I’m Pete Karras, a creative director and designer with more than 20 years of experience shaping brands, building design systems, and leading teams.


I’ve worked with agencies and clients including Mother, Ogilvy, Disney, Nike, GAP, Away, and Alexander Wang. As co-founder of COMBO in New York, I led a team of designers and partnered with startups and Fortune 500 companies. I also helped launch Away, guiding everything from identity to product design.


My approach combines strategy and craft. I work closely with founders, stakeholders, and creative teams to turn ideas into experiences that connect with people. I believe the best work comes from collaboration and bold, simple design choices that stand the test of time.


Now based in Olympia, Washington, I continue to partner with agencies and brands that see design as a driver of change.

Select Clients: Nike · Disney · Instagram · GAP · Alexander Wang · Shopify · Diageo · Tommy John

Ann Taylor – Brand Refresh


Commissioned to help usher in a modern era for Ann Taylor, I collaborated with Creative Director Allison Aver to develop a refined visual and verbal brand system aimed at today’s working woman, ages 25–45. While the new logo was developed independently, I led a team of four in building out the surrounding brand language—photography direction, tone of voice, packaging, color illustration, typography, and layout systems.

Atticus – Brand Identity


Atticus was a men’s skincare startup built around environmental intelligence—using geography, weather, and climate data to tailor recommendations. We developed the brand from the ground up: logo, mark, color system, photography direction, typography, and packaging across eight SKUs.


Designed for men 15–35, the identity balances clarity and confidence with a modern, technical edge. Deliverables included a full brand guide to support product rollout and retail presence.

Away – Brand Launch


As one of four original team members, I helped launch Away from the ground up alongside Jen Rubio, Steph Korey, and Kapono Chunk. I led design across product, brand, website, and packaging—establishing a visual identity that remains virtually unchanged since launch.


From unboxing to UX, every touchpoint was crafted to feel purposeful, modern, and elevated—bringing thoughtful design to the travel category for a new generation of global citizens.

Nike Golf – Product Redesign


Partnering with Mark Aver, we reimagined Nike’s line of golf balls—refreshing a legacy product to better resonate with a younger generation of golfers. We designed the packaging, custom typography, and ball graphics to create a unified and elevated experience.


The result is a bold, high-contrast system that brings clarity and energy to the category while staying true to Nike’s performance-driven DNA.

Instagram Creators – Brand


Launched to support and empower emerging voices, Instagram Creators was built as a resource hub for the next generation of digital storytellers. Working with Creative Director Daniel Stoddart and creative agency Bus Group (Germany), we developed the visual identity, templates, and tone of voice from the ground up.


The brand is designed to be inclusive, flexible, and creator-first—meeting young audiences with clarity, warmth, and visual confidence.