Physical Media Meets the Digital Age
By Katelyn Allen on Monday, November 3, 2025
In the rise of social media, physical media has a place in many young entrepreneurs’ hearts. With tangible products that bring back nostalgia, Tierra Robinson has found a way to combine digital and physical art.
Art has always had a strong presence in Tierra’s life. Since she was a kid, she’s been drawing, painting and finding any excuse to use her creativity for self-expression. Just like any other teen, she became obsessed with YouTubers and other content creators. Seeing the way these influencers, big or small, use their platforms to tell visual stories and build a community online struck a chord with her.
“That mix of creativity and communication really stuck with me,” Tierra said. “So when I started seriously thinking about careers, graphic design felt like the perfect way to bridge the gap between those two parts of my life.”
After earning her bachelor’s degree in graphic design from University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2021, she has worked as a graphic designer for well-known brands like Everlane, Altra, the Arkansas State Fair and more. Her creativity continues beyond her nine-to-five job. Every year for her birthday, Tierra spends months planning and designing an unforgettable birthday party. She creates her own merch for guests, creates stop-motion invitations for friends and family, and hires local vendors to make the magic happen.
“I’m definitely inspired by the creative people in my family,” Tierra said. “My aunt, Toya, who is a drawer and painter, my uncle Terrell, who is a drawer, painter and graphic designer, and my uncle Terrence, who is also a drawer and painter, have all had a big impact on me. Tera, [my mom], who is an absolute creative powerhouse. These are the people I looked up to growing up, and they’ve truly shaped me into the artist I am today.”
Utilizing her degree, Tierra was able to build her portfolio for future jobs thanks to the work she did in and outside of the classroom.
“A lot of designers start building their portfolio [by] freelancing or interning while they’re still in school, and that real-world experience is just as valuable, if not more,” Tierra said. “Whether you’re learning in a classroom or teaching yourself on YouTube, if you’re putting in the time, staying curious and constantly leveling up, you’re already on the right path.”
At the start of 2025, Tierra launched a series on her TikTok (@teeswizzz) exploring thrift stores, consignment shops and second-hand pop-up shops looking for DVDs of her favorite movies and TV shows. This content showcases and helps develop her skills in graphic design, video editing, photography and event planning.
“My first video to blow up was about my frustration with streaming services and why I’m making the switch to physical media (DVDs),” Tierra said. “It really resonated with a lot of people, and I started seeing comments from others who were doing the same thing.”
Now, with nearly 10,000 followers and an average of over 100,000 viewers, she has become a micro-influencer. Utilizing her graphic design knowledge and video editing talent, she landed a brand trip with TikTok influencer Bran Flakezz (@bran__flakezz) and she hasn’t looked back since. The trip allowed her to connect with other micro-influencers and creatives, and now she is building connections with people in the graphic design world for work. This trip also opened the door for her to score brand deals and make money off her content.
“Becoming an influencer has always been a dream of mine, so seeing people genuinely engage with my content is something I’ve only ever imagined,” Tierra said. “Most of my videos are lifestyle-focused, but I don’t really stick to one niche. I post whatever inspires me at the moment.”
