63 Visual Creative Director Patrick Carter Featured on The Horse’s Mouth with Tom McManus

Recently, 63 Visual Creative Director Patrick Carter joined Tom McManus on The Horse's Mouth to discuss entrepreneurship, branding, leadership, and the philosophy that has guided 63 Visual for more than 17 years.

See the original broadcast on The BUZZ Daily News Network website.

The conversation covered everything from starting a design studio in Jacksonville Beach to building long-term client relationships, creating meaningful brands, and leading a creative team by example.

It was an honor to be invited onto the program and to share the values that continue to shape both our work and our approach to serving businesses throughout Jacksonville and beyond.

Building a Boutique Branding Studio

When Tom asked about the story behind 63 Visual, Patrick reflected on growing up in Neptune Beach and discovering graphic design at an early age.

Tom McManus: Patrick, good to see you. How are you doing? Tell us about 63 Visual.

Patrick Carter: 63 Visual is my design studio. I’ve been in business for about 17 years now. I’m a Neptune Beach native and have lived here my whole life. I was fortunate that from a young age I always knew I wanted to be a designer. I never had to figure out what I wanted to do.

I’m also a UNF alumnus. While I was in college, I started working at advertising agencies in San Marco. I spent six or seven years there, but the ultimate goal was always to have my own design studio.

Working at those agencies allowed me to really learn the industry, but it also taught me what I wanted to do differently.

Rather than following the traditional agency model with multiple layers of communication, Patrick explained how 63 Visual was intentionally built around direct collaboration between the designer and the client.

Patrick Carter: In a traditional agency, there are a lot of people involved and a lot of communication touchpoints. There’s certainly a place for that model, but I wanted to bring creativity and direct communication straight to the customer, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

I wanted to create more of a boutique brand studio. We don’t sell advertising or email blasts. We focus on branding, logo design, packaging, websites, and development.

Instead of playing the telephone game where an account executive talks to the client, relays that information to an art director, and then it gets passed down to a junior designer, I wanted clients to communicate directly with the person doing the work. That creates better operational efficiency and ultimately better results.

Tom noted that this approach creates a much more personal experience for clients, allowing them to feel like valued partners instead of simply another account number.

Learning Every Industry Before Designing It

One of the defining characteristics of 63 Visual’s process is research. Before creating a logo, website, or brand identity, Patrick believes it’s essential to understand the client’s industry inside and out.

Patrick Carter: One of my favorite parts of this work is that I get to immerse myself in so many different industries. Every project is different, and that’s what makes it exciting.

For example, one of my clients manufactures horse shampoo. Before working with them, I didn’t know anything about horses or horse shampoo. Now I’ve learned about that industry, their audience, their customers, and what makes their products unique.

Every client gives me the opportunity to dive deep into a completely different business. That’s how you create effective branding. First, you learn everything you can about the company, what makes them different, and what separates them from their competitors. Then you get to do the fun part and bring that story to life visually.

This discovery-first philosophy has become one of the foundations of every branding and website project completed by 63 Visual.

Leadership Through Personal Growth

Later in the interview, the conversation shifted toward leadership and the personal influences that have shaped Patrick’s career.

Patrick Carter: I’ve always been interested in personal growth. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been reading books like How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

I think it’s one of the greatest books on sales, leadership, and life in general. Tony Robbins has also been a huge influence on me. Those lessons have really shaped how I lead both my business and my team.

Patrick shared one lesson that has stayed with him since working at Outback Steakhouse during college.

Patrick Carter: Our proprietor eventually became a regional partner, but what always stood out to me was that he never considered himself above any job. On the busiest nights, he’d jump right into the kitchen, wash dishes, help on the line, or do whatever needed to be done.

That taught me what real leadership looks like. It’s not about barking orders. It’s about leading by example and being willing to do whatever needs to be done.

Leading a Creative Team by Example

Patrick also explained how that same philosophy influences the way he works with the developers and creative professionals at 63 Visual.

Patrick Carter: I have several web developers on my team, and while I’m not a developer by trade, I wrote code early in my career because designers often had to build the websites they designed.

Today, I hire developers because they’re experts in what they do, but sometimes I know enough to jump in and say, “Here’s how we can solve this problem.”

It’s very similar to the Outback example. Just like the general manager who was willing to wash dishes, I’m willing to jump in alongside my team and help when it’s needed.

I’ve worked with some of these developers for nearly 15 years. We know each other well, we respect each other, and we work extremely well together.

I don’t lead a massive team, but there’s a real sense of mutual respect. They know I respect their expertise, and they know I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and help. That creates a much stronger working relationship.

An Outstanding Production Experience

Beyond the interview itself, the experience of filming The Horse’s Mouth was exceptional. From the moment Patrick arrived, the entire production was professional, welcoming, and remarkably well organized.

Tom McManus, Major Harding, Morgan Allen, and the entire Buzz TV News Network production team created an atmosphere that made the conversation feel natural and enjoyable. The positive energy throughout the studio, combined with a state-of-the-art production facility and streamlined process, made it easy to focus on having an authentic conversation rather than worrying about the cameras.

It’s immediately clear that the team takes pride in producing high-quality programming while making every guest feel comfortable throughout the experience.

About 63 Visual

Founded in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, 63 Visual is an independent branding and design studio specializing in logo design, brand identity systems, websites, packaging, illustration, apparel graphics, and marketing collateral. By combining strategic research with thoughtful design, 63 Visual helps businesses build memorable brands that connect with customers and stand apart from the competition.

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Tom McManus, Major Harding, Morgan Allen, and everyone at Buzz TV News Network for the opportunity to be part of The Horse’s Mouth. It was a privilege to share the story behind 63 Visual, discuss the importance of branding and leadership, and highlight the creative community here in Northeast Florida.

If your business is ready to build a stronger brand through strategic design, we’d love to start the conversation.