Part bohemian artiste and part slick ad man, James is a visual storyteller with a flair for taking risks to elevate his clients’ brands. While most creative types talk about thinking “outside the box,” James soaks the proverbial box in kerosene and lights a match.

Even as a child, when he re-designed all 30 NBA team logos to decorate his 5th grade Trapper Keeper, James was committed to driving brands towards more distinct positioning. His passion for basketball led James, who dreamed of playing power forward for the Celtics, to design his own custom sneakers in anticipation of a Hall of Fame career on the Boston Garden parquet.

Though a freak pinky injury dashed his hopes of NBA glory, James traded his hard-court passion for a soft-cover sketchbook. After graduating from the Art Institute International, where he currently serves on the Professional Ad Advisory Committee, James worked as an illustrator for the Star Tribune newspaper and started his own brand-related blog, nobrandlikehome.com, and an associated clothing line, brandlyfe.com.

Later, James worked as a designer for Minneapolis-based marketing and advertising firm OLSON, where he doodled for big-name clients like Target Corporation and General Mills. At OLSON, James was also able to realize some of his big-league dreams, designing print and outdoor ads for sports giant Nike Bauer.

A huge proponent of innovative, but crystal-clear brand

communication, James transcends the traditional role of “designer” by driving Haberman clients toward more distinct, effective overall brand positioning. And, if his skills as a “brand specialist” weren’t impressive enough, James still has a wicked crossover move that would make Ray Allen stop dead in his tracks.