The Crown — Abby James – Graphic designer for film, TV and commercials

Graphic designer for film, TV and commercials

Creating graphic details — big and small — to build worlds behind the camera. Sharp eye for layout and typography, from a decade in journalism and magazine publishing. Stuck in the late 20th century. Versed in period and contemporary. Lover of design high and low.

Former magazine journalist and print layout designer. Member of Graphics Union UK.

Based in London and the South East.

graphics@abbyjames.com
+44 (0) 7521 300 477

By Production (click to view)

Role

Type

Date

Silo

Senior graphic designer

Silo

Senior graphic designer

Lead graphic designer

Silo

RSPCA

Surface

Assistant graphic designer

Treason

Graphics assistant (dailies)

Limited Series

ITVX

Sep 2021

The Crown

Assistant graphic designer

Jun 2022 – Mar 2023

Netflix
Left Bank Pictures
Season 6

Production designer: Martin Childs
Series set decorator: Alison Harvey
Supervising art director: Mark Raggett
Set decorator: Carolyn Boult
Senior art director: James Wakefield
Senior art director: Hannah Moseley
Senior art director: Chris Wyatt
Lead graphic designer: Lizzy Butler
Graphics co-ordinator: Jillian Ong
Graphic designer: James Wakefield
Graphic designer: Nadine Kissack
Graphic designer: Greg Keen
Additional graphic designer: Jules Gawlik
Assistant graphic designer: Kat Hoad
Graphic assistant: Lucy Buchanan
Graphics trainee: Tom Goldman
Graphics runner: Molly Hellman

The final season of The Crown involved a range of periods — from a flashback to the young princesses in 1945, to Princess Diana’s untimely death in the 1990s, to the young Wills and Kate at university in the early 2000s.

Whatever the time period, The Crown, based on real-life events, relies heavily on newspapers for its storytelling. This season, I put my journalistic and publishing background to good use, when I sourced, scanned, edited, and cleared tens of newspapers, for hero action and dressing.

To coincide with the release of the final season, several of our graphics were displayed in a special exhibition by Bonhams Auction House in Mayfair. The items were later auctioned, raising £1.674million — put toward establishing a scholarship programme at the National Film and Television School.

‘The Crown’ Auction, Bonhams – ‘Elizabeth Debicki (as Princess Diana): A selection of character props relating to scenes involving the Bosnian minefield storyline’ (2024)

British 1940s cigarette boxes.

British 1940s cigarette boxes, with insert tray.

British 1940s cigarette box.

Sign-painting style vinyl decal on trader vans on location.

Concept for a small trader van.

Large 1940s London underground coverup — in shoot location, Hull.

Selection of 1940s London graphics.

American 1940s cigarettes, for US serviceman enjoying themselves at the Pink Sink bar — complete with silver foil insert, and duty-free seal.

Selection of letters produced for Philip’s keepsake box. I produced over ten letters from a young Prince Charles, to his father, during his time at the Scottish Gordonstoun boy’s school. Photograph of props by Kat Hoad.

I designed the crest and letterhead for the school. For authenticity, I had a number of real franking stamps, and a return address stamp, made.

For authenticity, I had a number of real stamps made.

A letter and envelope from Prince Charles. Together with the Research and Scripts teams, we put together over ten letters, which were beautifully handwritten on our chosen paper, with our chosen ink pen, by Deborah Hammond.

Earlier options for the 1960s Gordonstoun School crest — I was inspired by vintage football club crests.

Princess Diana’s ephemera relating to her work on landmines.

Anti-landmine ephemera on screen.

Philip’s letters, as featured in the Bonham’s The Crown Exhibition and Auction (2024).

Diana’s anti-landmine ephemera, as featured in the Bonham’s The Crown Exhibition and Auction (2024).

Diana’s anti-landmine ephemera on screen.

Diana’s anti-landmine ephemera, as featured in the Bonham’s The Crown Exhibition and Auction (2024).

A wide range of graphic applications used for the Ritz Paris’ Imperial Suite, including screen-printed drinks mats; large-format vinyl; large-format stencils; embroidery on napkins, towels, robes and slippers; etched and cut brass signage; gold foil rubdowns; and CNC cut lettering and door number, sprayed gold.

Managed production of an oil painting for the Imperial Suite. Sourced public domain artwork; cleared; printed; stretched; framed; and overpainted with strokes of varnish.

Lift buttons and signage etched and cut from brass.

1990s pill pots for the Queen Mother.

1990s press passes.

1990s hair and makeup products.

A coverup solution for the branded Canary Wharf location — standing in for 1990s Vancouver airport.

Managed the dress of a huge Canary Wharf calendar — over 20 large-format poster lightboxes were dressed with 1990s Vancouver airport graphics.

Mutiple layers of frosted vinyl to create a pattern, to obscure the outside of the Canary Wharf location.

Tax and insurance stickers for French windscreens.

Archive tags for Her Majesty’s swan collection.

Backstage look aide-mémoires for Kate Middleton’s infamous 2002 fashion show. Collaged; annotated.

ID passes for the Kate Middleton’s infamous 2002 fashion show.

Livery for French police motorbikes.

Vinyls to wrap around curved motorbike panels.

1990s Finnish magazine created for Mohamed Al-Fayed’s wife Heini.

Early 2000s betting magazine made for the Queen mother.

Hero The Mirror front cover — the original was scanned; cast photos were inserted; cleared and printed.

1990s The Times.

1990s The Guardian.

1990s The Mirror.

1990s The Independent.

Sourced and made clearable tens of newspaper cover. As images on the original belongs to their owner or licensor, rather than the newspaper, every single image must be digitally replaced with alternatives, before printing.

Hero Sunday Times newspaper article, with Tony Blair topping a popularity poll — prompting to worry about her relative influence. Tracking markers used, for a photo selection in post.

1990s French sun lotions and tanning oil — inspired by Piz Buin — used by Princess Diana in action, on the Jonikal.

1990s Imray maps — sourced, edited, cleared and reprinted.

1990s French nautical charts — sourced, edited, cleared and reprinted.

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