Meet Austyn James | Production Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austyn James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austyn, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Being at the American Film Institute, balance is honestly hard to maintain. In my first year, I let work consume everything. But even in the past few months, especially now in my second year, I’ve realized that at the end of the day the point is to enjoy life with the people you love. I’ve also learned that my creativity needs to be recharged, so I make time to step away, whether that’s being in nature or simply having space outside of school. That perspective has changed a lot for me as I’ve gotten older.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always seen worlds that told a story. Growing up in San Diego, in a small town called Jamul, I noticed I was different. I used to say that I could feel colors. I also grew up with learning disabilities and nearly didn’t graduate high school because of those struggles. But eventually, I went back to college at 27 to study interior architecture at the NewSchool of Architecture & Design. I had worked in film before, but after graduating I felt the itch to return, and that’s when I realized my true passion was production design.

What makes me different as a designer is that I don’t just design spaces, I feel the stories within them. My background in architecture shaped how I see design. I tell stories through architecture, and when I create a world for characters, I’m always thinking about how the camera moves through those spaces. My work leans toward the stylized. Films like Poor Things or anything by Guillermo del Toro are big inspirations for me. I also have the ability to 3D model spaces in my head very quickly, which lets me see the whole picture as a designer for film.

I’m most proud of the projects I’ve created at AFI, where I’ve had the chance to design bold, symbolic worlds, from a surreal story about a boy turning into candy to a Southern Gothic exorcism film. These stories excite me because they show how design can be both imaginative and emotionally true.

What I want the world to know about my work is that production design isn’t just about decoration. It’s storytelling through space and architecture, and my goal is to create environments that don’t just look striking, but that hold emotional meaning, worlds that can help people feel seen, and maybe even healed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Coming from a design background, I’d start with The Lafayette Hotel. The spaces there are actually designed based on films, which makes it such a unique experience. I’d also take my friend to the South Park area to hang out, or we’d have a picnic in Balboa Park, and of course, spend time at Coronado Beach. We’d go hiking out in Jamul, where I grew up, to show the quieter side of San Diego. The city has so much to offer. It’s a place full of culture. And we’d definitely make sure to get some real Mexican food, because nothing compares to that in San Diego.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my friends Angel and Dere Hney, who have been my biggest cheerleaders. I also want to thank my mom for her constant support, and Elena Pacenti for teaching me what it means to be a designer. I’m especially grateful to Richard H. Frank for supporting my scholarship and making it possible for me to be here. And I want to thank Joseph T. Garrity, my head of Production Design, for his mentorship and guidance. Finally, I’m thankful for the support of all my faculty at the American Film Institute.

Website: https://austynjamesdesigns.com

Instagram: @austynjames

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austynjames/

Image Credits
American Film Institute