Chipp Builder Series: How AI Transforms Design Work for the Better with Justin Ahrens
In this episode, Justin Ahrens explains why AI won't kill the creative industry. Learn how he's using AI to enhance operations, improve client work, and why designers who adapt now
While most creative professionals are having sleepless nights about AI taking their jobs, Justin Ahrens is doing something completely different. He's embracing it, experimenting with it, and making his design agency more profitable because of it.
Justin runs Rule 29 and O'Neill Printing, where he's literally taking a traditional print shop into the digital age. When he joined our Chipp Builder Series, he shared something refreshing: how he's using AI without losing what makes his work human and creative.
Meet Justin Ahrens, the guy who sees opportunity where others see threats. He's got years of experience watching the design industry evolve, and he brings this calm, practical perspective to the AI conversation that's currently dividing creatives everywhere.
Justin doesn't panic about new technology because he's been here before. His approach is simple: when everyone else is running away from change, he runs toward it to see what's actually there.
Why Designers Shouldn't Fear AI (When Everyone Else Is)
Here's what Justin gets that many designers don't: this isn't the first time the industry has faced "disruption." He remembers when everyone thought websites would kill design. Spoiler alert - they didn't. They created more design jobs than ever before.
Same thing happened with Adobe tools. Designers panicked, thinking software would replace them. Instead, it made design more accessible and expanded the entire industry.
Justin sees AI the same way. The technology we're using today is actually the worst version of AI we'll ever experience. It only gets better from here. So the designers who learn it now? They're going to be way ahead when AI becomes even more powerful.
His take is refreshingly honest: the genie's out of the bottle. AI isn't going anywhere. You can either learn to work with it or spend your energy fighting something that's already here to stay.
How AI Makes Operations Effortless
Justin's team has completely transformed how they handle daily operations. Instead of spending hours digging through regulations, employee handbooks, and company policies, they just ask AI.
Need to know about postage regulations? Ask AI. Can't remember the vacation policy? Ask AI. Looking for specific industry specs? You guessed it - ask AI.
This isn't about replacing people. It's about giving people their time back so they can focus on the work that actually matters. His team spends less time hunting for information and more time creating.
The best part? Everything is conversational. No more scrolling through massive PDFs or searching through databases. Just ask a question and get the answer you need.
The Magic Moment That Changes Everything
Justin's breakthrough came when he uploaded research data to AI and realized he could actually have a conversation with it. Not just get summaries, but ask creative, off-the-wall questions he never would have thought of before.
Suddenly he was discovering insights that would have taken him weeks to uncover manually. The AI helped him see patterns and possibilities that weren't obvious from just reading through data.
He also discovered AI's power for writing. Justin writes fast and conceptually, but editing always took forever. Now AI handles the polish, cutting his editing time dramatically while improving the final result.
This is where the magic happens - AI doesn't replace creativity, it amplifies it by handling the tedious parts so humans can focus on the imaginative work.
Join Us at Chipp Con!
We're excited to have Justin speaking at Chipp Con on July 21st in Fargo! He'll dive deeper into how design agencies can practically integrate AI without losing their creative soul.
Justin will share more about his monetization framework, show additional client examples, and discuss what he sees coming next for AI in creative work. If you're in the design world and curious about AI's role in your future, this conversation will be incredibly valuable.
Register for free at www.chipp.ai/chippcon and join us in Fargo. Come ready to learn, connect, and see how AI can enhance rather than replace what you do best.