Brand Identity / Motion / Podcasts
Coffee with Jim & James
Building a brand for an industry podcast
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Brand Identity / Podcasts / Motion
Coffee with Jim & James
Building a brand for an industry podcast
THE BRIEF
The Opportunity
When the pandemic hit in 2020, things changed in the oil and gas industry. Conferences shut down, people started working from home, and Jim & James started a podcast.
I had just moved to the Brand and Marketing when James (my boss) asked me to create a quick intro for the show.
I don't think any of us expected what happened next. Coffee with Jim & James took off, and my cheesy little intro wasn't going to cut it anymore. As the show grew, I needed to build out a visual identity that felt connected to EWN while still giving the podcast a personality of its own.
THE PROCESS
The Personality
First, the goal wasn't simply to add more rules. It was to make the guidelines easier to understand, apply, and use in everyday work.
I research over 50+ brand guidelines, analyzed the questions employees were asking, and identified the areas where additional guidance would bring the most value, mainly data visualization and AI.
From there, I turned my research into clearer guidance and practical examples. Instead of the usual do's and don'ts, I opted for something a little more pragmatic. I chose to show people how and why the guidelines applied to their work.
Finding a Balance
The original identity was a little cheesy and a little loose, but that was part of the charm. I didn't want to erase that.
The hand-drawn caricatures had become a recognizable part of the show, especially the highly-sought-after custom mugs we sent to guests. I kept that idea but evolved the style into something more artsy and refined.
I paired that with inspiration from a local coffee shop's chalkboard and the EWN color palette, and voilà, the brand was born.
The result was a visual identity that felt like its own thing, while still feeling charming and importantly, part of the EWN family.
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THE BRIEF
The Opportunity
When the pandemic hit in 2020, things changed in the oil and gas industry. Conferences shut down, people started working from home, and Jim & James started a podcast.
I had just moved to the Brand and Marketing when James (my boss) asked me to create a quick intro for the show.
I don't think any of us expected what happened next. Coffee with Jim & James took off, and my cheesy little intro wasn't going to cut it anymore. As the show grew, I needed to build out a visual identity that felt connected to EWN while still giving the podcast a personality of its own.
THE PROCESS
The Personality
Coffee with Jim & James was built to connect, listen, and share topics across the industry. Jim (or Jimmy as I know him) and James (cool former boss) both brought a warm, and approachable energy to the show that I wanted the visual identity to reflect.
The goal was to create something grounded and professional without losing the personality that made the show approachable in the first place.
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Finding a Balance
The original identity was a little cheesy and a little loose, but that was part of the charm. I didn't want to erase that.
The hand-drawn caricatures had become a recognizable part of the show, especially the highly-sought-after custom mugs we sent to guests. I kept that idea but evolved the style into something more artsy and refined.
I paired that with inspiration from a local coffee shop's chalkboard and the EWN color palette, and voilà, the brand was born.
The result was a visual identity that felt like its own thing, while still feeling charming and importantly, part of the EWN family.
THE EXPERIENCE
The Intro
I brought the identity to life through the animated opening sequence used at the start of each episode.
THE EXPERIENCE
The Intro
I brought the identity to life through the animated opening sequence used at the start of each episode.
In the Wild
Coffee with Jim & James released its final episode in 2025.
It was an honor to build this brand and be part of the team that kept this adventure going.
American Gas Association
ART DIRECTION / CONFERENCE
