A graphic design wizard

“It took me a few seconds to draw it, but it took me 34 years to learn how to draw it in a few seconds.”

-Paula Scher, Pentagram Design

I worked in good-sized ad agencies for years surrounded by smart, creative people who cared about satisfying a client’s needs and wishes. With media planning and buying, public relations, account services, business development, technology gurus, research professionals, video production, web developers, social media marketers – and a slew of creatives – it was a lot of firepower. And many large companies need it.

But after years of sitting in agency meetings with 4-7 co-workers, I realized just one meeting could run thousands of dollars in time for agencies that bill by the hour, or put hours against a retainer. Sometimes all a client wanted was to have something designed – strategic, smart, and creative. It doesn’t always take a village to do that.

I worked at a small ad agency in a beautiful carriage house behind a grand mansion for a while. It was my favorite agency work environment. It was a small firm. If a client called and the principal wasn’t in, they’d ask for me. I got used to working directly with clients and enjoyed it tremendously. Getting project input from the source (and not interpreted on a Job Input Sheet or Change Order) was satisfying. Hearing results directly from happy clients was more fulfilling.

In 2000, I said goodbye to the agency life and struck out on my own. I was determined to provide smart creative work for hard-working organizations that either cannot afford, or choose not to afford, an ad agency – businesses, non-profits, and start-ups that were too small for ad agency fees. I wanted to fill a gap I saw.

I’ve also lost a few great clients over the years as they decided to hire an in-house (usually young) graphic designer. It’s hard to swallow, but that means they’ve grown to the point of needing full-time, immediately accessible support, at a fixed cost. This is also what a subscription plan provides – at a fraction of the cost and no employee “downtime” when there is little work (and no FICA, unemployment taxes, health insurance, training, retirement contributions, vacation time, and paid leaves!)

“Creativity is a function of the library in your head. When you sit down to create it’s a culmination of everything you’ve done and experienced up to that point.”
- Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield

With more than 30 years of experience in advertising and marketing design, hands-on experience in pretty much any form of communications, a raft of GPT tools, and a network of skilled writers, illustrators, and photographers, my one-person design studio can turn around projects fast – and keep them strategic and custom to your brand and messaging.

With subscription plan pricing, you don’t have to worry about going over budget for those brochures, banners, and brand guides. No more estimating direct mail, digital ads, and directories. Queue up those logos, labels, and landing pages. You’ll get a quick turnaround on those fact sheets, flyers, and forms. You’ll build your brand through websites, signage, and social. You’ll be proud of those print ads, packaging, postcards, and posters.

You’ll get infinite creativity with a finite investment. What could we do together?

Books

I’ve co-authored two books. Harry Potter, Herbology Magic: Botanical Projects, Terrariums, and Gardens Inspired by the Wizarding World (2023) with Jodi Revenson for Warner Brothers and Insight Editions. It’s packed with gardening tips, wizarding-world inspired terrariums, and enchanting uses for a wide range of plants. It’s an indispensable guide that would make Professor Sprout proud.

My first book was Buffalo Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs (2019) written with garden writer Sally Cunningham, for St. Lynn’s Press of Pittsburgh, PA. It’s a garden design book featuring the funky, quirky and fun gardens created the gardeners of Buffalo.

Community Service

Awards & Achievements

  • American Advertising Federation's Buffalo Chapter's David I. Levy Award for outstanding achievement and service in the communications industry

  • Recipient of the Frank Lloyd Wright Graycliff Diamond Award for the that has had a dedication, contributions and impact on the mission of the Graycliff Conservancy, stewards of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home and house museum.

  • International Garden Tourism Promotion Award for work on Buffalo’s National Garden Festival from Toronto’s International Garden Tourism Conference.

  • The Buffalo News Creative Advertising Awards various awards (including Best of Show)

  • Inclusion in LogoLounge 2, 2,000 International Identities by Leading Designers representing the best logo designs of the year as judged by a panel of top international designers.

  • Two logos featured in Logo Lounge’s Master Library Series, Typography & Enclosures (Fall 2011)

  • Logo featured in Logo Lounge’s Master Library Series, Shapes & Symbols (July 2011)

  • Inclusion in PRINT Magazine Design Annual

  • Brainstorm/Ad Club of Buffalo Awards, various awards

  • Financial Institute Marketing Awards, various awards

  • Art Directors/Communicators of Buffalo (ADCB) various awards

  • Print House Craftsman, various awards

  • Professional Communicators of WNY, various awards

  • WNY Awards for Creative Excellence, various awards

  • ADCB Special Service Award

  • Awards show judging: Binghamton Ad Club Genesis Awards and the Albany Ad Club Nori Awards

Let’s talk. Book an appointment.

It all starts with ideas. Whether you're launching a business, expanding a non-profit, seeking consistency across your materials, or aiming to meet goals without the expense of an ad agency retainer or freelance designer charging by the hour, a design subscription can significantly impact your marketing efforts and bottom line.

Book an appointment with Jim Charlier using Setmore