About

Carissa Hempton is a Creative Director based in Houston, Texas, with 20 years of experience spanning branding, print, environmental, and digital design.

After nearly six years with Principle—where she led teams developing brand identities and systems for some of the Southwest’s most recognized destinations and organizations including Houston Museum District, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Southern Smoke Foundation, and Houston Zoo—she has recently joined the in-house creative team at Pappas Restaurants.

Independently, Carissa has designed and directed projects for organizations such as Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, University of Houston School of Art, Project Row Houses, Preservation Houston, HabitatMap, and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts.

She previously served on the AIGA Houston board of directors, helping launch the Design Loop mentorship program. Outside of work, Carissa volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and develops Print Prologue, a collection celebrating small-format print design and the details that make it special.
 

My thoughts about design:

I believe good design and thoughtful execution have the power to improve people’s lives—that’s why I do this work. Design with intention doesn’t just enhance visual appeal; it also makes things function better. With every project, my goals are twofold: to create design that communicates clearly and effectively, and to elevate how people experience purposeful, well-crafted brands.