Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Tiernan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Traditional illustration was always something I enjoyed doing as a kid. I used to draw characters like Goku and doodle all over my notebooks. Playing in bands was my introduction to graphic design. One of my favorite things to do every weekend was to go to shows. And I rarely left the venue without buying a CD or a t-shirt. Long car trips were perfect for checking out the artwork in CD booklets. I eventually studied design in college, and I’ve been working in the creative field since graduating. A few years ago, I fell into making posters as a hobby on the side.
Mondo had released the Jurassic Park soundtrack on vinyl, which got me interested in the pop culture world. Guardians of the Galaxy rapidly became my obsession, so I decided to create fan art for the movie. Gradually, I branched out to projects for other properties, like illustrating a Batman villain every week of October. My vector art was usually formatted for Instagram. But, I wanted to explore working at a larger size. For inspiration, I looked at the way that alternative movie posters used composition and typography.
An online platform called PosterSpy ended up sharing my posters from the Art Awakens competition. Creating a portfolio on their site opened the door to a great community of supportive artists. I’ve been lucky to meet talented people in the same space, like the Poster Posse, Printed In Blood, Creature Features from Burbank, and SquaredCO. Over the past year, I was fortunate enough to contribute to shows at Gallery 1988 in LA. It was a blast taking part in their official Rick and Morty exhibit.
I’m just really happy that I’ve had opportunities to continue growing as a designer.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve learned to be a bit more mindful while designing, but also in general. I think there’s a sense that taking a breath will impact momentum. However, it’s helpful to reevaluate yourself at times. In the long run, stepping away for a moment can make projects feel fresh and inspiring. Promoting has its own set of challenges but you’re pushed to come up with new ideas.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Tiernan Designs – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I offer a variety of commercial design services in areas like print, digital, branding and illustration. I also specialize in key art for movies and television, which includes posters and other promotional materials. I’ve worked on projects based in LA, on the east coast and other parts of the country. While my personal style leans closer to clean and minimal, I can work within brand standards. I’m open to collaboration and accepting commissions.
Licensing was a goal of mine, so it’s been nice to get the experience over the past year. My work is featured in The Thing: Artbook, as well as the PosterSpy: Alternative Movie Poster Collection.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan is to keep learning skills and picking up on new things. I’m definitely looking forward to networking with brands, artists and designers. I have a few gallery shows lined up, which are always fun. I’d really love to seek out more licensed projects this year. There are movie genres that would be interesting to explore.
I also need to watch more horror movies, finish burning through my Marvel trades and exercise more.
Contact Info:
- Website: tiernandesign.com
- Email: kevin@tiernandesign.com
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
