MIG sits down with Web and Visual Designer, Tyler Lukey to talk about what inspires, un-inspires and why, despite his passion for technology, unplugging is an integral part of his creative process.
...Don’t ask me how I feel about Version_29.Tyler Lukey, MIG Graphics Designer
MIG
Where are you from?
TYLER
That’s a hard question to answer. My dad was in the military growing up so I’m from all sorts of places, Hawaii, Maryland, German, Pittsburgh, San Antonio … uhm, that’s it.
MIG
Do you have a favorite place out of any of those?
TYLER
I liked Maryland a lot, Hawaii, hard to say, as they’re all so different. I like everywhere. If I don’t … I leave. I like Florida because it’s warm.
MIG
Tell me a little about your creative background.
TYLER
I took advanced art classes in high school and they offered computer graphics/web design as well, which is pretty innovative for a high school. So I geared my schooling around those classes, along with painting and drawing. Then I applied to a bunch of schools and eventually got into the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, which I loved … until winter hit. People are depressing when they’re cold. Come second year I transferred to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
MIG
How early on did you realize you were drawn towards creating art?
TYLER
Very early on. My parents told me when I was younger I would draw a lot and was more creative than analytical … more right brain than left; although I did like biology and animals … and often thought about working for the World Wildlife Foundation.
MIG
What sort of art do you do in your downtime?
TYLER
I draw a lot. Not as much as I’d like but… I draw for friends, family, presents, shirts, stuff like that. Eventually it might be for something else? We’ll see.
MIG
How do you use your talents at MIG?
TYLER
I went to school for graphic design, but towards the end of my college degree, the last year… technology really started to become prevalent, so I made a conscious decision to dive into web and app design, and user interface, way more than was required. I essentially went out of my way to learn that field because I saw print was becoming more and more obsolete. I also got a job where I was given a lot of free time to develop better ways to do certain things: emailing marketing, coding, writing scripts, stuff like that. So when I got hired at MIG, I was able to instantly use all of those skills.
MIG
What creatively inspires you?
TYLER
There are a few websites I visit once a day for web and user interface design. They’re great sites to see what trends are coming and going. A good example is 3D icons. Those are going.
MIG
What’s coming?
TYLER
Flat, more simplistic, back to basic designs. It’s always a big cycle.
MIG
Just like clogs.
TYLER
(Ha). Yeah. I also leave my work at the office. That inspires me too. I work on my boat. I go without Internet and electricity and when I’m on vacation, I’m usually camping which means it’s just nature and me. No computer. No phone. This allows me to feel more creative …and it opens my mind so that when I do come back to work and plug in – I’m incredibly focused.
MIG
What do you like the most about what you do?
TYLER
I like MIG because it gives me freedom to research new, and innovative things. I like how they give me time to find a better way to do something. Because new technology is always coming out, so if I do something one way in the beginning of the year, I can figure out a way to do it more effectively by the end of the year. It’s nice to be able to stay on top of everything, and to have the freedom to be innovative.
MIG
What do you dislike about what you do?
TYLER
Ha. Revisions. When you get to version twenty-seven … and then you’re asked, “Do you like it?” Don’t ask me after version three or four if I like it. I feel bad about that but … I feel like there’s a misconception that the more time spent on something the better it’s going to be. This is rarely the case. Roy Acuff once said, “Do it on the first recording because come the next, you’ll start losing the essence of it.” I feel like multiple takes means you’re thinking about something too much, and then it becomes too literal and loses its creative essence.
MIG
Where do you see yourself in five years?
TYLER
I would like to take on more of a creative role in the industry while at the same time staying hands on because I’ll always like working with technology and finding new ways to do stuff.
MIG
Think you’ll still be on your boat?
TYLER
I don’t know. We’ll see!
