I’m James. I’ve just finished a three year course studying Graphic Design at the University of the West of England in Bristol, graduating with a first class honours. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at uni, even more so last year when we were based in a new studio on the 3rd floor of the Arnolfini art gallery in the centre of town. Working (and playing) in a studio space with other excited designers formed and developed so many of my ideas, there’s no question about it - I wouldn’t be the same designer without the help and advice from everyone I graduated with. The atmosphere and the new surroundings produced a creative hub that allowed everyone to work day to day alongside an extensive group of talented students and tutors, all willing to help each other out with not only idea generation but collaboratively aiding each other to achieve their ambitions. This work ethic and collaborative push profoundly helped me develop myself as a designer, but also as an individual.
My time in Bristol made me look at graphic design in a entirely different light.
For me, this was down to the way the subject was approached by the tutors. The course focused on idea generation, social engagement and process rather than commercial branding and packaging projects. This substantially benefited me, it allowed me to experiment, think differently and allowed my concepts to be much more considered over a vast range of mediums and processes.
The main thing for me at this time in my life is that I’m loving what I’m doing. Studying graphic design has given me the opportunity to work in and experience an industry that I genuinely get excited about and have a passion for. Primarily my interests lie in typography, editorial, printed matter and identities. However, my passion in design is centered around a fascination for interactive communication and the intention to promote and influence change. I love environmental and experimental design, but I also appreciate any design that is well considered and effectively solves a problem. As well as graphic design, I’m obsessed with riding my bike, listening to Motown and from time to time shooting film, all three undeniably came in handy over the last 3 years.
Projects
- Motown 1's57 years of Motown, 57 number 1’s, 57 Days. Motown 1’s is an ongoing project by graphic designer James Sharpe. 2016 marks 57 years since the birth of Motown, founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. on January 12, 1959. Drawing from his love of Motown and the International Typographic Style (Swiss Style), James’ aim is to redesign all 57 of Motown’s number 1 records* into International Typographic Style covers; one per day for the remaining 57 days of the year. Each design is set in Univers by Adrian Frutige
- cmd:Shred - A Public Shredding EventA mobile hand-crafted shredder, allowing the public to manually dispose of their sensitive information. Our online privacy is dead. Most people don’t event know what information they are giving up or to whom. A call to action is needed too put our data back into our hands and retain our rights. As people are so willingly giving up their personal information they loose track of what they have agreed too and traded their privacy for. Online privacy is being deemed as insignificant, therefore, it has to be taken to a different form to be seen in a different light. This on-going project aims to highlight and provoke the action of taking care of your personal information.
- The so called 'Snooper's Charter'The UK government’s bid to increase surveillance powers in the Investigatory Powers Bill, the so-called ‘Snooper’s Charter’ is back, and is more intrusive than ever with proposals to extend police powers to hack into phones and access everyone’s browsing histories. By revealing all my browser history for a year I have shown the extent to which our government will be able to intrude on our so called ‘private’ lives. This data is never viewed away from screen, therefore displaying this data in print format creates a physical picture that you can relate to and understand the sheer size and quantity. This allows the data to become more apparent by physically imposing itself on you, showing the extent to which our lives are surveilled. If you are unhappy with what this Bill proposes, get involved, contribute and have your say. Add to the debate; raise concerns, condense information, respond to the UK Government, lets make the Snooper’s Charter known.
- A Book About Sin: Se7enSe7en is a film that thematically focuses on morality and sin within a modern world, the pacing of the film is somewhat unique due to it's categoric approach to breaking down each sin, as such I then categorised my book in a likewise fashion in order to more appropriately interpret it into a typographic piece. Using Seven’s script to develop the story whilst also analysing each sin to form a study. The approach taken was to highlight key aspects and to typographically visualize them in keeping with the confusion, suspense and shocking imagery.
- Privacy PackWhen citizens are free to move about public space without fear of identification, monitoring or tracking, they experience a sense of living in a democracy and experience freedom. As privacy threats multiply, defending this right to be left alone becomes more challenging. This is the loss of freedom we face when our privacy is taken from us. It's our future as we allow an ever-intrusive eye into our personal, private lives. This pack will help you protect your privacy and anonymity, it’s time we stand up for our rights. Share your knowledge and educate those around you to allow for a more protected and safer future.
+ View all
Work history
Junior DesignerThirtyThree
Bristol, United KingdomFull Time
Employer Branding & Marketing agency based in the Tobacco Factory in Bristol.
C
C
Graphic DesignerCoker Brand Design
- Bristol, United KingdomFreelance
Freelance work for a branding/packaging agency based in Essex.
+ Show more
Skills
- Print Design
- Book Design
- Interactive Design
- Photography
- Motion Design
- Typography
- Layout Design
- Branding
- Image Making
- Abobe Indesign/photoshop/illustrator
Education
Awards
T
T
International Society of Typographic Designers Student AssessmentsThe University of the West of England
Achieved - Pass