Elian Kent
STEPHEN JAMES IS A TORONTO-BASED FABRICATOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR WORKING ACROSS BRAND ACTIVATIONS, LIVE EVENTS AND CUSTOM BUILDS. HE TAKES ON PROJECTS FROM EARLY CONCEPT THROUGH DESIGN, FABRICATION AND PRODUCTION, USUALLY WITH A HAND IN ALL OF IT. STEPHEN’S WORK IS ROOTED IN THE IDEA THAT THE WORST THING A BRAND CAN BE IS INVISIBLE. BUT PEOPLE DON’T OWE YOU THEIR ATTENTION JUST BECAUSE YOU BUILT SOMETHING AND PUT YOUR LOGO ON IT. YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING AT. HIS JOB IS PART COMING UP WITH THE IDEA, PART FIGURING OUT HOW THE HELL TO BUILD IT. HE LIKES AMBITIOUS PROJECTS AND HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN MAKING MORE STUFF JUST BECAUSE THERE’S A BUDGET FOR IT.
STEPHEN JAMES IS A TORONTO-BASED FABRICATOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR WORKING ACROSS BRAND ACTIVATIONS, LIVE EVENTS AND CUSTOM BUILDS. HE TAKES ON PROJECTS FROM EARLY CONCEPT THROUGH DESIGN, FABRICATION AND PRODUCTION, USUALLY WITH A HAND IN ALL OF IT. STEPHEN’S WORK IS ROOTED IN THE IDEA THAT THE WORST THING A BRAND CAN BE IS INVISIBLE. BUT PEOPLE DON’T OWE YOU THEIR ATTENTION JUST BECAUSE YOU BUILT SOMETHING AND PUT YOUR LOGO ON IT. YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING AT. HIS JOB IS PART COMING UP WITH THE IDEA, PART FIGURING OUT HOW THE HELL TO BUILD IT. HE LIKES AMBITIOUS PROJECTS AND HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN MAKING MORE STUFF JUST BECAUSE THERE’S A BUDGET FOR IT.

Wheelhouse

Fabrication

TURNING CAMPAIGN IDEAS INTO PHYSICAL EXPERIENCES THAT EARN ATTENTION INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING UP SPACE. BUILT TO BE USED, TO BE REMEMBERED, AND TO MAKE SENSE FOR THE BRAND, THE AUDIENCE AND THE REAL WORLD.

Fabrication

TURNING CAMPAIGN IDEAS INTO PHYSICAL EXPERIENCES THAT EARN ATTENTION INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING UP SPACE. BUILT TO BE USED, TO BE REMEMBERED, AND TO MAKE SENSE FOR THE BRAND, THE AUDIENCE AND THE REAL WORLD.

SET DESIGN

BUILDING TEMPORARY SPACES THAT LET PEOPLE STEP INSIDE A BRAND. USING MATERIALS, LIGHT, SOUND, SCALE AND DETAIL TO TURN THE BRAND’S WORLD INTO SOMETHING YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL, NOT JUST LOOK AT.

SET DESIGN

BUILDING TEMPORARY SPACES THAT LET PEOPLE STEP INSIDE A BRAND. USING MATERIALS, LIGHT, SOUND, SCALE AND DETAIL TO TURN THE BRAND’S WORLD INTO SOMETHING YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL, NOT JUST LOOK AT.

BRAND ACTIVATION DESIGN

CREATING EXPERIENCES THAT GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE PEOPLE THEY’RE BUILT FOR. ROOTED IN THE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY AROUND THE BRAND, NOT JUST A LIST OF PRODUCT FEATURES. THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO CREATE MORE VALUE THAN WE EXTRACT

BRAND ACTIVATION DESIGN

CREATING EXPERIENCES THAT GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE PEOPLE THEY’RE BUILT FOR. ROOTED IN THE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY AROUND THE BRAND, NOT JUST A LIST OF PRODUCT FEATURES. THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO CREATE MORE VALUE THAN WE EXTRACT

creative direction

TRANSLATING BRAND MEANING INTO A COHERENT PHYSICAL LANGUAGE. SHAPING THE CONCEPT, ART DIRECTION, MATERIALS, SPATIAL CUES AND DETAILS SO EVERY DECISION FEELS CONNECTED

creative direction

TRANSLATING BRAND MEANING INTO A COHERENT PHYSICAL LANGUAGE. SHAPING THE CONCEPT, ART DIRECTION, MATERIALS, SPATIAL CUES AND DETAILS SO EVERY DECISION FEELS CONNECTED

PRODUCTION STRATEGY

MAKING SURE THE IDEA WORKS AS A BUSINESS, NOT JUST AS A RENDER. BUDGETS, MARGINS, SCHEDULES, VENDORS AND EXECUTION. BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT LET GOOD WORK HAPPEN ON TIME, ON BUDGET, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT LOSING WHAT MADE IT GOOD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PRODUCTION STRATEGY

MAKING SURE THE IDEA WORKS AS A BUSINESS, NOT JUST AS A RENDER. BUDGETS, MARGINS, SCHEDULES, VENDORS AND EXECUTION. BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT LET GOOD WORK HAPPEN ON TIME, ON BUDGET, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT LOSING WHAT MADE IT GOOD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Special Builds

FOR BRANDS WITH AN APPETITE FOR RISK AND A REASON TO STAND APART. THE WORK THAT PUSHES PAST THE EXPECTED, TAKES A BIGGER SWING AND MAKES SOMETHING THE REST OF THE MARKET WOULDN’T.

Special Builds

FOR BRANDS WITH AN APPETITE FOR RISK AND A REASON TO STAND APART. THE WORK THAT PUSHES PAST THE EXPECTED, TAKES A BIGGER SWING AND MAKES SOMETHING THE REST OF THE MARKET WOULDN’T.

CLIENTS