Hello, my name is James. I’m a Creative Director. Advertiser. Strategist. Graphic Designer. Copywriter. Team builder & manager. Part-time home remodeler. Full-time pursuer of anything that keeps me moving forward.

Creative Direction

I lead teams in developing major brand-building initiatives and crafting impactful brand stories across a variety of mediums. Whether it's a large-scale campaign or a targeted channel-specific project, I'm passionate about translating ideas into visually compelling and cohesive work that makes an impact.

  • Corporate re-branding

    Seasonal omni-channel go-to-market campaigns

    Brand style guides, including international & licensing partner guides

    National & regional advertising campaigns

    On-product brand identity systems

    E-commerce

    Marketing emails

    Product packaging

    Retail visual design, including monthly window creative executions

    Environmental graphics

    Out-of-home advertising campaigns

    Direct mail

    Public Relations initiatives

    Corporate communications

  • Eddie Bauer

    Black Raven Brewing Company

  • Re-branding a consumer loyalty program

    Reimagining the Retail experience of a century old brand

    Bringing a Holiday gifting retail campaign to life (coming soon)

Advertising

My journey into advertising began when the Nike “Bo Knows” campaign aired in 1989. I’ll never forget seeing it for the first time. It was revolutionary, captivating, and inspiring. That moment changed everything for me, and my dream of becoming an architect quickly shifted to a passion for advertising.

Strategy

It has been my experience that the strongest creative solutions and most impactful campaigns don't happen in a silo. They are the result of collaboration, good research with actionable data, and strong partnerships with other teams.

Graphic Design

Whether it’s picas or pixels, the thrill of creating something from scratch hooked me at a young age and I’ve never looked back.

Copywriting

No long-form writing here. I’m all about the pithy, the clever, the "how did you say all that in just a few words?" type of copy. While not a copywriter by trade, my advertising background and years of collaborating with talented writers have helped me bust out a few headlines and positioning statements when the need arises.

Team builder & manager

15 years of experience building, developing, and managing multi-disciplinary creative teams across on-location, hybrid, and fully remote work environments.

  • As a father of two teenagers, I think about team building in terms of the kind of environment I hope my sons will one day be a part of. From there, I aim to create a team that reflects that vision—it’s really that simple.

    I want them to be part of a team built on mutual respect, where they’re valued not just for their skills and experiences, but for how they treat others. A team that celebrates humility and collaboration, rather than ego or the pursuit of personal glory.

  • Eddie Bauer 2012 - Present

    Managed an ever-evolving team of graphic designers, web designers, and copywriters varying in size from three to twelve people over the last decade.

    Currently managing a team consisting of both hybrid and fully-remote individuals.

    Advaiya 2009-2012

    Managed a team of four print and digital designers primarily focused on Microsoft and Google accounts.

Pursuits that keep me moving forward

I’ve cultivated successful project partnerships with some of the world's most iconic brands and industry leaders.