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David James (He/Him)

Concept Artist Other
David James was born in Montreal, Canada and has worked in the film and television industry since 1995 as a concept artist, layout designer, art director and production designer. David James is a member of AMPAS and works with Warner Animation Group as creative director of visual development.

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Show Me Something I’ve Never Seen Before

ArtCenter College of Design | Steven Zapata | Guillaume Aretos | David James | Fernando Olmedo | Carlo Arellano

Show me something I’ve never seen before. These words can be exhilarating—or completely paralyzing. In an industry where millions of images are only a click away, how do you create work that genuinely feels new? Is originality a gift, a process, or just the result of endless iterations?

In this panel, concept designers discuss how they generate fresh ideas when the obvious answers aren’t good enough. This is a conversation about the craft of originality—how to recognize it, cultivate it, and consistently deliver it under the pressures of real production.

Whether you’re staring at a blank canvas, buried under references, or trying to solve the seemingly impossible brief, you’ll leave with practical tools to escape clichés and surprise your audience.

Skill Level: General Audience
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