In the High Flyers spotlight this week is Tim McAllister, creative director at Emersion Studio
What was your first job?
I joined Belfast-based design company Triplicate Isis straight out of college. I had a few job opportunities to choose from, and I feel fortunate that I chose part two. I always say to people the first place you go to work is the most important place to work. That’s where you learn; it shapes you and the team embraces you.
What qualifications do you have?
I studied art for four years at Ulster University. I started in a foundation year which included painting, pottery, 3D and life drawing. Then I went on to get a degree in visual communication at Ulster University with the last two years specialising in graphic design and branding, which always really interested me.
What do you attribute your success to?
It’s all about perseverance, tenacity and perfection. To be at the top of your game, you have to really work hard and maintain dedication. I think it’s also important to be humble and accept that you might get things wrong along the way.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
I’m definitely a perfectionist and I think that comes from my career in graphic design, because it’s all about the detail.
Who do you look up to in business?
For me, it wouldn’t be a celebrity, but more the people throughout our career route that we don’t realise how pivotal they are. My tutor, Bobby Johnston, was a man who knew everything about business and would advise me about managing people and myself.
How do you get the best out of the people who work for you?
At Emersion Studio, I like to give the people I work with the freedom and trust that they will get the job done because, just like me, they have 20 years of experience in their back pocket.
If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?
We’re very much a country that likes a bargain. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with billion-pound companies and what I’ve noticed with those type of companies is that when you go in, they’ll let you do your job because they’re objective focused, whereas I think we tend to tinker and deal with things we don’t need to.
What website or app could you not do without?
WhatsApp, because it’s a very functional and useful app for me. I’m not hugely into apps though. I still love hard copies of magazines and journals. I love a good graphic design magazine.
What car do you drive?
Audi. In the 90s one of our industry magazines Creative Review always had a full page ad for a Saab 900. I always wanted to be a graphic designer so I could drive a Saab 900.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I love diggers. My dad worked for JCB, so I was always brought up on big machinery, but I never really grew out of the interest.
