We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Key Dyson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Key, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve always had an interest in the creative industries. Visuals, meaning, and the process. The realm of design is magical. The notion that you can construct anything entirely from your imagination is astounding. Of course, my younger self had no idea that art was a viable job option, so I ended up doodling on cheap A4 notebooks with £1 pencils. I had always considered my work to be of the highest quality. If I looked back, I wouldn’t think that way now, but it was a different story then. What began as tracing celebrities I admired evolved into these visually appealing and deeply meaningful pieces for me.

Originally, I began generating designs and art pieces for other YouTube channels, not for money or attention, but because I enjoyed creating a design based on instructions from others. This was both tough and valuable for me. I never attended lessons or received any type of education on software such as Adobe Photoshop. Instead, I ended up clicking a few things here and there, which helped me learn the fundamentals of Photoshop. When someone asks me now how I learnt to use Photoshop, I always provide the same advice. “Just mess around with the program until you’re comfortable with it” . I do not believe in using tutorials for everything Photoshop-related; I believe that doing so limits the creative flexibility you gain through self-learning. It’s ludicrous and confusing when one person says “do it this way” and another person disagrees. Simply experiment on your own. Even after 12+ years of Adobe expertise, I’m still learning new things – there’s always more to learn, which is fantastic. Do not be afraid to learn. Not everyone is perfect at everything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Key Dyson, and I am a passionate graphic designer and digital artist with a strong focus on Photoshop and graphic design. I specialize in creating visually compelling designs that blend creativity with technical precision, bringing concepts to life through bold compositions and intricate details. While my professional work revolves around graphic design, I love to explore digital painting in my personal projects, pushing creative boundaries and experimenting with new techniques.

Interestingly, after reflecting on my body of work, I realized that many of my personal pieces subtly incorporate messages of animal welfare—something entirely unintentional yet deeply meaningful. This discovery has given me a new perspective on my artistic voice, showing how subconscious themes can emerge through creativity. Whether designing sleek branding materials or crafting expressive digital paintings, I am always striving to create impactful, thought-provoking visuals.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

Personally, I’m not a fan of NFTs because I see them as a trend that, rather than uplifting smaller artists, often harms them by prioritizing hype over genuine artistic value. The market can feel exploitative, with big names and collectors profiting while many emerging artists struggle to gain recognition or fair compensation. That said, I recognize that everyone has their own path, and I have no right to tell someone not to pursue NFTs if they see potential in them. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice, and I respect that each artist has their own ambitions and goals—I just know it’s not the right direction for me.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Adobe Lightroom is a crucial part of graphic design because it streamlines the editing process, allowing for precise colour correction, exposure adjustments, and seamless photo enhancements that elevate the overall aesthetic of any design project. Its non-destructive editing capabilities ensure that creatives can experiment freely without losing original image quality, while its batch processing features save valuable time when working on multiple assets. The intuitive workflow and powerful tools, like masking and AI-driven enhancements, make it an essential software for achieving professional-grade visuals. Looking back, I wish I had learned Lightroom earlier in my creative journey, as it would have significantly improved my efficiency and the quality of my work from the start.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://keydyson.webflow.io
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keydysonig/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keighley-dyson-649b88346/
• Twitter: https://x.com/Key_Dyson

Image Credits

Key Dyson