I chose the name MetaVisual for my design studio because I feel it represents what good graphic design should be: an opportunity to transcend the purely visual (decorative) and introduce both concept and communication into graphic art. I have focused my public and private work on this goal for over 15 years.

The Gainesville Fruit Co. is the largest and most visible of these efforts. I have been lucky enough to do a large series of works that revolve around the idea of civic enrichment, whether through my Gainesville Fruit Co. series of vintage-styled fruit crate labels, or designing posters for Gainesville's Spring Arts Festival, WUFT/WJUF public radio anniversaries, or the LifeSouth Five Points of Life Marathon. I am interested in focusing attention on our community and sparking a discussion of our varied and unique atmosphere.

I strive to make my work a unique opportuninty to educate, enrich, inform and build awareness of a very important segment of the arts community. One that opens eyes and challenges the common perceptions of graphic design and its value as a viable means of self-expression.

Jim Harrison is a award-winning graphic designer and artist from Gainesville, Florida. Specializing in corporate communications and brand identities, he has created logos, posters, identity systems, brochures, websites, annual reports, and other unique items for a wide variety of local, regional, and national clients. His work has earned numerous local Silver, Gold and Best of Show Addy awards, as well as a national SAPPI Paper IDEAS THAT MATTER grant. He is also known for the Gainesville Fruit Company, which he created to promote the Gainesville area with posters and prints featuring local landmarks, all inspired by the graphics of vintage collectible fruit crate labels. After 15 years as a designer and art director, Jim recently established MetaVisual, a studio specializing in corporate identity, branding, visual systems and other design projects.

Jim is also currently spending time during Fall semester 2010 as a part-time adjunt at the University of Florida's School of Art & Art History, teaching a graphic design studio course to senior-year design students on "Visual Systems".