(About — Carter Hughes)Designer,
Designer,
educator
creative
problem-solver.
(The short version)
I'm Carter Hughes — a Lead Graphic Designer based in Tulsa with over a decade of cross-industry creative work behind me.
My career has zig-zagged between in-house creative teams, agency rooms, and freelance studios — which means I know how to operate at every speed.
I design brand systems, direct campaigns, educate, mentor and inspire creatives and lean into AI-assisted tools where they sharpen the craft.
The work I'm proudest of feels less like design and more like connection.
Brand systemsCampaign creativeMotion designPhotographyArt directionAI workflows
(Experience)
Track record.
2018 — Present
Lead Graphic Designer
UKG · Weston, FL
Led and mentored junior designers, freelancers, and interns while overseeing brand collateral, presentations, social media, merchandise, and interactive design. Built scalable template systems and taught both designers and non-designers how to self-serve across multiple platforms through weekly training and creative guidance sessions.
2014 — 2016
Senior Graphic Designer
DRB Capital · Delray, FL
Led multi-channel creative campaigns for a financial services company across digital, print, motion, direct mail, and event marketing. Partnered with internal teams to develop clear, approachable visual communication systems that balanced strategic messaging with strong storytelling and cohesive brand experiences.
2012 — 2014
Graphic Designer
O2 Media · Pompano, FL
Created visual content for television, digital, and live event productions including motion graphics, photography, web assets, broadcast support visuals, and branded environments. Collaborated with production and marketing teams to develop engaging audience-facing content that supported both storytelling and brand communication.
2010 — 2012
Graphic Designer
Rainbow Tile Distributor · Pompano, FL
Designed brand and marketing materials for a national luxury tile distributor across print, digital, retail, and social platforms. Developed catalogs, advertising campaigns, product photography, and in-store experiences that translated complex product collections into visually approachable and engaging customer experiences.
2007 — 2008
Graphic Designer
Purple Beverage Company · Fort Lauderdale, FL
Developed brand and marketing materials for a health beverage company including point-of-sale campaigns, print advertising, trade show concepts, and corporate literature. Collaborated on creative strategies that helped communicate brand identity consistently across retail, promotional, and event experiences.
— Off the clockHands
Hands
always busy.
A sketchbook in every bag. A camera in the car. A half-finished woodworking project in the garage. The corporate work pays the bills — the personal work keeps the eye sharp.
Sketchbook #14
Tulsa, OK
Camera roll
Workshop
Woodworking
Dogs
(Working belief)Design that doesn't connect
Design that doesn't connect
is just decoration.
The work has to do something.
— Carter