Building Brands That Speak: A Design Day at Ebony J Media
- Ebony J Wynn
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
From Pomona to the Press: Thomas Pearson’s 20+ Year Journey in Design
By Shy Halbert and Jeremy Simms 6/25/25
Student Reflections
Every student picked up a piece of knowledge listening to our guest Thomas; how to remain consistent, staying true to your brand, and overall finding what works and not overthinking too much about the small details.
Aaliyah Moran
“My experience with Mr. Pearson was a pleasure and a good lesson. He helped us out by looking at the logos we created and gave us criticism and advice on how to change them. He opened up another door to see a different point of view on our logos and helped us have a better understanding of brands. He also reminded us that you have to know how to take constructive criticism; if you don't, then you won't be able to succeed like you can. He also taught us to just stay true to ourselves and build our brand because you want to stand out and show how your logo-brand represents who you are.”
Shy Halbert
“I got to talk with Mr. Thomas about my logo, and he gave me some really helpful advice. He brought up the idea of a vertical word layout, which I didn’t really get at first. Then he used Fox 19 as an example, showing how they stack ‘FOX’ and ‘19’ so the logo can fit different platforms. That helped a lot, and I went back and made changes to my Branding Suite.”
Jeremy Simms
“My experience with our guest speaker, Thomas Pearson, was a cool one to have here at Ebony J Media — very enlightening. He dropped plenty of gems regarding how to create and brand yourself, along with your logo/brand name. His main point was that you want to be as creative as possible. Know about trends, but don’t follow the status quo — stay true to your individuality, because that's the one thing that separates you from the rest. He had students who came up and showed him their business logos. He offered some quick criticism, basically telling us to be more intentional with the design choices to help make them stand out further. He also stated to never overthink, whether it be logos, production, or whatever facet of media you stand in. Just a few simple tweaks can make all the difference.”
Jaahniah Crawford
“My experience with Thomas Pearson was great, although we didn’t have much time with him. I still had a wonderful experience with the amount of constructive feedback and support. I feel very confident that I have the capability of building my brand and finding myself in my own company. He also told me to be subtle but unique, so that helps me a lot.”
Mikhail Baker
“My experience meeting guest speaker Thomas Pearson felt like he was giving a motivational speech about branding. The point of trying to find out what could speak to the audience you are trying to build up is what your main topic is. He wasn’t just talking about building up your brand — he was talking about building up your business and making a career for yourself through your own business. It felt interesting to know that he worked with Ms. Ebony before and helped her understand the importance of having a business. I hope in the future I can go far with my own business.”
Amareon Caulton
“My experience with Mr. Thomas was that he had really good constructive criticism while also being respectful about it. He taught me that I shouldn't tie the colors in my brand together because it’s better to be more unique than simplistic, so you stick out and catch the viewer’s attention. I thank him for taking time out of his day to come and give us more insight that comes behind making your own brand or starting your own business. I hope that I can meet him in the future when I really start my own business and get his personal opinion on it.”
About Thomas Pearson
Thomas Pearson is a seasoned graphic designer currently working with Imprint Kings. With over two decades of experience starting in 2000, Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to his work. Before joining Imprint Kings, he was part of BLAD Talent Agency, further honing his skills in the industry.
Thomas studied Commercial Design and Media Technology at the University of Cincinnati’s Raymond Walters College, grounding his creative talents with a strong educational foundation. Originally from Pomona, California, he now lives and works in Cincinnati, where he continues to shape brands and visual identities with his keen eye for design.
Major thanks to Thomas Pearson
Thank you, Thomas, for showing our students what it means to design with purpose. Your real-world advice challenged them to think deeper, trust their voice, and keep it simple. You didn’t just talk design — you shared the mindset behind it, and that stuck.
Join the Movement
This session reminded us why Ebony J Media exists — to mentor the next generation of media leaders through hands-on experience and access to voices that keep it real.
If you want your student to benefit from this level of mentorship, enroll them in our training camps or join our membership program. At Ebony J Media, we go beyond teaching media skills — we nurture confidence, spark creativity, and foster a supportive community.
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Tap the link in our bio to enroll in our next session or become a member. Let’s create, connect, and level up — together.