From The Desk Of: James Brundage

Sep 28, 2017

What’s on your desk?

Keyboard, Wacom tablet, drawing paper, color pencils, midi controller, cassette tapes, and a candle that claims to have magic powers.

Fill in the blank: "I don't show up at a meeting without _________."

Being on time.

What's on your reading list?

Donna J. Haraway "Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: the Reinvention of Nature" / Gore Vidal "Myra Breckinridge" / Shulamith Firestone "Airless Spaces"

Would try once... / No, thanks....

Scuba-diving / Shooting a gun

I'm a true believer in... / Major skeptic about...

Getting down to it and making design / Long meetings and conference calls

Skills mastered... / I can't quite get the hang of...

DJ-ing / Dancing

Describe your personal aesthetic in three words:

Simple, authentic, informed

What are your design inspirations?

I’m a firm believer in the cliché “inspiration is everywhere.” I find Los Angeles endlessly inspiring - from the amount of other people churning out creative work to the palm trees and sun and the eclectic architecture. I’m also very inspired by the other creatives I get to team up with at our firm INTELLIGENCE. They’re the most imaginative, awesome people.

How does one tap into their creative side?

It's important to have a good library and to know how to research, but mostly, just get your hands in the clay and start making things. Make and make and make and make some more.

The paper product I can’t live without is ____ and I use it to _____.

A cute notebook... journal, make to-do lists, sketch, wireframe... I forget anything I don’t write down.

When do you feel like you’re at your best?

I love having quiet time at my desk. Not a morning person.

What is a quote that inspires you:

"When you're on my time, I can reclaim it." - Maxine Waters

Branding is __________.

mostly about being committed and disciplined.

Describe a typical day at work:

Never a dull moment... This week I’ve worked on a sustainable fashion line, a city transit proposal, an environmental design brand, a men’s fragrance line, a jewelry designer, a home goods start-up and a vegan cosmetics company. There’s always lots of ideas and enthusiasm and it’s never boring.

What are the most exciting developments in your industry?

That so much content - design, photography, writing, music - is now needed for so many different platforms. It feels like the need for creative work grows exponentially.

How do you start and/or end your day?

SoulCycle / Wine

The vice you’ll never give up is __________.

Mystery novels and page turners...

What is the best advice you’ve received recently?

I recently read this is an essay by Miranda July: “Here’s my piece of advice, the only one I could come up with: your life right now is as real as it will ever be. It won’t be more real in the future, when you get into or out of college or into or out of a relationship or a job or a financial quagmire or a health problem. In fact, the things keeping you back - these embarrassing, boring, stupid obstacles - are at the heart of what it is to be human. They’re the whole reason for making and needing art. So you might as well go ahead and begin in whatever way you can right now.”

Tell us about your latest printed project:

Look books for Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth were the last job I did with Paper Chase.

What brought you to Paper Chase Press?

I lost count years ago of all the cool projects and people I've connected with through Paper Chase. It's a mecca for LA creatives.

How often do you use printed goods to promote your business?

All the time... there’s no substitute for a great business card. Needs to feel really thick and sturdy - like a good handshake.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

I love it when I see my clients feel good about themselves. A lot of our projects are start-ups and our work is the first instance of their ideas becoming tangible. It almost feels like giving someone a haircut or a tattoo sometimes - they need to go out in the world and live with it, not me.

make your own

Hardcover Books

Handmade hardcover books starting at $9 each

Softcover Books

Handmade softcover books starting at $4 each