Designer, thinker,
maker.
I'm James Archer — a London-based creative designer with 7+ years crafting brand identities, motion systems, and digital experiences for studios, agencies, and global brands.
I believe great design lives at the intersection of rigour and instinct. I'm drawn to problems that demand both conceptual depth and obsessive craft — from the logic of a type system to the timing of a single frame.
Outside of client work I'm building side projects, writing about design process, and occasionally teaching.
Senior Designer & Creative Lead
Full-timePhantom Studio
- Lead a cross-disciplinary team of 6 across brand, motion, and digital
- Shipped end-to-end identity systems for 12+ global clients
- Established design ops workflows that cut delivery time by 30%
Motion Designer
Full-timeBUCK
- Directed motion for broadcast campaigns reaching 50M+ viewers
- Collaborated with strategy to evolve creative direction
- Mentored 3 junior designers through structured reviews
Designer
Full-timeKoto Studio
- Contributed to brand identities for Airbnb, Monzo, and Headspace
- Designed type-led systems that scaled across print and digital
Design Intern
InternshipPentagram
- Assisted partner-level projects in editorial and wayfinding design
- Produced presentation-ready assets for client review cycles
MFA in Graphic Design
Royal College of Art
London, UK
Specialisation in Motion & Digital Experience
BA (Hons) Visual Communication
Central Saint Martins
London, UK
First-Class Honours · Dean's Award for Innovation
Summer Intensive — Interaction Design
Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design
Copenhagen, DK
Prototyping & research-led design methods
Design
Tools
Code
Process