Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharllah Brewster.
Hi Sharllah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story isn’t one of following a straight path. If anything, it’s been a journey of discovering that sometimes the most meaningful chapters of our lives are the ones we never planned to write.
I was born and raised in Barbados, and creativity has always been a part of who I am. As a child growing up with a severe stutter, dyslexia and a lisp, spoken word never favored me. It was at 9 years old I began to write. I fell in love with storytelling, exploring ideas, and finding ways to bring something imagined into existence. The best part, between those lines I could sound like everyone else. However, it took me time, life experience, and quite a few unexpected turns to recognize how those interests could become something more.
As a mother of two, an author, and an entrepreneur, I’ve worn many hats over the years. Like many people, I’ve experienced moments of uncertainty, reinvention, and the challenge of balancing responsibilities with personal aspirations. There were times when my creative ambitions took a back seat to the demands of everyday life, but they never completely disappeared.
Eventually, my love for creativity, storytelling, and technology began to intersect. That intersection became the foundation for Expressively Coded Ink, my web design and creative business. Eight years ago, in 2018, I published my first book, Apple’s Perfect Picnic. As a newly published author, I wanted to create a digital space to showcase my work and establish my presence as a writer. During the COVID pandemic, that desire led me to explore web design through online learning. What began as a personal project soon opened an unexpected door. After I built my own website, my work caught the attention of a business owner in Malaysia, who then became my very first website design client. That experience inspired me to expand my knowledge and continue developing my skills.
It still wows me that what began as a necessity during a period of uncertainty turned into an opportunity for something with a much deeper purpose: helping individuals and small businesses communicate who they are through thoughtful design, meaningful storytelling, and an authentic digital presence.
Alongside my work as a web designer and UX strategist, I’ve continued to pursue my passion for writing. Being an author allows me to explore another side of storytelling, one that isn’t confined to a screen or a business objective. I’ve also expanded into freelance journalism and podcasting through my personal series, UnKnotted, where I explore life’s complexities, personal growth, and the ongoing process of becoming.
Today, I see myself as someone who is still evolving. I’m building a business, developing my voice as a writer, raising my children, and learning to embrace the fact that growth doesn’t come with an expiration date.
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that we don’t have to have everything figured out before we begin. Sometimes we discover who we are simply by having the courage to keep going.
And I believe I’m still writing some of my best chapters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not! But I’ve come to realize that some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned came from the moments when I fell and had to get back up and when the road was anything but smooth.
One of my greatest challenges has been learning to balance the responsibilities of motherhood, personal growth, and entrepreneurship without losing sight of my own aspirations. There have been seasons marked by financial uncertainty, when food pantries became an essential source of support for my family. Coupled with moments of self-doubt and the demands of everyday life, made pursuing my creative ambitions feel more like a luxury than a possibility.
Building Expressively Coded Ink presented its own challenges. Entering the world of web design through self-directed learning meant continuing to develop not only technical skills, but also the confidence to call myself a professional. Imposter syndrome made itself comfortable within my journey as a website designer. No matter how many satisfied clients I had. No matter how much recognition with the digital community I received. So I had to learn how to communicate the value of my work confidently, establish boundaries, navigate client relationships, and recognize that being capable of doing something doesn’t mean I have to do everything in an attempt to prove myself.
But, Perhaps one of the most difficult lessons has been understanding that growth isn’t always visible or immediate. Sometimes it looks like starting over, questioning a decision, or continuing to show up when the results aren’t what you hoped for.
I’m still learning. I still have moments when I question myself, but I’ve become more intentional about how I respond to those moments. The challenges haven’t disappeared, and I don’t expect them to. What has changed is my understanding of what I’m capable of navigating.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multifaceted creative known for my storytelling and authentic voice. As a published author, web designer, and UX strategist, my work exists at the intersection of creativity, technology, and human connection. While these disciplines may appear different, they share a common foundation: the ability to communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and create meaningful experiences.
Through my creative business, Expressively Coded Ink, I specialize in designing thoughtful, user-centered websites that do more than establish an online presence. My approach combines visual storytelling, user experience strategy, and functionality to help individuals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses communicate their identities with clarity and confidence.
I believe everything, a business’ logo and website, should be more than a beautiful image or an attractive collection of pages. A website should tell a story, guide its visitors intuitively, and create an experience that feels authentic to the person or business behind it. That’s why I take the time to understand not only what my clients do, but also who they are, what they value, and how they want their audience to feel when interacting with their brand.
As a published author, storytelling takes on another dimension. Writing gives me the freedom to create worlds, explore perspectives, and connect with readers through imagination and emotion. Whether I’m developing a story for children or poetry, or exploring the complexities of personal growth through my writing and podcast, UnKnotted, my goal is to create something that resonates beyond the words themselves.
What sets me apart is that I don’t approach creativity as a collection of separate skills. I see the connections between them. My experience as a writer influences how I approach website content and brand messaging, while my understanding of design and user experience helps me consider how an audience receives, interprets, and engages with a story.
I’m especially proud of having built a creative career that didn’t begin with a traditional roadmap. Much of what I’ve accomplished has come through curiosity, independent learning, persistence, and a willingness to explore unfamiliar territory.
But perhaps what I’m most proud of is that I’ve remained committed to authenticity throughout that process. I don’t believe creativity should require us to abandon our individuality to fit a particular mold.
Whether I’m designing a website, writing a book, or sharing a personal experience, I want the work to feel intentional, human, and meaningful.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: everyone has a voice and a story worth telling, and how we choose to tell it matters.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I lived in Jersey City for 10 years before moving to Newport News 3 years ago. There is no city like Jersey City. You get a homey laid back atmosphere, balance perfectly with a big city vibe. The community I built in Jersey City still carries with me today. It is safe to say Jersey City still holds a huge part of my heart.
My favorite part of Jersey City is the waterfront. Looking out across the Hudson River at the Manhattan skyline always puts a smile on my face. And seeing that skyline illuminated at night? Absolutely breathtaking!
Another thing I love is the ease of getting around. The light rail connects communities, and the public transportation system makes traveling throughout the city and beyond convenient and accessible.
Then there’s the incredible melting pot of cultures that makes Jersey City so special. The diversity brings together different perspectives, traditions, and opportunities to experience cultures from around the world. And let’s not forget the food! With so many cultural influences, there’s always something new and delicious to discover. I can honestly still taste the empanadas!
As for what I like least about Jersey City, that’s a difficult question because my experiences there were extremely positive. However, if I had to choose one thing, it would be the rising cost of housing, particularly renting. Ultimately, affordability played a significant role in my decision to relocate.
Even so moving away did not diminish my love for Jersey City in any way. The experiences and communities I built there, is something I will always cherish.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sabrewster.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharllahb/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharllahbrewster
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/2uOfpIJioHqM1AClZcQZNB
