Meet Emily Carpenter

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

Hi Emily, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
If I am being honest, I knew from a young age that entrepreneurship was eventually going to be my path. My dad’s family created and owned a series of clothing stores in Rochester while he was growing up, and being surrounded by the old store signage, hearing the stories, and seeing the pride that came from it really lit that fire for me.

After college, and working my way up the ladder at local companies, from part-time graphic designer, to full time, Creative Director, Head of Design and Production, then Creative/Marketing Director- I had learned all the things that college can’t teach you. Being in the field and learning from other business owners was absolutely crucial for my journey.
I saw what was possible…how it could be done more efficiently, honestly, AND with some personality. The one thing I’ve failed at is to understand why the concept of ‘doing business’ always seems to have this heavy, dark, serious cloud looming over it. It doesn’t need to be that way- it should have a spark of excitement to it, not stress.

Two complete strangers, possibly hundreds of miles apart, can now connect on a task or project and suddenly share the same goal and work towards it together- which is really beautiful and something I never want to take for granted. I felt like I had an obligation to share that perspective with others. I’ve had some clients with me for over a decade now and every project we work on together is still as exciting as the first. I truly love what I do and hope that feeling is contagious for every client I work with! So I ventured out to create my own company, because I wanted to be free to do business on my own terms and create an impression on other small business owners and a legacy that lasts.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Turning creative work into a full-time profitable gig is by no means easy and requires versatility.
Being dedicated to my craft and determined to find creative solutions continuously makes me a better designer… Which is ultimately where my brand sourced it’s name: Hard Row Design & Marketing. Hard Row derives from the phrase (circa 1810) “It’s a hard row to hoe” meaning “a difficult course to follow, hard work to accomplish”.

Looking back, I landed a job as a graphic designer at a local print/design shop in my first year of college, and I learned so many things being in the field that schooling can’t teach you.
Learning how to really hear what clients were trying to say when they couldn’t quite articulate their vision, and becoming versatile and confident in different styles of design has been paramount to my success.
A challenge I ran into early in my career was the unconscious stereotyping people gravitate towards when considering a female vs. male designer. People tend to think that a female designer will always produce more feminine graphics (and vice versa), so after being subjected to that prejudice a handful of times, I decided to perfect every style of graphic arts to build my portfolio in a way that shows I can do whatever is asked of me- and do it very well.
I accepted every complex, intimidating project I could get my hands on no matter how frustrating or time consuming it was. The period between learning and knowing something is always uncomfortable, but necessary for growth.
To date, I have designed and produced 16+ ft high electrical monument signs that had to be architecturally sound to withstand high winds and harsh Michigan weather. An entire recreational Ice Curling Arena, under ice graphics included. Full vehicle graphics, production, and installations (frozen yogurt truck being my favorite). Countless local restaurant menus, wedding invitations, several website designs, hand drawn family portraits, shot and created commercials, brands and (award winning) logos, and most recently- designing wine labels and marketing materials for products sold in stores nationally!
I have literally had my hands on anything and everything design related.
It was tough figuring out how to execute some of those projects, but becoming well versed in print materials and even installation created the opportunity for me to offer what others cannot- a personable ‘one stop shop’.

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’m not afraid to embrace my inner-nerd… Hands down, I would go to Henry Ford Museum and the DIA. I think looking backwards through history is absolutely inspiring in so many ways. I would take a drive towards Holly, to show them the insanely beautiful State Park, disc golf course, and beach, but on the way grab some Honey-Sriracha Tacos from Meach’s Pit Stop in Ortonville. For dinner, we are headed to Ciao in Fenton for some of the most delicious, high quality cuisine (definitely ordering the Shrimp Luca), and for a night cap- skipping over a few streets to The Laundry for drinks and dessert!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been surrounded by the most talented, creative, and inspiring people all my life. My mother (Susan) an incredible multi-discipline artist and visionary, truly cultivated the creative side of me since I could dip my fingers in paint (or Spaghetti-O sauce).
My father (John), master of the workshop and ultimate project manager, showed me how to creative problem solve and how to hear what people are saying, not just listen.
They both really taught me how to think outside the box, while being practical. Combining creative + business mentalities is not always an easy task, but it’s something I had unknowingly been prepared for all my life. So for the mark I leave on the world, big or small, it’s for you mom and dad! Thank you.

Website: https://www.hardrowdesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardrowdesign/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hard-row-design-marketing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HardRowDesign/