MICHAEL PANTUSO DESIGN | MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND BRANDING
Michael Pantuso entered college on a tennis scholarship with dreams of achieving glory at Wimbledon. He imagined himself some day reaching the finals at Centre Court. Or perhaps the semi-finals. In fact, any spot in the top 20 in the world would have worked.
Michael’s coach, former Wimbledon doubles semi-finalist Peter Scott, pulled his student into his office one hot St. Augustine afternoon, and inquired about his tennis goals and aspirations. When Michael spoke of his ambitions, Peter gently asked the young tennis star to have a seat and politely told him that his dream was not going to come true. “Perhaps a minor pro tour, or country club assignment, but Centre Court at Wimbledon isn't going to happen,” Scott told him. In addition, Michael was informed that his position on the college team was being given to a newer, brighter star who would be coming to Flagler College in the fall. That afternoon brought an end to Dream No. 1, which soon was replaced by Dream No. 2 — to move to Chicago and become a graphic design master. Luckily, Peter Scott doesn’t live in Chicago (*wink-wink*) and so far all is going well.
Today, nearly a quarter-century since arriving in Chicago, Michael Pantuso serves clients with seductive, visceral, powerful designs that engage both the eye and the emotions. “A beautiful series of photos or illustrations, compelling uses of motion, a great story elegantly presented through the thoughtful use of typography, or the before-and-after experience of an identity that’s been given new life — all those are very exciting things to me,” says Michael. “I believe good design needs that level of emotional involvement.”
Michael remembers the legendary tennis coach Harry Hopman once told him that the secret to winning tennis is to never give up on a ball. “Scramble, scramble, scramble,” he told Michael. “ As a result, I approach my design work in this same energetic way today. I never give up on a design. Sometimes it blossoms right away. Sometimes I have to search for it a bit. But the result is usually a winner.”
More >>
