CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PEARL, FAIRFIELD NJ
As the Creative Director for Pearl, a creative agency that applies the latest technology to design and build experiences for brands, Jim Read leads and manages the creative direction and manages client projects from concept through completion while supervising and inspiring the creative team. He has led projects this past year including the Chelsea Market Digital Feed, the Jet Blue Vacation Migration interactive experience, and the Texas on Tour interactive experience marketing campaign. Over the span of his career, Jim has worked for a range of media from digital, experiential through video and print. He began his career working for Hollywood-based trailer houses where he learned the craft of film and entertainment marketing. In addition to running hands-on creative, he also built teams and infrastructure, supporting design needs at Ignition Creative and entertainment giant, Trailer Park. On the tv side, he was the creative director for several awards shows and live music events including Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis. For Nashville’s Country Music Television, he served as Art Director. In 2008, he came to New York City to work for studios and networks including AMC, Revolt, HBO, and Showtime, among others. He joined digital agency, Definition 6 in 2010 to build and grow their motion design division and in 2012 he was tapped to help promote and handle multi-camera directing of celebrity chefs for the award-winning food app, Panna. Outside of work, Jim is a Cat 3 competitive cyclist. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Art Center College of Design.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
Do things “The Hard Way.” It’s too easy to get distracted by fancy new machines, the latest software with features that “automatically” do things, but more often than not, these short cuts don’t work. With a solid foundation of the basics, you will be far better prepared. Sketch, master perspective, take photos with a film camera, paint and observe the world. It’s not a sexy answer, but hard work on craft pays dividends.
HOW DOES WHERE YOU WERE BORN, GREW UP OR LIVE NOW EFFECT YOUR DESIGN SENSIBILITY OR STYLE?
I grew up in rural NJ with 2 younger brothers. We rode bikes, built skate ramps, climbed trees and didn’t have cable tv or the internet. It was a “small” world. I loved traveling to big cities, foreign lands, trying new things and meeting new people. I was open to experiencing new things in new ways and today if I’m stuck on a design problem, I go somewhere. Sometimes, it’s a walk around the block, and sometimes it’s an adventure to an unknown destination.
FAVORITE COLOR?
Pink, I wear it every day
FAVORITE TYPEFACE?
DIN
FAVORITE APP?
EWG Food Scores
FAVORITE WEBSITES?
Kenrockwell.com, veer.com, darkrye.com
FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Mad Men
FAVORITE BOOKS?
Hero Food, Positive Discipline. I read the forward to Guns Germs & Steel and can’t wait to dig in – it’s next on the list.
FAVORITE MOVIES?
Being There, District 9, Pootie Tang
FAVORITE MUSICIANS OR BANDS?
The Cure, Rufus Wainright, Dawn of Midi
FAVORITE FINE ARTISTS?
Egon Schiele, James Turrell
GREATEST STRENGTH AS A DESIGNER?
A tireless iterative process, always wanting to improve on a solution
WEAKNESS?
Same
TALENT YOU WISHED YOU POSSESSED?
Sewing
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
A cook
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
Everything is better with hot sauce
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