The Shapes: James

Get to know the shapes that make up Rhombus. First up: James, our Co-founder and Creative Director.

We’re chatting with members of the studio about what makes them who they are – both in and out of the studio. Introducing: James, our Co-founder and Creative Director, who brings bold brands to life, drawing inspiration from his roots in art and music, spending time outside and his little boy Leo.

Who are you and what do you do?‍

Co Founder & Creative Director

What are you into outside of the studio?

Spending time with my family. We like feeding ducks, building dens and making a mess in the kitchen!

What are you working on right now?

Im currently deep in strategy for a global exhibition fabricator, female-owned marketing agency and sustainable belt designer.

What has been your favourite project to work on at the studio and why?

This is tough as the reason I love my job is the variety (and challenge) of working with such a breadth of clients and projects. If I had to pick one it would be Some Grub. A brand that is really doing something different to shake up the dog food industry to help save the planet with an identity that is super fun and bold, and a joy to work on – I mean who doesn’t love making mood boards of dogs and insects?

What would be your dream branding project?

Rebranding Man United.

How do you stay inspired/keep your creative cup topped up?

Creative Boom is my bible for staying topped up with design world content. The work Katy Cowan and co are doing in design editorial is just brilliant, and all for free! However, for projects I tend to find more inspiration by digging deeper – historic marks, Greek mythology, ancient proverbs, cultural traditions, science theories.

Which design tool could you not live without?

Pen and pad. Super thin paper, roller ball pen. I start every project with it and constantly jot down ideas when they come to mind (which is often at the most unexpected times!)

What’s one piece of design advice you wish you’d known when you started?

Find a niche or a shared value for the type of client you want to work with. This feeds into your purpose which is key to both growing as a designer and agency.

Favourite studio or designer that you look up to?

I have always looked up to Paula Scher. There are parts of her practice that we have taken into our process, like creating 3 unique concepts to establish an idea to hook the brand on and a territory to dive deeper into. Her quote “It took me a few seconds to draw it, but it took me 34 years to learn how to draw it in a few seconds,” will always stick with me.

In more recent times I love everything Max Ottignon and Ragged Edge put out. They never play it safe and his journey is unconventional, like mine, which gives me faith when I need it.

Favourite bit of branding from the design world?

KiskiStudio’s identity for The Centre for Creative Technologies. Simply beautiful branding and a concept that is bang on for the meeting point of art and innovation.

It’s even been built in a way that it can evolve and innovate (never staying still) inline with the University of Bristol’s purpose to develop groundbreaking projects that push the boundaries of creative technologies.