James Hersick

Principal + Director of Strategy and Design Impact

Practicing sommelier + history geek + mountain biker + kayaker + runner + dad + explorer + optimist

Superpowers & such

Big-picture vision with tiny detail focus
Brand sherpa
Concept development
Multi-tooled designer
Writer
AIGA facilitation trained
Illustrator
Design strategy
Photographer of beautiful places
Maker of big maps and other awesome exhibit experiences
Not so secretly wishes he could be drinking wine with Thomas Jefferson and his buddies

As Principal and Director of Strategy and Design Impact at Hersick + Webster, a brand marketing and design agency, my work helps businesses and organizations succeed and positively impact people and the planet.

In my 20 + year career as a designer and business owner, I’ve experienced the struggle, fulfillment, and joy of building a successful business and supporting others as they push to do the same. I’ve learned that success in business (and life) means positively growing, connecting, and sustaining purpose, people, profit, and place.

My experiences have given me a broad perspective on the power of design for creating meaningful solutions. I’ve worked with some of the largest companies in the world and in some of the poorest areas of our country. I feel pretty darn blessed to have worked with brands on five continents (room to grow) and to be designing impact strategies that help my neighbors 5 minutes from home and far, far beyond build more vibrant, thriving communities.

At H+W, we demand excellence in our work and in how we show up in the world. We build deep relationships and bust our butts to deliver more than what is expected. Because we’re committed to making an impact, my partner and I have been recognized by GDUSA as Responsible Designers to Watch. My work has been recognized by Print, GDUSA, Art Director’s Club, and many more.

I see opportunity everywhere and believe that collaboration is the key to success in everything. If you’ve got a challenge to overcome or story to tell–and who doesn’t –I can’t stop myself from thinking of a million ways we could tackle it together.

I’m deeply involved in my community. I’m a graduate of Leadership Berkeley, organizer of the Martinsburg Farmers Market, and currently serve on the boards of The National Association for Interpretation–Chesapeake Region, Healthy Berkeley County, and Main Street Martinsburg.

I’m Dad to two boys and three mostly-adorable dogs. I stay well-rounded by making art, playing outside, and writing about wine, history, and interesting people on my blog winelikeanamerican.