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Tad Carpenter

@tadcarpenter

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Designer, illustrator, author and partner of @carpentercollective, a design and branding studio.
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It’s not Sunday but it’s a very special day for me. SUN No. 325, Part 2. #SUNdaySUNSI am so excited to share my SUNday Suns BOOK is out TODAY with the amazing @CounterPrintBooks!I am so overwhelmed by this. I started SUNday Suns over 6 years ago as a form of therapy for myself. At the time, I was dealing with burn-out in my work—not to mention some depressive tendencies, anxiety, decreased self-esteem and was searching for an outlet to feel a little better. This project reinforced play in my work, which was something I felt it was lacking. The act of making and getting lost in that process has always been very therapeutic for me. This book was never an end goal. This weekly experiment, evolved over 6 years and I am honored to share my process, inspiration and work with you in this format. Thank you to all have who have followed along with me on this journey. I truly hope it’s made your days a little brighter. The book comes in 3 different dust jacket options and can be purchased directly from me (link in bio) or from my friends @counterprintbooks. #pinchme #dontpuketad #counterprintbooks#carpentercollective_work by @tadcarpenter
125
5 years ago
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More brand extensions and work as part of our new Arterie brand. Much more over @carpentercollective. See you on the path Kansas City. by @tadcarpenter
2
16 days ago
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NEW WORK. The ArterieWe built a cohesive brand strategy plan, naming, brand idenity, digital platform and wayfinding signage system. The Arterie is an experiential pathway connecting Kansas City’s creative institutions and beyond. It is a connective, ever-evolving journey that weaves together art, nature, people and places. The Arterie is a living canvas, constantly changing with interactive and visual experiences. It is a place where artists perform, friends gather and creativity thrives. Its approachability invites all to explore, to connect and to experience Kansas City’s Art Museums and Cultural District like never before.�� Sharing here a little about the logo system, identity development and just a couple applications. More posts to come and much more over @carpentercollective. Drone footage by @take_a_haik by @tadcarpenter
8
17 days ago
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More New Packaging design for QuikTrip’s Quittin’ Time Light Lager, created in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and your summer backyard BBQ. We included a bold eagle illustration, integrated custom stitched typography, and an illustrative approach to create a can that feels both QT and unmistakably summer. Fireworks, picnics, hiking trails and QuikTrip’s finest hot dog included. Also a big CHEERS to the team at QuikTrip for their partnership and bring us in on this one. QT is literally one of our favorite places and now clients to work with. A company that truly believes in the value of design and roller food, be still my heart. #carpentercollective_work #beerpackaging by @tadcarpenter
7
23 days ago
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New Work! Custom packaging design for QuikTrip’s Quittin’ Time Light Lager, celebrating 250 years of the USA. The design blends heritage graphics, bold typography, and a distinctly modern point of view—made for backyard barbecues, fireworks, and maybe a legendary QuikTrip roller grill dog or two. Our custom packaging available now for your Fourth of July gathering this weekend! #carpentercollective_work #beerpackaging #quiktrip b by @tadcarpenter
21
24 days ago
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A fun little badge I created from a recent rebrand we @carpentercollective completed recently. Case study coming by 2029. 😊 by @tadcarpenter
9
4 months ago
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More favs from our rebrand of @fishetarian. Full case study of the project now on our @carpentercollective site.#carpentercollective_work 🐠 🐟 🌊 by @tadcarpenter
4
4 months ago
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An essential part of our @fishetarian rebrand and brand story was translating the identity into a thoughtful merchandise program designed for real people, not just retail shelves. With a large portion of Fishetarian’s audience made up of travelers and tourists moving along the Central Coast, the goal was never to simply create an additional revenue stream. Instead, merchandise became a storytelling tool—extending the brand beyond the restaurant walls and into the everyday lives of those who experienced it. Each piece was designed to foster connection and community, turning customers into ambassadors and allowing people to quite literally wear their allegiance, proudly signaling, “I’m part of this.”#carpentercollective_work by @tadcarpenter
24
4 months ago
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New work! One of my favorite rebrands we’ve worked on recently. A full rebrand for Fishetarian Fish Market, a fisherman-owned staple on California’s Central Coast. Fishetarian came to us with nearly 40 years of history, a loyal following, and a need for a rebrand. As both a fish market and restaurant, they had built a reputation for their honest, sustainable approach to seafood—anchored by their Bummer-Free Guarantee. Through the rebrand, we focused on amplifying their authentic fisherman-owned story and coastal roots, while building a bold, approachable identity designed to foster a cult following through merchandise sales and tourism. The result is a brand that feels as genuine and salt-of-the-earth as the people behind it, positioning Fishetarian as a must-visit Central Coast destination with staying power beyond the dock. More to share and more over @carpentercollective. #carpentercollective_work by @tadcarpenter
32
4 months ago
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New Work! We @carpentercollective developed a custom mural and environmental graphic program for Fresh Karma, a community-driven cannabis dispensary. The work reimagines the retail interior as an inviting, vibrant destination — balancing approachability with a sense of energy and discovery. First introduced at the flagship store, the visual language has grown into a scalable system now implemented across several interior and exterior locations throughout Kansas City. #carpentercollective_work #mural #muraldesign Designers: Collaboration between myself and Jessica Carpenter by @tadcarpenter
10
5 months ago
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Tad is an illustrator, designer, author, and self-proclaimed BBQ snob from Kansas City. He co-runs a design and branding studio with his wife Jessica called Carpenter Collective. Their team has worked with companies like Macy’s, Publix, Adobe, Hallmark, Coca-Cola, and MTV, among others. You’ve likely seen some of the illustrations from his SUNday Suns series, and if you’ve heard his Midwest vernacular, you might know the meaning of “Ope,” “Alrighty, well,” and “All good, no worries.” His father, a Creative Director at Hallmark International for 41.5 years, is his biggest inspiration, and his mother is also an artist who works with fiber, so it’s safe to say Tad would probably have been thrown out of the family if he hadn’t pursued a creative career, lol. On a lighter note, he loves photos and videos of dogs driving cars; he believes the sausage biscuit is one of the most fantastic fast-food items ever created, and he won a drawing contest for season tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs when he was in the 3rd grade. Tune in for a talk about Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, why he thinks you should work for someone before working for yourself, his studio’s ping-pong approach to design, and the gigantic hole left behind after completing his SUNday Suns series“Happiness is not a function of what you achieve. It’s a function of how you spend your time.”Follow @tadcarpenter and @carpentercollective by @tadcarpenter
19
5 months ago
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It’s SUNday! Almost game time! During my SUNday Suns project, one of my favorite Sundays each year was Super Bowl Sunday. Here are the various Super Bowl SUNday Sun badges I made during the project from 2015-2025. #SUNdaySUNS sunday-suns.com by @tadcarpenter
4
6 months ago
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