SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: The Theme Park Artwork Of DEREK COLLIER (AKA Satisfactual Sign Company)

CLICKING HERE.) The class of 2026 kicked off with Brianna Garcia, and today we are following up with a person whose creative output is so prolific and so absolutely amazing that I originally assumed it was a collective of artists working under one pseudonym. NAY NAY. It was all the work of a single man, Derek Collier, who you may know as the Satisfactual Sign Company.
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Hey there! I’m Derek, although most folks just know me as Satisfactual nowadays, and I’m incredibly honored to be part of this Artist Spotlight series. Huge thanks to Derek and the crew for the invitation, I’m truly grateful to be here!
I always grew up with an interest in art, sketching, doodling, drawing, painting, you name it, I was into it from a young age. But, ironically, I didn’t seriously pursue art until later in life. After college, I followed a career path in education, spending years in meetings where my notebooks were filled less with notes and more with doodles and drawings. I’d jump at any chance to design a t-shirt, brochure, or graphic for my department, but I wasn’t doing any kind of professional art work yet.
My first real dive into fabrication came through cosplay. I’ve always been a huge Star Wars fan, and I built helmets for and others while also assembling my own Stormtrooper armor. This was way before 3D printing was readily accessible, so I was making these items out of whatever I could find (foam, cardboard, you name it!)

My parents have been bringing me to the theme parks ever since I was a kid, and one of my favorite attractions was the Backlot Tour at Disney-MGM Studios. The trams would pass by the prop shop and all I could think was “Wow! How do I get to do that cool stuff!” So it was a true full-circle moment for me when I got to bring my R2-D2 replica to Star Wars Nights at Hollywood Studios back in 2018. I had spent years fine-tuning this droid to look as good as it possibly could and was really proud when it was ‘cleared’ to get into the park, because we all know how particular Disney is when it comes to the looks of their characters inside the parks!

In 2017, I moved to Orlando. You would think for the theme parks, but it was actually to help start a church in nearby Pine Hills. I arrived without a job and eventually landed in a call center role calling students for Duquesne university. Eight hours a day in a cubicle was brutal for a creative brain, and I spent every spare moment applying for anything that might get me out of that corporate prison.
Eventually, an opportunity opened up at a local fabrication company. The pay wasn’t great, but the job title was Artist Fabricator, and that alone made me feel like I was heading in the right direction. I finally felt like I was using my God-given talents in a meaningful way, even through the brutal backbreaking work a lot of it was (I learned the hard way how much styrofoam follows you home!)
I worked on projects for The Edison in Disney Springs, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. I soaked up everything that I could during this entire process: fiberglass work, CNC, spray booths, sanding, welding, literally anything I could get my hands on. It really was an open opportunity to learn and grow in a field that I had always wanted to break into.
One of the things I learned quickly is that Orlando is swarming with literally the most creative people in the world. Artists, fabricators, designers, engineers… you name it, they all land here, often with the same goal in mind, working for one of the major theme parks in the area in a creative/artistic role. Eventually a role came available at Disney that I knew I wanted to apply for, while not fully realizing at the time that I was wildly unqualified for it. Knowing how competitive the aforementioned creative scene in Orlando is, I tried something different: I sent my résumé as a custom GI Joe–style action figure of myself.

I got the rejection call the very next day. I felt equal parts disappointed and embarrassed, because I had sent this ‘ridiculous’ action figure of myself to the hiring manager now and it would land on their desk sometime after my rejection had already come.
But that Saturday morning, as I was making pancakes for my son, a call came through. It was the hiring manager. He said, “I’m looking at this action figure of you and it’s such a cool thing—do you still want a job?”
That’s how I landed a role working contract for Disney’s Figure Finishing department!

I couldn’t believe how fast everything I wanted was coming to me. However, to paraphrase Proverbs 16:9, God often has other plans for us…
# 6 – Everything Is Satisfactual
I’ve been asked many times, how did the Satisfactual Sign Company begin?
Well, like everyone else, March 2020 hit our family hard. Disney completely shut down, and I was furloughed indefinitely. After working so hard to get where I was, it all vanished overnight.
That summer, I stayed busy by making small 3D-printed trinkets and hiding them around our neighborhood for kids (and, honestly, adults) to find: Harry Potter wands, Groots, baby Yodas (he was still baby Yoda then as his full name hadn’t been introduced.) It helped keep my spirits up while job applications led nowhere.
After countless closed doors, my wife suggested something simple: “You’ve always wanted to do an online shop, why not try?”
It felt silly, and I had nothing to lose but time, so sure why not? Some of my very first signs were Splash Mountain–inspired. After seeing a photo of the iconic “You May Get Wet” sign I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if I owned that? Then I had an epiphany: I can make that!
From L-R: The original sign at Splash Mountain, my recreation, and making multiple copies for my online store.
That single moment kind of sparked everything that came afterwards. I named my company Satisfactual Sign Co., inspired by the word “Satisfactual” from the lyrics of the Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah song. In hindsight, I probably should’ve skipped the “Co.”, as I’m very much a one-man art show, but at the time it was ‘trendy’ to add Co. so silly me followed the trend.

The early years focused on simple pieces: Splash Mountain signage, Mickey pumpkins, various snacks, and smaller park signs, but you can clearly see the growth over time as I learned more and challenged myself more. As an artist, I want to constantly push myself to create things that are on the cusp of my comfortability. Sometimes that works out great, while other times I lose sleep and hair because of that same drive!

# 5 – Why Signs?
Early on, I got asked this question a lot. The answer is simple: signs were a natural starting point, flat enough to hang on a wall, but layered with texture and depth. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, theme park signage wasn’t just informational, it was immersive. Hand-carved lettering, creeping vines, stone textures, aged metal patinas… all of it told a story before you even stepped into the attraction.

I spent years studying and recreating details from attractions like Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and Expedition Everest.

Eventually, I shifted from only recreating what already existed to creating original pieces that feel like they belong in the theme parks, even if they never actually did. This goes back to my inner drive to challenge myself. Very early on in my career I wanted to be ‘safe’ in what I was creating, but I quickly realized that it wasn’t nearly as rewarding to me. So I pushed myself to get outside of the box more!

# 4 – Muppetational
As a child of the ’80s and ’90s, Jim Henson’s worlds were a huge influence on me. I remember watching reruns of the Muppet Show, Muppet Babies, and Fraggle Rock and how the puppeteering felt alive in a way that truly stuck with me.
That influence came back full circle with Muppet*Vision 3D. It was such a well done attraction for the parks, and of course, as we all know, it was Jim Henson’s last full project before his unfortunate passing. It’s funny because I had first modeled the Miss Piggy fountain in 2023 as a fun side project that a friend had challenged me to do. I didn’t delve too much further into Muppet*Vision at the time as I had a lot of other things going on. However, in 2025, with the announcement of the closure of the attraction, it evolved into one of my favorite builds ever: a fully functioning, 20 inch scale replica of the entire fountain.

When something we love closes or changes, I feel like creating art can be a way to honor it and remember it, perhaps to cope or spark memories of joy or other feelings from when it existed. For me, MuppetVision became that, and many of my pieces of 2025 were a tribute to recreating the joy, details, and memories that meant so much to so many people. For me the community that formed around this work has been one of the most rewarding parts of the past year.
Muppet characters above the stage in Muppet*Vision 3D. (photo by @bioreconstruct)

The loss of Muppet Courtyard and everything it had is going to sting for a long time, but we’ll always remember what we loved about it, including the incredible wordplay in all of the PizzeRizzo signage.

Like many reading this, I was blown away watching the recent Muppets special on Disney+. I can’t believe what an incredible job they did bringing back all the things we love about the original Muppet Show. The gags, the music, and of course Miss Piggy in all her glory! It inspired me to create a new Muppets piece, and I was drawn to the large billboard that advertised Muppet*Vision featuring our favorite starlet swine.
Muppet*Vision 3D billboard featuring Miss Piggy. (photo via Muppet Wiki)

My version was complete with glowing “neon” just like the original!

I created these small keepsake “Muppet*Vision Memories” to share with friends and fans at a meetup a couple months before the attraction’s closure. They were simple, physical reminders you could hang on a wall or place on a shelf. Just some little pieces that capture the charm and those unforgettable gags that made Muppet*Vision so special.

# 3 – See the Stars, Ride the Movies
One type of theme park signage that doesn’t get the acclaim they deserve are billboards. For many years, theme parks had some of the most original and iconic billboard designs I’ve ever seen. Who can forget seeing the infamous “stink bug” billboard for Animal Kingdom or the Tower of Terror billboard for Disney Hollywood Studios?
Tower of Terror Billboard. (photo by Blog Mickey)
Of course I had to take a crack out of recreating a bit of my childhood!

In fact, one of my strongest childhood memories is driving down I-4 and seeing Universal’s massive, over-the-top 3D billboards in the 1990s. As a kid I just remember thinking, “If the billboard is this exciting, how incredible must the ride be?!”

Years later, I knew that I had to recreate them. This became a challenge, because most of my reference photos were old, grainy, and quite hard to get details from. You know what I think about challenges though…bring it on! What I ended up doing was using various references, poster art, key art references from old park maps and things of that nature to try and best extrapolate the details of many of the billboards I wanted to create. The results? Some of my favorite projects I’ve done to date!

My most recent “billboard” is for Jurassic Park: The Ride. It is a tribute to one of the most iconic splashdowns in theme parks today. The splash, the screams, and that moment you realize you’re definitely not staying dry!

Of course, like so many things I do, the idea spiraled even further when Epic Universe opened. I couldn’t stop thinking: What if this were the ’90s? What would those billboards look like for lands like How to Train your Dragon – Isle of Berk or Super Nintendo World? Weeks of sketching later, those throwback concepts became reality.

For the “billboard” design for Minecart Madness in Donkey Kong Country, I thought it was natural to base it off Kongfrontation.

My Ygor billboard design got a lot of traction online because of the fandom for Universal Classic Monsters.

I’ve still got about five more Epic and 1990s-themed billboard designs to reveal later this spring! (EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ll update this article with them once they are released)
# 2 – Agh! Real Monsters!
Speaking of Epic Universe, the park blew me away on my Annual Passholder preview day. I’ve only been to Epic once, but can’t wait to go back! As an artist and lover of all things theme parks, I loved every little detail of the various lands and offerings there. If I had to pick one, I’d have to say my favorite is Darkmoor Village and it’s E-Ticket attraction Monsters Unchained. After tackling the Ygor-inspired billboard, a follower suggested recreating the wooden monster dolls from Monster Unchained’s pre-show safety spiel, something that I had completely missed on my first ride!
Wolfman doll in Monsters Unchained pre-show.
Using extremely limited references, I created stylized versions of the Mummy, Gill-Man, Dracula and Wolf Man which ‘somewhat’ resemble the ones used in the attraction’s pre-show.

I was super happy with how those figures turned out, but a lingering thought haunted me….what if we had ALL the other monsters in a similar style? So I went even deeper, designing wooden versions of every major monster, including Frankenstein’s Monster and his bride.

I kept going, even doing one for Victoria Frankenstein herself. The entire process was challenging and messy, bust also incredibly satisfying. (Yes, I know that I didn’t do a Dracula’s bride or Hunchback, sorry!)

# 1 – A Tribute to the Tributes
Those monster dolls ended up sparking an unexpected, and incredibly fun, spinoff. After I shared the Ygor figure online, it opened the door to creating a 12 inch tall, nutcracker-style version of the character for Universal’s Holiday Tribute Store at the end of 2025.

The figure was featured in a room that was filled with various nutcrackers.
Nutcracker room in the Tribute Holiday Market. (photo by Skipper Hoss)
A closer look reveals my little baby boy. I’ve never been more proud. A literal dream come true. I’d also like to give a huge shoutout to everyone on social media that tagged me in their photos with Ygor at the Tribute Store. That was so much fun! I really didn’t think anyone would find out it was me, but within a day of him being installed people had figured out I made him.

That opportunity meant a lot to me because I’ve always been a huge fan of Universal’s Tribute Stores. The care, creativity, and heart that the teams pour into each one is remarkable. These stores are one of the most underrated “attractions” in the entire Universal Orlando Resort given how important those spaces are to the overall guest experience. Funny enough, even before the Ygor nutcracker project came about, I was already working with Adam (Skipper Hoss) on a secret thank-you gift for his Tribute Store team. This was purely being done as a fan showing my appreciation for everything they have done over the years.
Let’s backtrack for a moment. I’ve always been a sucker for the Mr. Tape character. He was a standout character featured in the 2024 Summer Tribute Store, and I was genuinely bummed there wasn’t any official Mr. Tape merch. When I spotted him again as a Santa-themed Easter egg in the holiday store, I knew I had to make something to commemorate it.
Mr. Tape reference in the 2025 Holiday Tribute Store. (photo by @bioreconstruct)
After bouncing around ideas with Adam, we landed on a “cookie” version of Mr. Tape. Of course we were going to take it one step further by turning him into a budget “ice-your-own” cookie kit that you would find at places like Dollar General. Time constraints played a role in that decision, but it ended up perfectly matching the character’s humor. I handled the cookies and packaging elements, while Adam designed an incredibly fun cardback. Just like that, the gift came together.

Here’s a look at Adam’s incredible cardback design. The level of craftsmanship is off the chart.

These pieces were never for sale, only made as gifts for the team, just as a small way for Adam and myself to thank the many behind-the-scenes creatives who make these Tribute Stores so special. To go along with that, there are so many unsung heroes in this industry, and it honestly humbles me that anyone might see my work alongside what those teams create every day and feel like it belongs there (such as Ygor.)

Derek knows niche theme park stuff and I am so here for it. I have only known him for a relatively short time but had been following his work for a while. Talented and up for a challenge, he really embodies the best of the art scene surrounding the nerdy cult of theme park fandom. It was a blast to work with him even if only a little on the Mr. Tape Holiday gift for my team and am dying to find ways to work with him again in the future! Keep making cool stuff dude!” – Adam (@skipper_hoss)
Honorable Mention – Gingerbread Cookies
Holidays of course are a huge deal at the theme parks, so early on in the days of Satisfactual I knew they’d become a part of what I create. In the first year or two, I experimented with a variety of holiday-themed projects, lots of parade characters and other fun seasonal pieces.

What really took hold, though, were the various “gingerbread” cookie designs. At first, I mostly stuck to very traditional cookies, the classic brown with white icing piped around the edges. Eventually, like so many examples I’ve talked about, I thought why not push those boundaries a bit? So I began focusing on fully capturing specific characters through the lens of a cookie design. Over the years, the style has shifted away from strictly traditional gingerbread/holiday motifs and more toward a playful, decorated-icing approach, but they’ve been an absolute joy to create every year. I’ve always enjoyed giving them a bit of ‘wonkiness along the edges and icing parts to make the model work seem more organic in texture and style. I also take pride in choosing a handful of unexpected characters each season, so there’s always something new popping up for the holidays. It’s easily one of my favorite times of year to create.

I know this has been long, but hopefully enjoyable! I’ll close with a thought that’s always been the foundation of everything I do. As an artist, one of my greatest joys is using my work to bless others and bring a bit of happiness into their lives. Satisfactual was born during a year (2020) that was incredibly difficult for so many of us, and from the beginning I knew one thing mattered more than anything else: if I can create something that sparks joy, nostalgia, or even a quiet moment of reflection for someone, then I’ve succeeded. Being able to use my God-given talents in this way is the most rewarding part of what I do.
At the heart of everything I create is a desire to challenge myself, honor what I love about theme parks, and spark joy through nostalgia and storytelling. Satisfactual isn’t just about signs, it’s about memories and celebrating the worlds, attractions, and characters that shaped us.
So thanks for hanging out and hearing a bit about my story, and remember, everything is Satisfactual!
So there you have it: The Theme Park Artwork of Derek Collier (AKA Satisfactual Sign Co)! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, giving a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on BlueSky (@derekburgan).
If you enjoyed this, you’ll surely enjoy the following:
Artist Spotlight Class of 2021: SonderQuest | Sam Carter | Brian Cooper | Sterling Decker
Artist Spotlight Class of 2022: Rob Yeo | Ava Buric | Jess Siswick | Hayden Evans
Artist Spotlight Class of 2023: Marie Catano | Savannah Hamilton | Bunny Wars
Artist Spotlight Class of 2024: Jaime S. | Jess Feldman | Bryan Bindman
Artist Spotlight Class of 2025: Brandon Starr | Kristi O | Henry Taylor
Artist Spotlight Class of 2026 Brianna Garcia | Satisfactual Sign Company
SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: Derek Burgan
SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: Brian Gweon
SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: Phillip Weatherford (AKA The Horizoneer)
SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: Charlie MacWilliams
SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: Stephen Christ
SATURDAY SIX Presents: Artists Inspired by Universal’s VELOCICOASTER
SATURDAY SIX Presents: Artists Inspired by Universal’s EPIC UNIVERSE
SATURDAY SIX Presents: Artists Inspired by Universal’s HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS
SATURDAY SIX Artists Inspired by HHN Series: Declan O’mara
To bring things full circle, let me tell you a story about when I worked in figure finishing. I made another action figure resume of myself to try and get the next role up for the position that I had been wanting. One of the inside jokes that I put on the figure was a small sticker about the ‘mail in’ carnotaurus figure you could get with purchase. I had worked on the Dinosaur attraction so much that I figured my manager would get a kick out of it. I applied for this role in January of 2020, and the world shut down two months later so I never got it the job. However, just a few months after I’d start Satisfactual and the rest is history. Thank you all for being along for the ride!

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