Brooklyn based design studio creating conscious design for social good and creative culture.

Info

  • At Want Studio, we team up with civic and cultural groups, along with small businesses, to create brand identities and experiences that really connect with people and amplify their missions.

    With years of design know-how and a solid design thinking approach, we tailor brands, communication strategies, and experiences to fit our clients and their audiences. We bring these brands to life across digital platforms, campaigns, events, packaging, and more.


    View Impact Report  →

  • Ethics Framework

  • FAQ
    Statement on AI

  • View Services
    Charitable Branding Initiative

Services

  • Brand Packages

    We offer three tiers of design tools to help build your project’s visual identity and language.

  • Packaging & Print

    Your product’s packaging and most forms of printed matter, including editorial & book.

  • Digital & Web Design

    Versed in Web, UI, typography, digital illustration, and photo direction and editing.

  • Art & Creative Direction

    Concept development, brand consistency, client interaction, and project management.

Have a project in mind?
We want to help.

Let’s build

Book a call to find out how we can help.

Offerings

Branding & Identity

Establish your brand’s visual and verbal expression.

Mentorship

Starting your design career? Get 1:1 professional mentorship.

Design Consultancy

Discover your project’s needs through custom design planning.

Have something in mind?

Want Studio is a versatile design partner, offering a variety of services.

Workshops

Want Studio offers in-person and remote workshops for aspiring designers. We tailor coursework to your needs, supplying an enriching learning experience.

Design Principles

You will learn design principles through a series of exercises

Live Critiques

Engage in live discussion and feedback with 1:1 + group critiques

Custom Briefs

Our prewritten briefs & timed coursework offer studio simulation

Industry Insights

Get insights and professional advice for freelancing & industry engagement

Values

  • We aim to contribute positive change and impact through our work. The design industry is historically consumer-centric, so we choose to mindfully craft experiences, identities, and goods with humble regard to the health and wellbeing of our planet and one another. We work with clients equally conscious of contemporary issues.

  • It’s important to truly listen and understand diverse perspectives. We strive for inclusivity, approaching each project with consideration and empathy for our underserved communities. Regardless of the type of project we take on, we always seek to discover and implement beauty, value, ethics, and efficacy.

  • Many of us are feeling disheartened by the soaring challenges we face—globally and locally. We certainly feel this way. But art, design, and innovation generate opportunities to effect the change we want to see in the world. Together, we can make beautiful, playful, and neighborly things for the causes and communities we care about.

  • Too often we try to predict the unpredictable. We can undoubtedly take measures to mitigate the unwanted, the undesirable, and the uncertain. But being hyper focused on achieving a specific result, or miming someone else’s results, can lead to missed opportunities and achievements. We want you to succeed through aim over impulse.

  • Art, culture, history, technology—all vital for prosperity. These tools provide meaning, purpose, and metamorphosis. Our human story inspires us to view a problem from various angles, understand contextual challenges, and work toward finding solutions and impact through the lens of design and a future-forward blueprint. In a world plagued by consumerism, consuming what already exists helps us find our exact coordinates on the map to evolution.

  • We value our planet and sustainability. Our design practices are actively shifting to take into account the global climate crisis. We might not have all the answers but we can make an effort, and with you as a collaborator, we can discover new and impactful solutions to create products, services, and identities that shift old narratives and practices. This may include migrating traditionally printed materials to digital platforms, or finding ways to lower our carbon footprint and mitigate waste.

    “Everything needs to change – and it has to start today.” - Greta Thunberg.

Want Studio is a remote-first studio ready to work from anywhere. But if you're nearby, let's meet up at our base in Brooklyn, New York.

Branding process

We carefully examine your brand, make mood boards, and craft a design plan. Together, we pinpoint three essential brand traits that inspire our creative process.

Discovery →

Delve into the core idea of your brand with a 1:1 conversation

Brand Identity System →

Capture and codify in a systematic, creative and usable way

Strategy + Positioning →

Establish your brand's unique voice, appearance, and behavior

Brand Book →

Final brand deliverables will encompass a brand style guide

Tailored previews of your brand's potential

Mood Worlds →

Launch •

The most exciting part

A closer look

  • In our Discovery session, we'll delve into the core aspects of your business or project. Please bring the following:

    ○ Your company's overview, mission, or vision
    ○ Short-term and long-term goals
    ○ Functional and emotional benefits of your service or product
    ○ Current or potential challenges for your business & brand
    ○ Any research you've conducted so far
    ○ Design inspiration sources

    Don't worry if you're missing any of these elements; we can assist in developing them.

  • Want Studio will analyze competitors and similar projects in your field to carve out a unique brand position for you. We'll design a visual identity tailored to engage both your current and prospective audiences. If your brand requires a new name, we've got you covered.

    We'll collaboratively establish your brand's unique voice, appearance, and behavior.

    The end result is a comprehensive Brand Guidebook. This will serve as the cornerstone for Want Studio, your in-house team, and any other partners to develop all future brand expressions and experiences.

  • In coordination with our Brand Positioning efforts, we'll develop three distinct visual "mood worlds" to illustrate the future aesthetic of your brand. These mood worlds will encompass typography, color, photography, packaging, and real-world activations.

    Consider these 'worlds' as tailored previews of your brand's potential look and feel. While we draw from existing inspirations to create these mood boards, they're not for direct replication. Instead, they offer an aesthetic essence that can be uniquely customized for your brand.

  • Based on approved brand positioning, brand name, and chosen visual mood world, Want Studio will develop 2-3 ‘brand worlds’ that visualize how the evolved identity system can be brought to life in all levels of communications. The goal of this phase will be to capture and codify in a systematic, creative and usable way.

    Brand Identity Systems go far beyond a logo. As such, each direction will visualize the brand’s key elements – word mark, identity, packaging, typefaces, photographic direction, and color palette.

    Through 2 rounds of review and feedback, the 2-3 brand concepts will be refined to 1 final direction. Once selected, the final brand concept will be extended to additional communications and visual applications and finally guidelines.

  • Final brand deliverables will encompass a brand style guide as well as internal communication templates for priority creative executions.

    Want Studio will work with your team to ensure that all deliverables meet the functional and aesthetic requirements for their day-to-day use. The end goal of this phase is to provide your internal team with all of the working materials to develop, extend, and maintain the brand across all aspects of the company.

    The most exciting part: the Launch!

Justin Carey

Contact →
LinkedIn →
Instagram →

Founder, Designer

Want Studio was established in 2017 as a mobile design studio, operating across countries, remotely, and eventually transitioning to in-house and studio roles. I have always aspired to nurture and expand an independent brand and creative practice, continuously evolving. After spending the last few years teaching, shop is open.

Info

Select Clients

Compass
Greenpeace
Institute of Contemporary Art
Lexus
Maine College of Art & Design
Milk Agency
Minnow
Mini Cooper
Monument
Pfizer
Portland Design Co.
J2 / Exit
The Philadelphia School
Mastery Schools
Shillington

Press & Awards

The Brand Identity
Creative Boom

Talks & Workshops

Type Thursday Guest Speaker, 2024
The Role of AI in Design, 2023
Design Educator, Shillington, 2022-24
The Future Forward, 2012

  • "Justin Carey is an exceptional designer and educator whose dedication and kindness have made a significant impact on our educational community. I have had the privilege of working closely with Justin at Shillington NYC, and I can confidently say that they embody all the qualities of an outstanding educator."

    Cathy Sison
    Head of Shillington New York

  • "It's rare to work with a designer or brand consultant in a truly collaborative relationship, but working with Justin on our branding for Neon Labs felt like a natural, back-and-forth conversation from day one."

    Carlo DiCelico

  • "I hired Justin to work on the full branding package of Mo&Co Home, including our logo, typography selection, and product packaging. With minimal direction, Justin was able to completely capture the full essence of our brand. They are professional, talented and I can not recommend them enough."

    Amy DeSamsonow
    Mo&Co Home

  • "I highly recommend working with Justin, whether it's logo and identity design, book layout, branding print collateral - they have all the skills you need, and more."

    LK Weiss
    Portland Design Co.

  • "Justin is not only an incredible designer, they have grown to be an incredible mentor to all of their students. Justin’s approach to teaching is driven by empathy and an understanding that every student has a unique view of the world."

    Laura Carrick
    Head of Marketing & Communications

Why Want Studio

001

Sustainable Practices

In line with our values, we prioritize eco-friendly and sustainable design solutions.

002

Tailored Approach

Our solutions are customized to fit your specific requirements and audience.

003

Integrated Tech

We leverage contemporary tools and approaches to ensure efficiency and innovation in every project.

004

Adaptable Design Framework

We don’t believe in gatekeeping design or design modalities. We help make design accessible.

005

Cost-Effectiveness

We provide a high caliber service for a much smaller fee than big-box, well known agencies.

006

Network of Partners

Want Studio is based in NYC, with a network of valuable partners for a modular workflow.

007

Pragmatic Tools

We’re equipped with user-friendly services to hand off project delivery seamlessly.

008

Collaborative Spirit

We pride ourselves on being excellent listeners. We work with you, not for you.

009

In-house Versatility

Want Studio is a small but mighty design studio. Never a fan of too many cooks.

Get a quote

Have a project in mind? We’ll send you a quote.

Or, book a consultation

Get acquainted and share your needs in a free 15-minute call. For a more in-depth consultation, opt for our 1-2 hour session to identify your needs and determine if we're a good fit.

We offer three tiers of tailored brand suites for you to choose from. Take a look at the process here →

249 Smith St #4014
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Hours
Monday–Friday
10am–5pm

Email
justin@want.studio