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Bernard Uy

Vision

part of a series on Vision

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Bernard Uy: Reflecting on Early Influences that Shaped His Vision

Bernard Uy, cofounder of Wall-to-Wall Studios, shared the journey of how he developed his vision as a designer. His story begins with his parents, whose own vision shaped his early life. They got engaged, married the next day, and immediately moved to the United States from Taiwan to build a new future. Bernard was raised by a mathematician and an architect, two professions that fostered both logic and creativity in his upbringing. As a child, Bernard found inspiration in the visual and narrative worlds around him. He was captivated by the illustrations in books and comic books, where the combination of words and images created rich, immersive stories. He admired iconic album covers, particularly The Beatles’ Revolver, which he saw as works of art in their own right. Even the magic books he discovered in a Times Square magic shop fascinated him, blending mystery with creativity. These influences shaped his appreciation for the power of design and storytelling. He pursued a major in computer science and a minor in art, but it wasn’t until he was introduced to graphic design that he realized he had found his true calling. Graphic design allowed him to merge his passions for illustration, humor, and storytelling into one cohesive medium. Bernard’s vision for design is shaped by the interplay of art, technology, and emotion. His journey reflects how influences from childhood, paired with a passion for creativity and innovation, can come together to create a unique perspective that drives his work as a designer.

About the speaker

Bernard Uy (pronounced "WE”) is the co-founder and Executive Creative Director of Wall-to-Wall Studios, a creative branding agency that has produced award-winning graphic design, advertising and interactive work for over 30 years. With offices in Pittsburgh and Honolulu, W|W’s focus has always been about helping businesses connect with their audiences through building emotional brand currency. W|W has been fortunate enough to have worked with almost every industry that has returned his emails and cold calls.

Bernie (pronounced “BER-nee”) has previously served as a board member and past President of both AIGA Pittsburgh and Honolulu chapters, a past board member of Bishop Museum and is the current Board Chair of the non-profit Hawaii Arts Alliance. He has taught as an adjunct professor at his alma mater Carnegie Mellon’s School of Design, and as a visiting professor at the St. Gallen School of Design in Switzerland. Bernie was previously honored as a Pittsburgh magazine “40 Under 40," AAF Hawaii’s 2009 “Ad Man of Year,” a Hawaii Business Magazine “20 For The Next 20,” and called “One of the Tallest Bass Players In Our Band” by his bandmates, the Dangerous Pistols of Meow Meow. He enjoys cooking, spending time with his daughter, and writing about himself in the third person.

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