Los Angeles-based artist and LMU Studio Arts alumna Tyler Mishá Barnett ‘14 recently teamed up with Angel City Football Club to create a stunning apparel collection in honor of Black History and Futures Month, including a scarf, t-shirt, and hat. Drawing from her background in digital art and graphic design, Barnett infused her designs with rich symbolism, vibrant colors, and a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of Black culture.
For Barnett, incorporating silhouettes of faces into her designs was a natural choice. Silhouettes have been a recurring motif in her art, symbolizing the beauty found in the interconnectedness of Black culture. “I used the silhouettes in this design to represent the beauty in the interconnectedness of Black culture—really celebrating community and unity and bringing a sense of humanity to the design,” Barnett said.
Drawing inspiration from Kente textiles, Barnett utilized symbolic shapes to create intricate patterns that pay homage to the African diaspora. Central to Barnett’s design process was the incorporation of the Ananse Ntontan symbol, representing creativity and wisdom. This symbol served as a tribute to the creators and innovators throughout Black history. “The Ananse Ntontan is a symbol of creativity and wisdom. Those are two themes that are core to my artistic journey and served as an inspiration for this collection,” Barnett shares.
The inclusion of steps in Barnett’s designs symbolizes elevation and forward movement, celebrating both the legacies of the past and the potential of the future. When selecting the color palette for the collection, Barnett aimed to evoke feelings of warmth while also staying true to the Angel City brand colors. “My goal was to create a color palette that felt bright, earthy, and warm while being anchored by black and complimentary to the Angel City brand colors,” she states. The result is a captivating array of hues that invite viewers to engage with the designs on a deeper level.
Barnett credits her education at LMU with providing her with the foundational skills to embark on her art career. As a graphic design major, she honed her expertise in color theory and composition while also exploring a diverse range of artistic mediums, such as ceramics and photography. Reflecting on her time at LMU, Barnett fondly recalls the nurturing environment that allowed her to fully develop her creative talents.
When at LMU, Barnett was an involved student, participating in the Marians Service Organization, serving as design director for The Loyolan, and was a transfer orientation leader. She also received numerous awards and scholarships, and completed a senior thesis exhibition titled “Normalizing Diversity,” which highlighted and provided a solution to the lack of diversity in the branding of everyday products. Over her career, she has worked with a long list of well-known clients, such as The New Yorker, YouTube, and Meta, to name a few.
Through her collaboration with Angel City Football Club, Barnett’s designs are a powerful reminder of the richness and diversity of the Black experience, both past and present. “I hope that the Angel City fans see the beauty in these designs and wear them in celebration of Black art and culture,” Barnett said. “As we celebrate the legacies of the past, we also look forward to the greatness that the future holds.”
