Being HumanKind

Coming Soon! Being HumanKind

I’m writing this book about leadership, culture, kindness, influence, and the common thread that runs through them all: being human. In a world that feels more divided than ever, how often do we pause to truly understand ourselves, the people closest to us, and perhaps most importantly, those who are different from us? Being HumanKind explores the many dimensions of what it means to be human and offers stories, prompts, and insights to help us live with greater self-awareness, perspective, empathy, and courage. It’s a guide to building a life, and a legacy, rooted not in perfection, but in presence and compassion. Together, we can learn to Be HumanKind.

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Life Kerning: Creative Ways to Fine Tune Your Perspective on Career and Life

In the graphic design industry, kerning is the fine-tuning or adjustment of space between letterforms (type). In this book, author Justin Ahrens applies this concept to both the life and careers of business professionals. There is a common misconception that positive change in one’s life only comes from a complete system overhaul. Ahrens challenges this notion by inviting business leaders and professionals to not only reassess the various spaces and goals of one’s life, but to rethink our understanding of balance altogether.

Design Of Podcast

Extraordinary things are created around us every day. Design Of is the exploration of those extraordinary things and the extraordinary people that make them happen. Each episode, we dive into how creativity, process, and wonder bring world-changing ideas, big and small. Along the way, we learn about the journey it takes to get there – all the great and not so great. Join Justin Ahrens for new ideas, new stories, and new inspiration.

Running Ahrens Podcast

Creative $h!t Show Podcast

Creative life is messy. The Creative Shit Show, hosted by creative entrepreneurs Von Glitschka, Justin Ahrens, Karen Larson, and Jamie Saunders, is designed to help designers, marketers and creatives navigate the daily grind, or shit show. With decades of experience working in agencies, corporations, and self-employment, The Creative Shit Show co-hosts and friends have seen it all. In each episode, they confront relevant topics, and pull back the curtain to address the ups and downs of the design and marketing industries. This podcast is meant to be entertaining while supporting creatives who work in varied environments, but face similar challenges regarding pricing, client engagements, in-house obstacles, and so much more.

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Justin Ahrens brings his passion for creativity, business, and making an impact to 19 LinkedIn Learning courses, designed for both creative professionals and business leaders. His courses cover a wide range of topics, from design thinking and creativity to leadership, strategy, and innovation, helping professionals at all levels sharpen their skills and drive meaningful change.

His latest course, “Design Thinking in the Age of AI,” explores how artificial intelligence is transforming empathy, innovation, and problem-solving. Whether you’re looking to enhance your leadership, refine your creative process, or develop a strategic mindset, Justin’s courses provide practical insights and real-world applications in an engaging and inspiring format.

Have Justin speak at your next event

Justin speaks the languages of both business and design, guiding Rule29’s strategic and creative direction on every project. He fosters the collaborative approach that’s at the heart of the firm’s relationships with clients ranging from Fortune 100 brands to nonprofits to small start-up companies. He regularly speaks at national and international design and business conferences such as the AIGA Design Conference, Design Thinkers, Adobe Max, Creative Mornings, HOW Live, Brand New, HOW Interactive, TEDx, and many others about creative inspiration, leadership, culture, story, and design strategy. In 2003, he was named by GD:USA as one of the leading “People to Watch” and in 2017 GD:USA named him as one of the “Responsible Designers To Watch” as someone leading the charge to use design and communications principles and skills to make the world a better place as he sees it. Get in touch today if you would like Justin to speak at your next event.

Join us At the Table — where conversation, creativity, and connection meet.

At the Table is an intimate, invite-only gathering hosted by Justin Ahrens (Rule29) and Brian MacDonald (Wonderkind Studios). Each evening brings together a small group of creative leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers for meaningful conversation over handcrafted bourbon and mocktails.

The experience blends the best parts of a salon, a dinner, and a retreat, without the formality. Guests are invited to explore topics like leadership, creativity, purpose, and business strategy through unscripted dialogue and thoughtful questions that encourage reflection and connection.

The goal is simple: create a space where people can pause, share honestly, and leave more inspired than they arrived.

Turning Purpose Into Practice: How to Lead with your Purpose ON

Justin Ahrens is a founding partner of ON Purpose, a platform co-created by O’Neil Printing, Rule29, and Doing Good Works to help leaders align values with action. As Chief Creative Officer of Rule29, Justin brings over two decades of experience using design and storytelling to make creative matter. His role in ON Purpose centers on shaping the framework, voice, and visual system that help organizations turn purpose from a statement into a measurable practice.

Through ON Purpose, Justin champions a movement where business, culture, and community are all turned ON, built on trust, integrity, and impact. He helps leaders activate purpose across strategy, culture, and communication, ensuring that every decision reflects what truly matters.

His vision is clear: purpose isn’t a slogan. It’s a way of leading that connects belief with behavior, and creativity with change

EQUAL: Where Creativity Meets Truth

EQUAL is a creative movement co-founded by Justin Ahrens and Kristin Ellison to inspire unity, truth, and hope in a divided world. It brings artists, designers, and thinkers together to use creativity as a force for clarity and connection.

Through projects like Truth Talk AI, EQUAL blends art and verified information to challenge misinformation and rebuild trust. The platform invites people everywhere to share work that reflects empathy, dignity, and shared humanity.

Justin and Kristin created EQUAL to show that creativity can do more than express—it can heal, inform, and unite.