Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Justin Kerr. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Justin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I’ve been a designer for over 25 years and a pirate (historical reenactor) for over 10 but I never considered merging the two until about three years ago.

I was urged to do this by a friend and business consultant but I was hesitant at first, fearing that it would feel cheesy or gimmicky. After my friend convinced me I was simply bringing together two very authentic halves of myself I realized this could help me be more true to who I am while also distinguishing myself in the marketplace.

I completely changed my brand and my mission and became the pirate who helps entrepreneurs discover their true brand. I stopped writing “designer” on my name tag at networking events and simply wrote “pirate,” which sparked more engaging conversations than I could ever have imagined.

I wasn’t thoroughly convinced my new brand was gaining traction until a woman, whom I never met before, came up to me, pointed, and said, “You’re the pirate!”

I have never regretted becoming a more authentic version of myself and take great pleasure in helping others do the same by engaging my branding and design skills.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After earning a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, my first job was roofing houses — a humbling experience and an important step in my personal growth. I eventually landed a position as a graphic designer and have spent the past 25+ years developing my skills in print and web design, branding, identity development, art direction, and design strategy. I was the Creative Director for a web development company for several years before starting my own design and branding agency in 2016.

As a designer and brand specialist, I help entrepreneurs discover their true brand and bring clarity, strength and consistency to their visual communication. One of the things that sets me apart is being a pirate, of course! Being an entrepreneur is an exciting and risky adventure and if I’m telling my clients to be authentic with their brand I need to practice what I preach.

While I’m not a native Rhode Islander, I’ve lived here long enough that I now give directions by where landmarks used to be. My wife, also a RISD grad, and I live in Providence and spend weekends indulging in our passions: yard sales and historical re-enactment as pirates.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

My “major f*ck-up moment” came about two years into my journey as an entrepreneur. Although I was an experienced designer, I was still a newbie business owner and I had financially leveraged myself way past where I should have with unsecured debt and personal loans.

However, that was not the f*ck-up part because it’s not unusual for entrepreneurs to get themselves into financial trouble. My biggest mistake was hiding the reality of the situation from my life & business partner. My rationale was that I didn’t want to worry her unnecessarily. But after being compelled by a friend to come clean and weathering the ensuing relational turbulence I vowed to always be honest about the state of our business, regardless of how ugly it might get.

Here’s the lesson: always be honest with your crew. They’ll forgive you for putting the ship in peril but they won’t forgive you for keeping the truth of the situation from them.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

It may sound cliché, but word-of-mouth is and always has been the best source of new clients for me. One satisfied client can generate three or four new opportunities by simply sharing their experience.

I put a lot of weight in testimonials and I make sure to secure one after every project or engagement. You can talk all day about how great you are but it will never be as loud as someone else saying it.

Second to word-of-mouth is networking and keeping your face in front of other people who are either prospective clients, partners, or advocates. As a natural introvert, this can be difficult for me to sustain sometimes but I truly enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justinkerrdesign.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinkerrdesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbkerr/