Design and Art Australia Online

Richard Haughton (Jimmy) James. (1906-1985). Known as “Jimmy” to acquaintances, Jimmy James was a key figure in shaping the practice of Australian industrial and graphic design in the 1940’s. Emigrating from England (born in Sussex) in 1939, he joined the Army Education Corp During the 1939-45 war and taught art appreciation. As a designer, he practised in Sydney and Melbourne from 1939. He became one of the founding members of the Society of Designers for Industry in 1948 in Melbourne and served as President. From the security of a partnership with the Melbourne advertising firm Briggs, Canny, James & Paramour, he wrote and lectured tirelessly on the necessity of Modernism and the importance of the Bauhaus-derived concepts of design. He edited Australian Artist from 1947-48. He retired in 1966 and devoted himself to painting. He played a key role in establishing credibility for the design profession in Australia. He later moved to Melbourne where he worked for advertising agencies and ultimately established his own business in partnership with John Briggs and others. According to an interview with Harold Mitchell, a former employee, in August 2012, James was the first advertising executive to insist of formalising “The Rationale” as the core idea in developing a brand identity and promotional strategy. He is a key figure in the creation of the professional associations of designers in Australia. He wrote and published widely on graphic design, industrial design and art. His son, John James is a architecture teacher, architect and writer.

Writers:

Date written:

2012

Last updated:

2015