Meet Jim Harper | Creative, Publisher and Coffee Enthusiast

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

Hi Jim, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is everything. All of my high points in my career have been a result of taking a risk. While not all have succeeded financially, they have all fulfilled me completely from an emotional standpoint, and they are the things I’m known for from a highlight standpoint.

While partner at a previous agency, I published a children’s book with an Emmy-award winning actor. We used a lot of agency resources to make this happen. Later, the character got developed into a show that is currently on Paramount as an animated series. This was a highlight of my life. Developing the book, working with talented people at my agency illustrating and designing the book was the ultimate collaboration.

I started a record label at this same agency and signed bands and pressed vinyl and started distributing both physically and digitally. Like labels like 4AD where as a label we not only worked with the bands and supported them, but were the creative lead on the designs of the label, the releases and the bands. Hardest thing I ever did in my entire life, but I worked incessantly.

I left that agency and went out on my own, another risk, and started harpers bizarre.com. I really love working on smaller and medium-size clients, which is harder to scale with. But I work directly with the owners of the businesses, and helping them grow and fulfill their dreams is what motivates me. Another side hustle I have is FinePrintSmallPress.com with my friend Chris Ryan who owns Once Films, and we’re releasing a new book about the artist Tom Huck, who’s work is in the Met in New York, major collections globally and has done commercial work for The Roots and Motorhead. Again, while not a financial decision, it’s something that will outlive me and tell a story long after I’m gone.

Lastly, using these risks to do riskier work that is not necessarily safe or boring is of the utmost importance to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the biggest compliments I’ve ever gotten was that a design I had done for a client was so “Jim Harper.” They used my name to describe the type of design it was. I wanted to hug them and start mowing their grass or something out of gratitude.

Many people come to me for maximalism. A crowded array of objects and typography that come together to tell a story. I like showing the story of a product or brand by giving them the kitchen sink. Number one, you can tell when you finish a maximalist design that it was a lot of work, so the over-the-top nature of the design shows a meticulous result.

I also like to contrast that with good, clean corporate communication, and classic product design, but certain people come back to me over and over again for what they know me for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In my city? I live in a small college town, Edwardsville, IL. Across the river from St. Louis, MO. The itinerary would include both my favorite coffee shops and restaurants in my small town, and also some of the amazing places in St. Louis.

IL Side – Day 1-3:
Cleveland-Heath restaurant for comfort food.
Moussalli’s Prime for Oysters and Steak
222 Artisan Bakery every day for coffee and breakfast and/or lunch
Banh Thai for Lambchop Curry. Yes I said that.
Record Shopping at Trusty Chords
Book Shopping at Afterwords
Comic/Toy shopping at Heroic Adventures
Hiking at Olin Nature Preserve
A walk at the Watershed Nature Preserve
A tour of the walking/cycling trails that connect the whole area

MO Side – Day 4-7
The St. Louis Art Museum
The Missour Botanical Garden
The City Museum
The St. Louis Zoo
Record shopping at all the places: Vintage Vinyl, Euclid Records, Planet Score, Dead Wax, Music Record Shop
Book Shopping at Left Bank Books
Food every night at Trattoria Marcella
Korean Food at Tiny Chef
Meat Loaf at The Crow’s Nest
Any restaurant in the Cherokee Area
I could talk about food all day, I really should stop.

Also, I never ask people if they like to go record shopping, I just make them go with me.
Also, I’m boring, I just eat and buy records and books.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a few shoutouts. One is the person who referred me to you, Martin Bihl. Every time in my career I’ve had a hair-brained idea, he encouraged me to pursue that idea. He also changed my life by explaining me the gravity of what we do. Branding a business, product or service is a huge deal. Your brand is part of the success of that brand. I did it for years before he made me realize how insanely important that is.

They are trusting you in the success of their business, and Martin explained that to me in a compelling way, and ever since, I’ve taken it incredibly seriously.

The next shoutout goes to the original partners at the first large agency I got hired at (Thanks to my friend Matt Reedy) during the dot com boom, The Zipatoni Company. Mitch Myers, who still gives me work to this day, has always instilled the importance of great work, and taught me how to zoom out and simplify decisions and career choices by always looking at the big picture. The other partner was Jack Thorwegan, and he taught me how at a certain point of your career, a switch flips, your years of hard work become your identity, and you then have value that you never had. Once you hit that moment in your career, where you milestones are part of you identity, you are in a position to do better work, charge a premium for that work, and not take work that doesn’t benefit your portfolio. Very important.

That all being said, there are so many mentors and amazing people in this world that have taught me so much, I wish I could carry on forever thanking them all.

Website: harpersbizarre.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harpersbizarreagency

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harpersbizarreagency

Other: My other businesses: fineprintsmallpress.com plaidcoffeeroasters.com

Image Credits
Whiskey Photo by Jennifer Silverberg Photography. John Beck Steel Branding Photo by Jennifer Silverberg Photography