings a lot of nostalgia to the place. The busting workers always look like they love their jobs and serving great food to their customers.
I would definitely take friends to an LA Kings game or to see the Dodgers. Nothing is like LA sports. Period.
Again…back to food.
Saturday I would swing by Handy Market in Burbank and grab BBQ. The smell of smoke from outside the pit is a whole experience that adds to the excitement of something really messy and good to eat. I always order the pork ribs and sausage. I also never forget to grab their cookies that are made on Friday and run out by Sunday. Huge cookies that are the perfect combination of soft and chewy. You feel like one of the lucky people who got them before they are gone.
Of course, I would also insist my guest join me on a confusing drive to Magpie in Echo Park. Magpie soft-serve is like no other. Their original fried ice cream pie will give you sticker shock but will be worth every single bite. The toppings and vegan soft-serve are some of the best I have ever tasted.
My other favorite ice cream place is in Burbank called Sliders. They have the most creative ice cream which is so good, I have to sit down to eat it. Combinations like dark chocolate and raspberry, bourbon ice cream called Hollywood Nights , Southern Banana Pudding and the list goes on. They also have a pecan pumpkin pie that I wish was served all year long.
Of course my family and I love DTLA Angels flight, the Grand Market and attending accessible shows at the LA Opera, and Ahmanson/Mark Taper Forum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife, Kay. Besides being the co-creator of our webcomic “The Deaf Guy”, she is my muse, tireless cheerleader, my therapist, and my best friend. My dear friend Brent Geris who is a magician and owns the Magic Apple store in Studio City. We met when our kids were in the same class in Elementary school. He is my business mentor and has an innovative mind and can-do attitude like no other person I know. He encouraged me to develop playing cards based on my webcomic characters using American Sign Language and it is one of my best selling items to date.
My parents, who supported this struggling artist for years with generous hearts and a solid believe in my success.
The Deaf Community who continues to show up for me and my wife, who celebrate our success and keep us in business.

Website: handsail.net or ThatDeafguy.com

Instagram: @thatdeafcartoonist

Linkedin: Matt Daigle

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thatdeafguy

Other: My wife and I are co-creators co-writers of a video game along with game development company called The Odd Gentlemen it’s called “Harmonium The Musical”. Our trailer can be seen at www.theoddgentlemen.com which also includes the backstory to our game