Creative Strategist · Entertainment · Consumer Brands · Hospitality · San Francisco Bay Area

Fresh eyes and clever ideas.
Let's make something great.

Bring me your creative challenges. Whether you have a clear vision or just a product and a goal, I'll bring the ideas, and together we'll make something worth remembering.

See the work →
Selected credits LucasArts Francis Ford Coppola Winery Inglenook Autodesk Ongaro & Sons

Selected Work

LucasArts
a Division of Lucasfilm

Internet Marketing Manager

For six years I led the online creative for one of the most beloved gaming studios in the world. Over 30 immersive experiential websites across the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and original game franchises, each built to match the scale and identity of the IP it represented. I led a full-time team, managed agency and vendor relationships, and oversaw an annual budget of $350K while juggling three to five concurrent projects at any given time.

Knights of the Old Republic II

Knights of the Old Republic II

Deep world-building site for the critically acclaimed RPG sequel

Star Wars Episode III

Star Wars Episode III

Immersive launch experience for one of the most anticipated film releases of the decade

Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones

Extending a legendary franchise into an interactive digital experience

Star Wars Battlefront II

Star Wars Battlefront II

High-energy campaign site built around multiplayer launch momentum

Escape from Monkey Island

Escape from Monkey Island

Bringing the irreverent personality of a beloved game series to life online

Star Wars Bounty Hunter

Star Wars Bounty Hunter

Immersive site built around the gritty underworld of the Star Wars universe

Creative direction, team leadership, and project ownership. Designed and built in collaboration with internal teams and external agencies.

Francis Ford Coppola

Interactive Director

For thirteen years I was the digital steward of Francis Ford Coppola's creative vision, bringing it to life across a $300M family-owned portfolio spanning wine, film, food, hospitality, and ecommerce. Francis is the creative visionary behind everything that bears his name. My job was to translate that vision into digital experiences worthy of it, across 15 distinct affiliate operations, leading a team of four and ensuring every pixel reflected the standard he set.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Full digital presence for the flagship winery including pools, events, and wine club

Inglenook

Inglenook

Digital experience for Coppola's historic Napa estate, balancing heritage with modern luxury

Tetro

Tetro

Film website for Coppola's personal passion project, cinematic and intimate in equal measure

Palazzo Margherita

Palazzo Margherita

Luxury hospitality site for Coppola's Italian resort property in Bernalda

Diamond Collection Remix

Diamond Collection: Remix

An original concept I pitched to the Director of Marketing that made its way to the CEO/Head Winemaker, who loved it. Remix the Diamond Collection into new blends with bold modern labels and a multi-city EDM tour targeting a younger demographic.

Encyclopedia Wines

Encyclopedia Wines

An immersive wine education experience connecting consumers to the Coppola portfolio

Creative direction, brand strategy, team leadership, and full digital ownership across the Coppola portfolio.

Ongaro & Sons

Marketing Manager

A 90-year-old Sonoma County institution with deep roots and a brand ready to grow into its next chapter. I evolved the visual identity without touching the logo, building a complete system from a single design element that was hiding in plain sight. The result is a coherent, confident brand across van wraps, billboards, digital and print that looks like it always belonged at this level.

Meme Billboard

The Meme Billboard

Placed directly across from an annual pumpkin patch that backs up traffic every fall. The distracted boyfriend meme on an actual highway billboard. Earned media from a static placement.

Brand Evolution

Brand Evolution

A complete visual identity built from a single overlooked design element already living in the brand. Same logo. Entirely new presence.

Yep We Do That

Yep, We Do That

A confident brand awareness billboard showcasing the full range of Ongaro services with personality and clarity.

Back to Cool MacBook Air Ad

Back to Cool

Print ad campaign offering a free MacBook Air with HVAC upgrade. Connecting a tech-forward incentive to a seasonal message.

Pumpkin Spice Ad

Pumpkin Spice is Furnace-Check Season

A seasonal print ad that turned a cultural moment into a service reminder with enough wit to make people actually read an HVAC ad.

Home Comfort and Joy Ad

Home Comfort & Joy

Holiday season print ad connecting home comfort and seasonal warmth to Ongaro's furnace tune-up offer.

Brand strategy, creative direction, and campaign development. Executed in collaboration with a digital agency partner.

What I do

01

Creative Strategy

Brand · Campaign · Direction

Sometimes the work just isn't landing and nobody can quite put their finger on why. The messaging feels off. The creative has drifted. The campaign looks fine but doesn't feel right. I find the thread and pull everything back into focus.

Whether you're launching something new, rethinking something existing, or just stuck, I bring an outside perspective and the experience to know what needs to change and what doesn't.

  • Brand positioning and messaging
  • Campaign concepting and direction
  • Creative audits and honest feedback
  • Storytelling for brands without a story yet
02

Ideation and Concepting

Ideas · Brainstorm · Possibilities

Ideas come naturally to me. Always have. Give me a product, a problem, or a blank page and I will fill it. This is where I'm most in my element and where clients tend to get the most out of working with me.

Whether you need a fresh campaign concept, a new way to talk about your brand, or someone to push your thinking in a direction you haven't considered, this is the work I was built for.

  • Campaign and concept development
  • New product and brand launches
  • Creative brainstorms and working sessions
  • Turning a product with no story into one worth telling

How I work

All engagements are project-based, scoped around what you actually need. I work remotely and stay close throughout the process. No hourly billing, no rigid retainers. Just focused work with a clear goal and a commitment to getting it right.

Not sure where to begin?

Let's have a
Discovery Session.

A 90-minute working conversation about your creative challenge. I'll ask the right questions, listen carefully, and send you a written summary outlining what I heard, what I see, and what I'd recommend. You'll walk away with clarity on what you need and a clear path forward.

Remote

Let's talk →

Common questions

How do you typically work with clients?

Every engagement starts with a conversation about your challenge, your goals, and what success looks like. From there I scope a project, we agree on the approach, and I get to work. I stay close throughout and you're never out of the loop.

Do you work with small businesses or just larger brands?

Both. My background includes major entertainment and consumer brands, but some of my most satisfying work has been helping smaller businesses figure out who they are and what to say. Good creative thinking doesn't require a big budget.

What does a project cost?

Every project is different so I don't publish rates, but I work on a project basis, not hourly. You get a clear scope and a flat fee before anything starts. No surprises.

How long does a typical engagement take?

It depends entirely on the scope. Some engagements are quick and focused, others run longer. I'll always tell you upfront what to expect before we start.

What makes you different from an agency?

You get me, not a team of junior staff managed by someone you rarely see. I'm the one thinking through your challenge, developing the ideas, and delivering the work. No layers, no handoffs, no surprises.

Can you work with my existing creative team?

Absolutely. In fact that's often where I add the most value. I can work alongside your internal team or agency, bringing senior creative direction and outside perspective without disrupting what's already working.

What people say

"Jim is the MacGyver of interactive. I was constantly amazed at the amount of work he produced in a rubber band environment. He was an incredibly innovative member of my team."

Jennifer Leitman, MBA

CMO, Mission Drive Marketing and Advertising, managed Jim directly

"Jim was one of a few at LucasArts with a clear understanding of the purpose of online marketing, the expected results from our initiatives, and most importantly a firm appreciation for the process behind digital production."

Gregg Aprian

Entrepreneur and Growth Strategist, Jim's client at LucasArts

"Jim had a wonderful workstyle and ethic, completing complex projects on tight deadlines with a smile and positive attitude. I feel very fortunate to have had the pleasure of working with him."

Katy Walden

Brand and GTM Strategy, Lucasfilm, Microsoft, Meta, NestGoogle

"Jim approached every situation with a creative mind to solve issues and was a very valuable part of the team. I would gladly recommend him for any position requiring a can-do attitude, teamwork and creative problem resolution."

Renee O'Hare

Director, Systems Transformation Enablement, worked together at Autodesk

Not sure where to start?

Let's talk.

No pitch, no pressure. Just a conversation about your creative challenge and whether I'm the right person to help.

Schedule a free discovery call →

Have a creative challenge
that needs solving?

Whether you're a growing brand, an established company, or an agency looking for a creative thinking partner, if you have a challenge worth solving, reach out.

heyjim@pm.me

Let's start a conversation.