Joseph James

Joseph James is a registered landscape architect, educator and founder of Eponymous Practice, a studio for landscape architecture, outreach and storytelling based in Rhode Island. He shapes the work through his interests and observations of the natural and cultural worlds and grounds each project in pragmatic yet expressive solutions. Prior to founding his practice, James was an associate principal at Reed Hilderbrand with two decades of experience leading landscape projects of all scales and typologies throughout the nation. His teaching at RISD reflects the fundamental connection between landform, hydrology and plant systems and their collective ability to shape the human experience in the landscape. He shares with his students his passion for precisely shaping and sculpting the surface of the earth and developing elegantly crafted details out of simple materials.

In addition to leading his practice and teaching, James serves as co-chair of the BSLA’s K-12 Committee, where he develops programs to introduce kids to landscape architecture. He is a recipient of the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Fellowship for Leadership and Innovation and is developing a graphic novel to further introduce his profession to a younger, more diverse audience and to foster awareness and advocacy for quality greenspace and a more humane public realm.

James has been teaching at RISD since 2010 and has also been a critic at Michigan State University, the University of Pennsylvania, Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Boston Architectural College.