James Bartol

Biography

James Bartol is an adjunct instructor in the Film and Television program at Montclair State University, where he teaches courses in Production Design. His classes emphasize the relationship between visual environment and storytelling, encouraging students to explore how mood, character, and theme can be expressed through space, set dressing, and design choices.

With a professional background in film, television, and commercial production, and a BFA in Film/TV production from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, James brings industry practices into the classroom, guiding students through hands-on exercises in drafting, model-making, visual research, and set construction. His teaching focuses on both conceptual development and practical execution, preparing students to think critically and work collaboratively within the production process.

His current interests include developing project-based learning methods that simulate real-world design challenges, as well as exploring how production design principles translate across disciplines such as interior design and retail environments.

Research

Production design for film and television, focusing on the integration of visual research, design process, and material execution to construct narrative-driven environments.