Studio

Want Studio is a modular practice building brand identities and considered design work across contexts, from strategy through execution.

About

Want Studio is the independent design practice of Justin Carey. We create clear, durable identities through a focused, efficient process. Client projects and independent work inform each other—craft and research guide our approach. We prioritize confident, informed design and meaningful identity systems that connect with people and improve conditions.

Philadelphia

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New York

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Philadelphia / New York /

Founder + Designer

Justin Carey

  • Justin is a designer, artist, and educator currently based in Philadelphia. After earning a BFA from Maine College of Art & Design, Justin moved to New York City, gaining experience across studios, startups, and brand projects of varying scope and scale.

    Justin has since taught and developed courses with Shillington School of Graphic Design in Manhattan, as well as Thomas Jefferson University and Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia.

    His work has been featured in The Brand Identity, Creative Boom, among others. Alongside leading Want Studio, Justin maintains an ongoing personal practice through Atlas Publications.

    He also has a rescue staffy named Raven, who comes before everything else.

Contact
Contact

Ethos

  • We are for the people and organizations that care about social good, culture, and the planet — protecting and advocating for what matters most. Design can empower us to make positive change through beauty, function, and emotion.

    We don’t help sell bad ideas. Your brand and mission must shine through its performance, behavior, and all the things you do best. Our goal is to help get you there with impactful, thoughtful design solutions. We don’t design to deceive people. This means we don’t try to make your product or service seem healthier or safer if it’s not.

  • The studio prioritizes digital output, but when working with printed and packaging materials, we aim to use sustainable and environmentally conscious methods whenever possible and applicable.

    This can be described as an eco-centered design approach rather than the usual human-centered thinking.

  • Our work is created without AI. We value authorship, craft, and direct decision-making. AI may support limited internal workflows, but it is not used in the final output.

    This is a complex and evolving space. We approach it with constant learning and skepticism. Tools come and go. Taste and craft remain.

    It’s also just gauche.

Questions?
Contact us.

justin@want.studio

Answers

  • Quotes are typically presented as project proposals following our discovery call, during which we learn about your goals and budget. We use a consistent pricing framework to ensure clarity, fairness, and alignment.

  • We work with organizations driven by meaningful innovation, aligned with our brand methodology, and committed to higher standards. We seek compassionate, curious people who welcome tough conversations and thoughtful risk.

  • No, do you?

  • Clients often return for project-based work, brand refreshes, or additions. If our schedules don’t align, we’ll connect you with a trusted partner from our network.

  • Want Studio is designer-led—your primary contact will be Justin. Our flexible, modular approach lets us scale the team to your needs, bringing in vetted brand strategists and other specialists as required.

  • No — we’ll prepare the groundwork so your social and marketing team (internal or external) can take the work and run with it. As part of your brand identity package we’ll design key templates and accompanying guidelines that make handoff seamless and ensure consistent, on-brand execution.