Name, Age, and State: Kevin Tucker, 36, Tennessee

Job-title: Director of Momentum (we invented our own titles: my wife/business partner’s title is Director of Trajectory)… otherwise, I refer to myself as owner / creative director

Web/blog site URL: http://www.collidecreative.com/

Give us your job description in 25 words or less. Creating communication solutions for a variety of clients through a brand-focused, strategic approach to design and marketing, to achieve a positive, lasting impact on the intended audience.

Describe a typical workday. Days vary greatly depending on the particular client need, but I usually work about an 8-hour day, typically the same hours as our clients are working. Tasks for each day will vary between design work, client meetings or conference calls, and the occasional off-site photoshoot or video shoot. Most work tasks happen in the office for me, with occasional location or off-site work, as well as out-of-town travel.

What led you to realize that you wanted to do this type of work? I was always fascinated with art, and at one point I thought about going into Advertising, but once I learned more about Graphic Design, I realized that was what I wanted to do, as it allowed me to focus on the visual aspects of communication. Over the years I got more involved in the strategy behind the process, and expanded into other areas as well, but I still primarily focus on the visuals.

Did you have any heroes or mentors in your industry that you admired? There are quite a few. Mid-20th Century pioneers like Saul Bass and Paul Rand are among the heroes I count as inspirations. Others who have influenced me include Charles S. Anderson, Storm Thorgerson, Shepard Fairey… and on any given day I’m inspired by someone new and different, depending on what I’m working on. I tend to say that I form temporary obsessions on whatever subject matter I’m working on, and sometimes they stick. For example, about 10 years ago I had to create a vintage-looking neon sign for an album cover, and did a lot of research to get there – and I’m still hung up on those, and stop to take pictures whenever I see one I didn’t notice before.

What type of education or training was required to land your job? I have a BFA degree in Graphic Design with a minor in illustration. Most people in my profession have a degree of some kind, though there are exceptions. Personally, I feel that for a design professional to function properly they need to have all the background of an art degree (any proper Graphic Design program is a concentration within the Art curriculum).

What do you love most about your job? I love to create, and I love challenges. It’s always rewarding to see the successful result that comes out of the process of collaborating with clients to achieve a goal.

What one part of your job do you wish you could hire someone else to do? Sales. As much as I enjoy working with clients directly, I’m not very skilled in the process of sales. Obviously I do it, or I wouldn’t still be in business! But it’s not my strength. I’d suggest that anyone in this field will potentially end up as a business owner, and should incorporate into their education basic business management and sales training – even to the point of adding a minor in business or something similar to their collegiate studies.

What advice would you give to teenagers wanting to get into your field of work? It’s 35% talent, 35% experience, 35% hard work, and -5% math. You need to have a great visual sensibility to start with, but it takes a lot of work, and learning along the way. You’ll have several people throughout your career, especially early on, who will be essential as mentors – listen to them, and learn from them.

How does your job allow you to use your God-given gifts? God gave me the ability to have a vision and to be able to implement it with my artistic talent, and a problem-solving mind that enables me to think strategically and to overcome obstacles to do so. I use these gifts every day, and I’m very thankful for that!

Do you have any hobbies or off-hours pursuits that teenagers would find of interest? I write, and do occasional film projects. I’m also a collector of all kinds of odd things, and enjoy bizarre humor – I love to laugh more than almost anything else in life.