Tad Carpenter is a Kansas City-based designer and illustrator. Tad also co-runs a silkscreen and design shop called Vahalla Studios in the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City. Recently, he has been busy creating the branding for the upcoming first annual Kansas City Design Week, which will take place in early February of next year.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your studio…
I am an Illustrator and designer. I was lucky enough to grow up with both parents being artists and married an Art Director / Designer who works at Willoughby Design Group so I find myself surrounded by what I love to do.

I work as an illustrator and designer working with clients such as Chronicle Books, Target, Simon & Schuster, Anorak Children’s Magazine, Hallmark Cards, Kidrobot and The Corcoran Museum of Art to name a few. My projects range from large-scale branding jobs for restaurants or start-ups to illustrating children’s books. One day I might draw a spot illustration for a magazine or publication and the next day work on a book layout or wayfinding for a museum or hospital. It changes each day which is a blessing. I tend to find myself walking a thin line between modern design sensibilities and fun whimsical illustrations.

I also along with my good pal Dan Padavic co-run a silkscreen / design shop called Vahalla Studios. We specialize in silkscreen goods such as posters, greetings and invites. We have worked with folks like Myspace, Rayban, Atlantic Records and countless musicians and bands. We recently opened a gallery attached to our print shop where we will be showcasing not only our work but friends and colleagues that we feel are doing some of the most progressive work today in the fields of illustration, graphic design and printmaking.

How did you first get interested in silkscreen printing?
When it comes to silkscreen printing I can take next to zero credit for that. My biz partner at Vahalla Studios Dan Padavic is the printing expert. We have been friends for a long time and have both always been interested in it. His background is in both printing and design and mine being more in design, illustration and art direction. So when we joined forces it really is a perfect fit. Dan has taught me all I know about silkscreen printing. We have been making posters and work for almost 4 years now.

What do you like best about working in Kansas City?
I love Kansas City. Every time I get close to thinking I might be moving on I can not quite do it. One of the large strengths KC has is its location. Most of my clients are all on the coasts. So whether I am talking on the phone with them or meeting them in their office basically being able to get anywhere within 3-4 hours is pretty great.

It is obvious the cost of living is a huge plus. I would hope I would be doing the same thing I am doing in a larger more expensive city but I also know it would cost so much more to do what I love to do. I am sure that would effect which jobs I take on and who I work with on a day to day basis. I don’t want to have to do that.

You have had a lot of success in your designs. What have been your favorite projects to work on?
That is so hard to choose. One of my favorites has been creating the brand chefBURGER. chefBURGER is a burger joint in KC’s power and light district. The owner Rob Dalzell has grown to trust me over the years after designing 3 of his restaurants (CB, pizzabella and Yummo). I have been working on dunny designs with kidrobot which is a huge honor. I had one released this year and another next year. I still pinch myself over working with such great people like kidrobot. I also just completed a really fun 75+ page children’s activity book with Chronicle Books to be released next year. It is for a good cause and really fun at the same time.

How did you get your start? Do you have any advice for recent design graduates looking to get their start in the industry during this tough economy?
I got my start very young. My father is an illustrator so he really is a huge influence on me still to this day. I always knew this is what I wanted to do. After graduating from KU (where I am also teaching currently) I worked for a design firm called Design Ranch for several years. That is a suggestion I would have to any younger designer. We all think we can just right out of the gates take on the world but i would say go work for someone for at least 4-5 years. You learn so much on that first job. That time you spend under someone else can really help you fine tune your craft and find your voice as a designer.

You have a delightful and fun illustration style. Can you tell us a bit about the process of how you create and develop your art work?
I carry around a little 5.5×8.5 sketchbook. That is where every project I work on starts. Illustration, design any of them. I sketch a lot. Not good sketches but concept sketching. I really like to flush out all my ideas, even the crappy ones. Most of my illustration I then start drawing a little tighter once a concept has been chosen. Depending on if I am going to draft it by hand or on the computer I then scan in my sketch to begin drafting it in system. I love to work with textures and paint and other elements so the work does not appear too flat. All of these are created outside of the computer. Making an easy textured line can be a hard thing.

Who are your favorite designers/illustrators? Where do you get your inspiration?
I am a huge fan of the early Golden book illustrators. So people like Richard Scarry, JP Miller, Mary Blair, Art Seiden, Alice & Martin Provensen. Just great classic illustrations. Some of the more contemporary artists I really like are Marc Boutavant, Nate Williams, Matte Stephens, J. Otto Siebold and Nathan Jurovisious.

KC Design Week is coming up soon! Can you talk a little bit about what your involvement in this event will be?
Yeah, really honored and excited that I was asked to brand the first ever KC Design Week. It will be a week long event devoted to all forms of design here in Kanas City. Great events so should be a lot of fun. For the brand I created I wanted it to be fun and tried to not leave anyone out. I created a group of characters and monsters that represent an area of design. I hope people like the brand and support the event.

If you would like to see more of Tad’s work, check out his website or follow him on twitter.

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