Doing Good to Build a Profitable Business

As co-founder and Chief Evangelist of Rule29, Justin Ahrens lives the firm’s philosophy of Making Creative Matter®. With a collaborative approach to both strategy and design, Rule29 works with nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies. Rule29 is a Certified B Corporation® and its culture is just as important as the work it creates; the firm is involved in many social causes, including substantial work in Africa. His design for good project Wheels4Water has helped over 19,500 Africans get life-saving clean water, was recognized as a world-changing idea by Fast Company, and got him invited to talk about at the Obama White House. Throughout his career, Justin has upheld a commitment to give his time and talents to help his fellow creative professionals and support important social causes. GD:USA has recognized him twice (2003, 2017) as one of the People to Watch in the design industry. He’s served on the board of advisors for various groups including the leading professional association for design AIGA, which he served as a National Board Member focused on Design For Good. Justin is a national & international speaker at design and business conferences about creative inspiration, leadership, culture, story and design strategy at conferences like the AIGA Design Conference, Creative Mornings, Design Thinkers, Adobe Max, HOW Live, Brand New, HOW Interactive, TEDx, & many other organizations. He occasionally serves as an adjunct design instructor and has helped with senior- and graduate-level design and strategy classes at Notre Dame & Kent State University, where students and professionals work together to tackle social problems. Justin is the host of the podcast DesignOf which focuses on the extraordinary things that happen around us every day and the extraordinary people that make them happen. He has authored several books and online courses, including “Grow Your Business” and "Doing Good to Build a Profitable Business" for LinkedIn Learning,“Life Kerning” (Wiley), and “The Best of Business Card Design 9” (Rockport). Leading publications and organizations such as Fast Company, HOW, Communication Arts, FPO, Print, Logo Lounge, AIGA, GD:USA and Graphis have published Rule29’s award-winning work or has had Justin as a judge, speaker or writer.