Meet Gunnar: Graphic Designer Who Dribbles Design Genius into Nike’s Game
Our .ME gallery of talented individuals is inexhaustible, but on this occasion, we’ve decided to introduce one special guy.
Meet Gunnar Harrison (gunnaris.me), creative genius and Lead Designer, powering Nike’s game.
In this article, we will explore his dynamic career growth and delve into his starting story. Further, we will show you his unique approach to design and what his research process looks like.
As you can’t imagine the world of sports outfits today without Nike, they can’t imagine their designs without this genius mastermind. His humility, coupled with an impressive portfolio, paints the picture of a team player, whose stroke brushes, or to be exact, clicks in Photoshop or Illustrator, are felt far beyond the Nike court.
Let’s jump in.
Gunnar Harrison – Origins
Harrison’s journey can be traced back to his education prior to college. The passion for design, as he mentioned in an interview for The Brand Identity, ignited somewhere around the elementary school period.
For instance, elementary school was where he found himself constantly drawing skate logos. It became a solid foundation for his visual exploration onward. When in middle school he added interest in metal and hardcore music to the mix, guided by the bold graphics and typography from these bands, his vision was remodeled. These edgy graphics on his favorite band t-shirts left a strong mark on young Gunnar.
Next, a class for digital media he took in high school played a pivotal role in his shaping as a graphic designer. It introduced him to the software he could use to bring his visions to life.
That said, though his early design palette fueled by the rebellious aesthetic of band merch remains visible through his work, his design spectrum has evolved since.
After his time at BYU (Brigham Young University), his own visual evolution has been a result of learning to respect a process. For instance, Gunnar says what drives him nowadays is the process of translating his ideas into design solutions. Whatever the design is, even if it’s not great, learning from the process is what powers his love for what he does.
Ultimately, he never thought this would be his life calling. Instead, thanks to his lack of science talent, he always thought he would be a rockstar working for the police as a sketch artist.
In some way, he is a (creative) rockstar!
Read more: Must-Have Tool For Graphic Designers
Actual Source – Hoops for Professional Growth
Although he did intern at several agencies, including his alma mater BYU, Gunnar’s first big deal job was at Actual Source. This collaborative design studio focuses on producing books, websites, apparel, packaging, as well as any kind of visual elements for a diverse palette of clients.
Among others, they collaborate even with Nike, where Gunnar has found his current home.
He became part of the studio after interning for a few months, and after admiring their work for some time. He immediately immersed himself in the unique aesthetic that separated AS from others.
By transitioning from a fan to a designer in Actual Source, he made a significant step ahead in his professional life.
In fact, that’s where he learned the importance of research before beginning any project, something that made this studio different.
What Happens When the Creative Juices Stop – Gunnar’s Approach to Design
Ever since Actual Source, Gunnar has focused on research for any design he works on. But what source does he rely on most?
It might surprise you, but he says Wikimedia Commons is a great tool. Armed with patience, by using the right search terms, he manages to land some interesting inspiration moments, avoiding infinite scrolls in the process.
That said, some days are less creative than others. Or more precisely, lack of inspiration feels crippling. However, Gunnar has learned to work through them. For instance, for client work, he tends to make himself sit down and check off tasks.
On the other hand, when doing some self-initiated work, it’s much harder to work through a lack of motivation.
Gunnar’s Projects Out of the Nike Court
In autumn 2021, after demonstrating his skills with other brands (like Apple), he landed a contract with Nike. Two years later, he became a lead designer on their Basketball CDS.
But maintaining personal projects remains an interest for Gunnar.
He wouldn’t say it’s as important for him as some others, especially in the post-COVID-19 era. However, he feels like this could be valuable for finding different job opportunities as well as improving your skills this way.
For him, personal projects allow him to exercise and discover new creative paths, without the pressure of deadlines and without having to report to anyone.
One of his projects, Lake Effect is an example of just that.
The idea of this work was to show how human presence affects the Great Salt Lake in his home state Utah. Hence the name.
The project consisted of a creative way to showcase aerial photos of an artificially divided lake, with two completely different ecosystems. Photos in his work demonstrate it in the most unique way.
What Does The Future Hold for Gunnar
In conclusion, Gunnar Harrison’s journey is a story of a passionate young man, whose bosses loved working with him, dubbing him a creative thought leader.
More than that, he is always willing to aid less-experienced designers, all in good faith.
We are convinced that we are yet to see his greatest work. Keep up the good work Gunnar!For those who want to learn more about this famous .MEr check him out on LinkedIn, Instagram, or his personal page.
