Hi,
I'm James. I design and create all things sensory.
I love Radiohead and Star Wars. I'm a musician. I'm a history buff. I'm sentimental. I fly a drone. I'm a photographer. I see subtlety where others see broad strokes. I am an advocate for escaping into the myriad worlds of creativity and art as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. I frankly cannot imagine a society without the art industry; film, music, theatre, and the arts.
I thrive on tight deadlines and flourish when solving problems for unique challenges.
I have been a professional visual designer for over twenty years. I cut my teeth designing for a math department at Michigan State University. I then moved to Bloomington, where I was the sole designer at Visit Bloomington, later becoming the sole designer at Oliver Winery, and then a member of a design team at IU Studios (formerly IU Communications).
I then shifted to my current position as Director of New Media at the IU Center on Representative Government – under the Vice President for University Relations – where I build videos for interactive learning modules, historical VR video games, build and send several weekly and bi-weekly mass emails per week, and create and manage several websites. I've also designed several event spaces for conventions that include banners, standees, and looping video kiosks.
During my time at IU, I've taught myself how to use After Effects to create motion design ads for TV and social media campaigns, and other brand assets such as intro/outro splash screens and lower-third graphics. I have been the go-to designer for projects that require the animation of text, still photography, and video. I am the recipient of several CASE and Telly Awards for motion graphics. I am also proficient at creating and editing music and other audio for use in TV, online, and radio spots.
Currently, I am teaching myself how to use Unreal Engine 5 to create more vibrant and robust cinematic vignettes that go beyond what After Effects is capable of.
I have directed countless photoshoots, video shoots, and I've prepared countless ads for all formats of print (from magazines to wall graphics to billboards), and successfully launched several media campaigns for various departments, colleges, and schools at IU. I was also a member of the small team that developed and launched the "Fulfilling the Promise" branding campaign for the entire university.
Thank you for taking a moment to browse my works! Don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions or for my career journey.
