Caroline Adams Vulcano
Designer / Founder of Pizza Bagel Creative
Denver, CO
www.pizzabagelcreative.com
instagram @pizzabagecreative
pinterest
Q What do you do?
“I’m a graphic designer and creative director who specializes in building brand identity systems, consumer packaged goods design, and design work that bridges between digital and physical spaces. I love to create visual identities that span from the screen to a chocolate bar, merch, or a book cover that you can hold in your hand.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I started my career thinking I’d be a copywriter (I studied creative writing in school), and joined an in-house agency doing marketing and copy. But once I started collaborating with the design team, I realized I had it all wrong. I went back to school for graphic design and bootstrapped my way into the industry — freelancing, learning on the job, and working with a few local agencies before striking out on my own. Today, I’m lucky to do what I love: building thoughtful, strategic design across industries — from hospitality branding to tech startups and beyond — working alongside a crew of contractors & creatives at my agency, Pizza Bagel Creative.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I believe the best design inspiration comes from real stories behind businesses. My work is informed by digging into my clients' backstories and really pulling through the brand story and humanness of the brand. People connect with people – and I want consumers of my clients' brands to really feel that. I also illustrate and use this to give my clients' brands an edge with custom elements that are pulled throughout their collateral.
Q What are you working on right now?
I am waist-deep in a dumpling restaurant brand – building everything from the logos to the coasters. I'm also working on the packaging from some baby products. Coming soon!
Q What’s your style?
A lot of my work feels bold, funky, hand-drawn, and has an infusion of a human feel. Pinterest is a great place to begin grabbing design inspo, but the good stuff is found when chatting with your client about their business inception or finding super cool type on a 1960s can of beans in your grandma's cabinet. I want my clients' brand to compete and win in their space, but I want them to be able to do that by standing out rather than fitting in (which I believe can often make design work disappear).
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
So many! I love to illustrate, hand letter, and create packaging. A lot of my work is in branding, but any time I get to create with my hands, or make work that is consumed by people in the physical world, it's a treat!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I would love to learn Motion Design. It takes design work to the next level and helps to tell stories in the digital space. BUT! It's a whole additional skillset and I really should just hire someone. Unfortunately, my curiosity can get in my way sometimes and I will find myself keyframing for hours (I am a total newb and have no idea what I'm doing (for now!!).
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Motion Design! Bring it all to life!!! And also organize all of the papers / cords / pens / random ephemera on my desk.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I could have told my 6th grade self that was obsessed with creating merch for the cross country team that I would actually get to do this for a living one day. I would have been really, really excited.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
So many hand-letterers and type experts inspire me and I would love to grab a coffee with them to hear their process – from their first sketches to where they are now. In the rise of a super digital, AI world, hand lettering that has that human touch always brings out the best of design in my opinion.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Packaging, Branding, and Environmental Design
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I love working with businesses that have both digital and physical spaces or products. It's incredibly fun to bring design into both worlds. I work with businesses from small mom and pops to 1,000+ organizations, and am always looking for the opportunity to help brands bring their stories to life. Right now, I am loving working in the hospitality industry to help restaurants and hotels create experiences that grab attention online and on foot. I'll also never turn down a packaging project. It gives me an excuse to go to the grocery store and look at labels.
Q: What is your rate?
My brand design packages typically begin at $3,000. It all depends on how deep and broad clients want to go in creating their brand world. For consumer packaged goods design and environmental graphics, it really depends on my client's starting point! If they don't already have a brand, we'll work together to create that first so that they can be empowered with a brand to supplement the goods that we're creating together. If they do have a solid starting point, packaging usually begins at $3,500.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Reach out to me at caroline@pizzabagelcreative.com and include let's get saucy in the subject :)
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Lisa Tanguichi is endlessly inspiring and has so much joy in her lettering work. I think I have cited her a million times.
Josh Diaz at Old Boy Studio is one of my favs. He brings so much humanness / fun / play to his work and is an unreal illustrator.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I like to go on walks with my dogs and look at all of the plants in the neighborhood. I'm a bit of a grandma and get really really inspired by nature and seasons.
This member profile was originally published in May 2025.