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JIM MOUSNER
ORIGIN
Born and raised in Houston, Jim Mousner attended the graphic communications program at the University of Houston, where he discovered and fell in love with the discipline of graphic design. After a promising but short-lived first business attempt that ended in 1997, Mousner founded Origin Design in his one-bedroom apartment on credit cards and caffeine in an attempt to rediscover his passion for the discipline. His work has been included in publications such as Print, HOW and Émigré. He has been published in books like Metalheart and has directed work that has been recognized regionally and nationally. Mousner has lead creative ranging from national brand initiatives to condom packaging and shared in leading the creative team at Origin on its path as a rising star in the Southwest. With a significant belief in community, he has served on the board of the Houston chapter of AIGA, was the last standing president of the former Texas chapter of AIGA and is currently on the advisory panel for the School of Art and the College of Architecture at the University of Houston. He is also currently serving as president of the Graphic Arts Partnership of the University of Houston, an alumni-based organization for the graphic communications program — an effort which he has lead from its inception. Mousner continues his role at Origin as creative director, is one of four principals and was recently engaged to be married.
Was graphic design your first career path?
When I was in high school, I thought I wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist. I used to read a strip called "Bloom County." I even wrote and illustrated my own strip for my college paper. That was my dream until I walked into the design program at the University of Houston and saw experimental graphic design for the first time. Cartooning was over for me.
Which project in your portfolio are you most proud of?
Its difficult to say, because one of the things I love so much about what we do is the opportunity to create anything. I guess one of my favorite projects was a DVD and package we created for the Texas Filmmakers' Showcase, an event held in L.A. every year to showcase Texas indie film talent. I loved that project because it was a true team effort, had true Texas attitude and was the only project from Houston to medal that year in the Dallas Society of Visual Communications annual show.
When you have a deadline, do you start right away, wait until the last minute, or switch back and forth between projects?
I am the world's worst procrastinator, but not out of complacency. I just never seem to have enough quality time to put energy into certain projects. Clients continue to move faster, and it seems as though its getting harder to just kick back and do nothing but dream about creative.
Should graphic design be an instrument for positive social change?
Absolutely, we should play a substantial role in social change. The power that graphic design has to influence society makes us valuable players in the cultural landscape. Our real opportunity is to not just to be an instrument, but also to take ownership in the messages we put out. For example, a major player on the forefront of renewable energy recently retained Origin. We made the decision to truly invest ourselves in the success of this client as our small part of the global effort to solve our dependence on oil.
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