James studied graphic design at the Corcoran College of Art and Design, graduating with honors in 2004. His senior thesis covered the groundbreaking graphic work of David Carson titled, “Simple/Complex” under the formal teaching of his close mentor and studio instructor, Antonio Alcalá. He began his professional career as a designer at Gallagher & Associates working on award-winning projects including The Normandy Visitor Center, The Mob Museum, The National World War II Museum, and The Gettysburg Museum. Here he refined his creative approach to conceptualization problem solving—while working closely with a wide range of talented multidisciplinary project teams, clients, and specialized experiential design consultants.

In 2010, he moved to New York City to expand his creative journey working as a senior graphic designer at MKTG INC, one of the top pioneers and practitioners of lifestyle marketing around the world. Here he joined a new multi-disciplined design and strategy team working with some of the largest brand names in the world including Nike, Google, Nintendo, FedEx, Clinique, Beats by Dre, and Diageo. Crafting project pitch concepts to fully comprehensive nationwide mobile activations and branded tours.

In 2012, James joined Gallagher & Associates Asia in Singapore where he would be the graphics director and senior leader in a 15-person studio team. He was a hands-on creative leader in all major government and private tender competitions and design proposals. As a director, he led by example, guided his teams, and helped directly manage multiple active projects with the supervision of the studio director and collective senior leadership. During this time he worked on projects including the Singapore Zoo, Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum, and special exhibitions at the ArtScience Museum and National Gallery Singapore. He also helped expand the studio’s growth as a major design firm to compete within the region and globally with 12 project wins in the first year at the studio.

After a creative journey to Singapore, in 2015, James moved back to the Washington, DC area to join the Gallagher & Associates studio as creative director of graphics. He continued to guide and lead his growing graphic department of 12 full-time graphic team members and was assigned creative lead on many award-winning projects including The United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, The International Spy Museum, Johnson & Johnson Museum, and Toyota Visitor Experience Center.

In August of 2022, he made a collective decision to start something new and establish his design practice and work collaboratively with the collective skills and experience to move at a new rhythm and put down his mark. His journey is just beginning and excited to work with new clients and tell new stories and experiences.