Cleveland illustrator, muralist and freelance graphic designer Lacy Talley, ’18, brings ideas of identity, justice and change to life.
For Lacy Talley, ’18, the animations she saw and illustrated books she read in her childhood would spark a career-defining passion. Her dream of becoming a graphic designer led her to ºÚÁÏÍø, where she studied visual communication design and Pan-African studies. While at Kent State, she found the Marcus Graham Project, which supports and develops aspiring marketing and media professionals. Lacy serves as an art director through the project’s iCR8â„¢ program and has worked with organizations such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Google, Moët Hennessy, Fossil, Spotify and the National Basketball Association (NBA). She was a part of the team that designed the trophy for the , recognizing a current NBA player’s pursuit of social justice for marginalized or systematically disadvantaged individuals and groups. Most recently, she helped design an influential project closer to home in honor of Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor (now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) who came to Cleveland nearly 55 years ago for the Ali Summit to promote social activism among athletes. A location marker for the historic summit designed by Talley and team will be revealed around Juneteenth 2022 on the corner of 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in front of the American Cancer Society building.
KSU: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
LT: To me, perfect happiness is being happy with one's true self and embracing every aspect of it.
KSU: What is your favorite trait in others?
LT: I admire people's work ethic, honesty and ability to be trustworthy.
KSU: What trait about yourself do you like least?
LT: Not being able to relax when it's needed.
KSU: Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
LT: Beyoncé, Will Smith and Lebron James.
KSU: What is your favorite Kent State memory?
LT: Live painting at the Black United Students Renaissance Ball and throwing glitter into the crowd.
KSU: What is your favorite journey?
LT: My journey to becoming more creative and confident in myself as an artist.
KSU: What is your guilty pleasure?
LT: I have two! Fruit snacks and traditional ramen from Otani Noodle.
KSU: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
LT: Being one of the designers of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award trophy.
KSU: If you could come back as one person, who would it be?
LT: Honestly, it would be myself, but I would use the knowledge from my previous life to guide me in the right directions sooner this time around.
KSU: What part of your college experience most formed who you are today?
LT: Being introduced to the Marcus Graham Project and having really supportive staff in the Kent State Visual Communication Design and Pan-African Studies departments!