Meet Tim Carpenter | Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tim Carpenter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tim, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
At 42, I made the difficult decision to sell my half of a successful design studio that I had co-founded twelve years earlier to pursue my MFA. Returning to school after what many felt was achieving success challenged not only my financial prospects but more importantly my idea of self. That decision to step off into the unknown — to redefine myself even in midlife — is at the core of my belief that change should not be feared, but embraced and that lifelong learning is imperative to a healthy mind.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My design career has been a bit meandering, which I view as a positive. After graduating from Western Michigan University in 1993, I lived and worked in London for a short spell before landing an internship in San Francisco. The next few years were spent at design studios in SF and Chicago until I went off on my own in 1999. In 2001, I relocated to my hometown in Michigan and co-founded a boutique design agency — Conduit. The next 12 years were focused on growing that studio from a two-person team to five highly talented designers and staff. In 2012, I parted ways with Conduit and returned to California to earn my MFA in Design from CCA. During my studies and for a few years after, I taught graphic design in the graduate program at the Academy of Art University. After receiving my MFA in 2014 and being keen to learn more about the dominant tech industry in the Bay Area, I took a job with a startup in Menlo Park, and after that, at an agency focused on FinTech. These positions taught me a great deal about product/website design and design systems, however, I missed the variety of projects I had worked on prior to my MFA. Now in my current position as a Creative Director at Made — a global branding and experience studio, I’m able to bring all these varied experiences to bear.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve lived in San Francisco on and off for 15 years starting in 1994. Over that time, the City has changed considerably but some of my original favorite places are still here. North Beach, in particular, is one of my favorite places to spend time — especially for dining out, grabbing a drink, or relaxing at a cafe. My go-to spots are Molinari’s for incredible Italian sandwiches, Sodini’s for casual old-school Italian classics, and Vesuvio’s for a pint or two. We’re also blessed with very good art museums here — SFMOMA, The Deyoung, The Legion of Honor, and the Asian Art Museum. For an extended trip, all are worth checking out. Last, but not least, one of the best things about San Francisco is its proximity to the outdoors and our consistently temperate climate. Whether it’s taking a walk along the bay at Chrissy Field (be sure to grab a coffee at the Warming Hut) or heading over the Golden Gate Bridge for a hike on Mt. Tam, getting outside is a must. And after a long hike, there’s nothing better than finding a sunny patch of grass at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach and enjoying a proper pint.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I began to question the direction of my career in 2010, I realized that one thing I truly lacked was mentorship. I reached out to Martin Venezky, whom I’ve admired and known for over 20 years, and asked for his guidance. Fortunately, Martin had a similar experience in that he also went to graduate school “later” in life and he encouraged me to pursue my creativity and guided me through the application process. While it took me two years to sell my half of the design studio I had co-founded, pack and move from Michigan to California — In the end, I was accepted into the MFA Design program at California College of the Arts where Martin is a professor. For two years, I was able to study under Martin — even working with him at his studio, Appetite Engineers in 2013.

Even now, years since graduating from CCA and returning to the design profession, Martin continues to inspire me, and, albeit in a different sense now, he continues to mentor me with his dedication and passion for design and staying true to one’s self.

Website: tim-carpenter.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/timdcarpenter

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdcarpenter/