For Tantrum's Senior Designer Michael, Design Wasn’t in the Cards—Until He Dealt His Own Hand

Michael Gutierrez-Nery is a gambler. Meeting him, his cool, calm demeanor and kind, open presence may not suggest as such - but beneath the surface, he’s a man who isn’t afraid to trust his gut, roll the dice and bet on himself.

‍Perhaps it’s due to the fact that he grew up in the entertainment capital of the world - Las Vegas - or maybe it’s because he has a natural affinity for competition (shoutout to all of the middle children). Whatever the case, all layers of his journey have played a huge role in shaping who he is and how he approaches his position as a senior designer at Tantrum.

‍Since joining the agency in 2022, he’s become a secret weapon of sorts, a Swiss army knife that can seamlessly morph between roles, from strategist to writer to designer and even illustrator. His aesthetic has an artful precision and his creative approach thoughtful, imaginative, yet accessible - making it all the more surprising to learn that Michael still considers himself a late bloomer in the creative field.

Michael actually began in pre-med, planning to specialize in psychiatry. But during an immunology final—and later, a brutally honest night with a notepad and a bottle of wine—he realized he was on the wrong path. After graduating, he took a chance and pivoted. He cold-pitched a company with no formal portfolio, completed a test assignment overnight and got the job. Then he turned it down.

Instead, he followed his intuition and accepted a lower-paying sales role at a startup cannabis company, Camp. It felt like the right risk. Within six months, he was promoted twice. His work there, helping bring a Tantrum-designed brand to life, eventually led him to the agency.

Although Michael sees himself being in the creative field for the rest of his life, he will always have a soft spot for the sciences. He believes the field can teach critical thinking skills and the importance of gathering as much information as possible before making a decision.

“There are things that are so science-based that we don’t typically think about behind design,” says Michael.

What also contributes to his inspirational flow and anatomy as a designer is his decades-long exposure to flashy showbiz entertainment while growing up in Vegas.

I’m used to a lot of screaming entertainment in your face. Because there’s so much competition for your attention, everyone is looking for a way to make their product or business stand out. Las Vegas is a crash course in innovative marketing and branding. Constantly being exposed to that world has made me a better designer and creative.” he says.

With nearly a decade of experience now under his belt, Michael can reflect on his journey. He thinks about his mom and her fear that his decision to go into design would mean he’d be a starving artist. Or his desire to make his family proud, especially as a first generation son in the U.S.

Ultimately, he comes back to this belief: “I'm very pro ‘do what makes you happy.’ Find the things that make you happiest, but also make you a living wage. It has to be well-balanced and fulfilling. I also believe you have to go out there and experience things. Life doesn’t come at you, you have to come at life as well.”

Our bets are that no matter what Michael chooses, it will turn out to be another winning hand.
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