Whether you’ve been reading Spider-Man comics for years or just saw her in the new Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie, Gwen Stacy’s instantly iconic design has left an impression on you. And it wouldn’t have happened if her costume wasn’t such an amazing mix of graphic design and costuming—the passionate marriage that lies at the heart of every truly memorable superhero outfit.

So what was the inspiration behind her outfit? How did the writers and artists create a look that is simultaneously familiar but completely distinct from Spider-Man’s? One of Spider-Gwen’s creators, writer/artist Jason Latour, recently posted a Twitter thread answering this question and offering a little masterclass on the art of designing an iconic superhero costume.

Latour breaks down her design process into three considerations: First, she had to represent her specific multiverse version of a known character; second, she needed to have something that Robbi Rodriguez could draw over and over again while still enjoying it; and finally, the design needed to be bright and clear so that readers would immediately know who it was under all that web.

Latour’s full thread is well worth a read, as it offers an insightful peek into the design process that went into creating Spider-Gwen’s stunning outfit. Hopefully it will inspire you to get creative with your own superhero costumes! Ghost spider costume