Darren Kapahi, creative directorTaking on new projects

Complexlaunches,delivered.

Brand, packaging, website, 3D and launch content, run by one director. Work for Pepsi, Red Bull and Def Jam, and a beverage brand now in 300+ NYC stores. Traditional creative craft, with AI to move faster.

Book a 30-minute call ↗See the work

300+NYC stores now carrying Awesome Ice Tea

8 weeksfrom launch to 250+ NYC retail locations

9xBillboard-charting releases with artwork, packaging and campaigns for Showoff Records

2025BevNET LIVE new brand showdown semi-finalist

Selected work

Beverage, music, and fashion

2019 –Awesome Ice TeaBrand identity, packaging, Shopify, 3D and social↗Brand identity, packaging, 3D and social content, plus a Shopify store with a real-time retail store locator. Founded it, and still run the creative.
2024 – 26SLANG MusicApparel, merchandise, artist websites↗Premium apparel, the SLANG Basketball collection, a Starter Brand outerwear collab, and artist sites with DTC stores.
2025Private Label KidswearConcept development↗Concept development for a private label kidswear line.
2025National Activewear BrandAI concept and campaign work↗AI-assisted concept and campaign work for a national activewear brand.
EarlierPepsiCampaign direction, rebrandDirected the NAACP Award-winning "We Inspire" campaign, the World Cup "Beats of the Beautiful Game" campaign and "Bronx Flavor", and rebranded the Pepsi DJ Division.
EarlierShowoff RecordsArtwork, packaging, campaigns, website, merchArtwork, packaging and campaigns for Billboard-charting releases, plus the label's website and merchandise.

Beverage / DTC · 2019 –

Awesome Ice Tea

Identity, packaging, 3D, social and a Shopify store with a retail locator.

Music merch · 2024 – 26

SLANG Music

Apparel, basketball collection, a Starter collab and artist sites.

Beverage campaigns · Earlier work

Pepsi

NAACP Award-winning "We Inspire" and more.

Music / label · Earlier work

Showoff Records

Artwork and campaigns for Billboard-charting releases.

Kidswear · 2025

Private Label Kidswear

Concept development for a private label line.

Activewear · 2025

National Activewear

AI-assisted concept and campaign work.

Also worked with

Red Bull
Appaman
Magna-Tiles
David Peyser Sportswear Group
Graffiti Hall of Fame
Will Smith
DJ Khaled

Packages

Fixed scopes you can say yes to.

Content packImages and videoSite sprintShopify / Webflow / FramerFull launchBrand + site + content

A set of AI-assisted images and short videos for a campaign, lookbook or product drop
Cut-downs for each platform: feed, stories, reels and ads
3D product renders and animation when the product calls for it
Brand rules and prompt references so the next batch matches
Delivered as platform-ready masters

Good fit if

You need a lot of assets quickly for a launch, a seasonal push or a retail activation, and a full shoot isn't practical.

Built with

Nano BananaKlingSeedanceHailuoKreaBlenderPremiere ProPhotoshop

Talk through your project ↗

How I work

Craft first.
AI for speed.

Brief
Audience, brand codes, channel and one measurable goal, settled before anything gets made.
System
Visual rules, references and shot logic, so every asset matches the last one and the product stays accurate.
Build
Site and content produced together. AI generates options quickly; I choose, composite, retouch and finish.
Ship
Platform-ready masters and cut-downs, a live site, and a workflow your team can keep using.

Concept, art direction and finish are done by hand and by eye. AI speeds up drafts and variations. Likeness, licensing and product accuracy are checked before anything ships.

Start a project

Got a launch coming up?

Book a 30-minute call ↗Copy my email

Or write to darren@placebrandhere.com

Complexlaunches,delivered.

Beverage, music, and fashion

Fixed scopes you can say yes to.

Craft first.AI for speed.

Brief

System

Build

Ship

Got a launch coming up?

Craft first.
AI for speed.