Selected work from James’s career.

URBN: the internal design studio

Challenge

Make the stores do the marketing for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, three brands that drew customers through their stores rather than traditional advertising.

James’s role

Built and led the award-winning internal design studio.

Result

More than 200 individual store environments, as the company grew from 140 stores to more than 400 in eight countries. VMSD’s Peter Glen Retailer of the Year, 2009, accepted for Urban Outfitters Inc. The studio continues today.

Advertising: URBN, Form 10‑K, 2002–2021

Anthropologie & Co.: the store of the future, prototyped in four weeks

Challenge

Explore the store of the future for Anthropologie.

James’s role

James commissioned an outside team and put them at one table: designers, an architect of record, a structural engineer for a very big space, a visual merchandiser and the general merchandise manager.

Result

A four-week engagement produced a full prototype in a URBN warehouse. It became Anthropologie & Co., opened in Westport’s old YMCA.

Urban Outfitters, Herald Square

Challenge

A flagship of 56,000 square feet over three floors on Herald Square, New York.

James’s role

Store planning and design led by James.

Result

Still open.

Devon Yard

Challenge

A mixed-use development on Philadelphia’s Main Line.

James’s role

James carried zoning and civil work through approvals into construction: a zoning overlay drafted with land-use counsel, and the survey, site, grading and traffic work with the engineers.

Result

Built, and open: shops and the glasshouse café.

Koheriant

Challenge

Retail site selection without numbers anyone can trace.

James’s role

Founder.

Result

Retail site-selection intelligence, combining CRM, geospatial analytics and AI workflows. Every number traceable to its source. Live at koheriant.com.