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About

who is eric jurkovic?

midwest work ethic meets northwest living

Eric Jurkovic is the founder and creative lead behind 5AM. No fluff, no layers. Just one person driving every project with focus and intent.

My creative path started with 90s snowboard films, which sparked an early obsession with visual storytelling. That passion led me into video production, evolved into a career as an art director in advertising, and eventually pushed me to launch 5AM, a design practice focused on helping brands sharpen how they show up in the world.

I work closely with founders, entrepreneurs, and marketing managers who know they need high-quality branding but feel uncertain about where to begin or how the process should unfold. My role is to guide them from that point of uncertainty into a clear, confident brand presence.

Most of my work is with companies in industrial, manufacturing, and technical sectors. These are often brands with strong products and great people but underdeveloped visual systems. My background in agency and commercial design gives me the tools to create branding that feels intentional, practical, and different in all the right ways. Whether it’s a brand refresh, a sales deck, or a full visual identity, I focus on making technical brands look as sharp as the work they do.

In the spirit of radical transparency, here are a few personal stats to get to know me better:

5am
when i begin work everyday
Am I a morning person due to Catholic guilt, my parents never sleeping in or the desire to kiteboard when the wind is good? All of the above.
10+
agencies I have worked at
Ranging from boutique agencies in Cleveland to the biggest in Chicago, I cut my teeth across the creative industry before heading off on my own.
27
years snowboarding
From the first time I stood sideways on a sled in Northeast Ohio to scaling mountains in the Pacific Northwest — I will shred until I physically can’t.
1
swims across the Columbia river gorge
Learning to kiteboard comes with it’s risks and I have learned them well.
50
clients i have worked directly with
Since I have gone off on my own in 2020, I hit the ground running with taking on every sized project across industries until I found my sweet spot.

ready to build your brand?

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