The story of Justin Kramm
Hotels, cartoons, and learning to connect quickly
Justin moved often because his father worked in hotels, and the family sometimes lived in a property for months before relocating. He drew cartoons on hotel stationery, met children and staff from many places, and learned how to form a connection quickly even when it might not last. Country music, comic strips, poetry, film, and humor taught him that serious experiences could be processed through story.
At school he often used jokes to break tension, but he was also academically strong and finished near the top of his graduating class. A middle school baseball team made the combination visible. Although he was not a strong player, he became a captain and found his contribution in public announcements that gave the team energy and a shared narrative.
Advertising ambition, rejection, and collapse
Justin studied advertising and international business, represented Red Bull on campus, and learned how a brand could create its own category rather than compete as another soda. Portfolio school and agency work then exposed him to celebrated campaigns, long hours, shifting creative standards, and constant rejection. He moved among digital, television, international, and freelance roles because he feared being confined to one label. Over time, the performance and pressure accumulated.
Shortly before his first son was born, he left a demanding agency role and experienced a nervous breakdown. He later returned to full time work, but the experience changed how he understood burnout, support, and professional identity. He says recovery required openness to trusted people and professional guidance rather than treating distress as a personal failure to hide.
A parody post becomes Shit Show Creative
Shit Show Creative began as a fictional agency Justin had imagined for years. He posted a parody launch on LinkedIn to amuse a small circle of writers, then returned to find that many readers wanted the agency to exist. People offered editing, writing, production, and other help, while early clients included the George Romero Foundation, a squid jerky company, and work connected to Spotify. Justin turned the attention into a flexible studio with a small consistent core and independent specialists assembled for each brief.
The company does not rely on conventional pitching. Its public work and intentionally unusual site act as a filter for clients already interested in bold creative ideas. Justin is also developing original media, including an interview format built around the George Romero Foundation's zombie puppet.