Hello curious / furious / lost internet traveller! I'm Luke Tonge, an independent graphic designer & art director (aka Funlancer™) based in beautiful Birmingham – the UK’s first-class second city! Here I run a studio of one, Luke Tonge Studio, focusing on a mixture of brand identity and editorial design projects, working flexibly, collaborating with some of the most talented folks around ¶

I’m also co-director of ‘Birmingham Design’, a multi-faceted organisation which exists to promote and support the creative industries in the West Midlands – primarily through our annual celebration Birmingham Design Festival – and our regular Gatherings. When they let me, I also guest lecture at Birmingham City University and occasionally elsewhere... ¶


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After graduating from Falmouth (way back when in ‘07) I spent a decade working at two established full-service agencies (Linney & Life) gaining valuable experience on some of the world’s biggest brands – before opting for a different kind of life as my own boss ¶

During this time I cut my teeth art-directing the beloved indie title Boat Mag, later responsible for relaunching Monotype's legendary typographic journal The Recorder, Alpha Life and 99% Lifestyle Magazine. I currently helm the eponymous Birmingham Design magazine ¶

For almost a decade I was a contributor to the design site FormFiftyFive,
I ran a tumblr called TEAiM and filled up a Pinterest full of amazing work ¶

Thanks for reading – don’t be a stranger! xo.

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I love lists!

Fave singers…
Chuck Ragan, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Fallon, John Tams, Foy Vance, Dustin Kensrue, Jonah Matranga, Dallas Green, Mike Park, Joey Cape, Luke Sital-Singh, Paul Heaton, Rocky Votolato.

Fave bands…
A New Found Glory, Paint it Black, Ignite, Hot Water Music, Polar Bear Club, Andrew WK, MxPx, No Use For A Name, Punchline, Jimmy Eat World, Elliot, The Get Up Kids, Thursday, The Juliana Theory, All, Rise Against, Thrice, Hidden In Plain View, The Hurt Process, Silverstein, AFI, Bayside, The Menzingers, The Bouncing Souls, Galleons, Silverchair, Trophy Eyes, Protest the Hero, Hell Is For Heroes, Buck 65 & Bon Jovi.

Fave films…
Heat, Young Guns, Bill & Ted, Home Alone, Fantastic Mr Fox, Nacho Libre, Cannonball Run, Rapid Fire, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Hot Shots, Waynes World, Under Siege, Big Trouble in Little China, Point Break.

Fave actors…
Christopher Walken, Terence Stamp, Johnny Knoxsville, Daniel Day-Lewis,
Al Pacino, Brian Blessard, George Gaines, Val Kilmer, Sean Bean.

Fave TV shows…
Sharpe, Heartbreak High, Without a Trace, King of the Hill, Due South, Earthworm Jim, Aussie Gold Hunters, Happy Valley, Bucky O’Hare.

Fave foods…
Ice cream, Bananas, Custard, Pears, Roast potatoes, Cornish Pasties, Tunnocks, Walkers Max Crispy Chicken crips, Dandelion & Burdock.


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