our team

Jim Shanman

Amit Jain

Jim Shanman, Director of Strategy and Creative

A Los Angeles native (8th generation, if you can believe that), Jim brings over 25 years of design and strategic thinking to the table. He is an outdoor enthusiast, being an avid mountain biker and hiker who has also done his share of backpacking, rock climbing and river rafting. Raised in an environmentally friendly household, Jim's current passion is helping to educate others about sustainability and encouraging people to ride bicycles more often.

Jim graduated California State University, Northridge, with a BA in fine art in 1985. At CSUN, he thrived on resolving design challenges by thinking concept first, decoration second. Upon graduation, he served as the in-house art department for a small record company before embarking on a freelance career that landed him in the production rooms of some of the largest international advertising agencies. Working first-hand on national campaigns for Apple Computer, Taco Bell, Honda and others, brought a new understanding to the value and power of good design and advertising.

Jim's freelance clients soon outnumbered his agency prospects and in 1989 he decided to concentrate on building the reputation of his studio. In 1999, the studio was renamed Asylum (to capture the bi-polar essence of design; safe retreat and psych ward) as his focus shifted from being an independent graphic designer to developing a full-service Design Studio. Shortly thereafter, he began seeking clients that were striving to make a difference in the world, including non-profits and "green companies". Jim's passion for finding solutions to design problems that helps those who helps others continues to drive his enthusiasm for every project at Asylum.

Amit Jain, MBA - LEED AP, Management Consultant & Sustainability Expert

Amit is an Ecowarrior determined to mitigate climate change through his various projects he is involved in professionally and personally. He currently is part of a small team developing the Los Angeles Green Business Certification Program. In addition, he is a consultant working with various cleantech startups and green business in Southern California. Amit educates/trains students from the nine Los Angeles area community colleges as well as employees from organizations all over Los Angeles about sustainability awareness and green business methodology. Amit has been very fortunate to be able to merge his passions of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and social responsibility into a lifestyle, not just a career.

Amit was Graduate Student of the Year in 2005 at Loyola Marymount University, where he received his MBA. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional and acquired a Certificate in Sustainability Leadership from University of California Irvine (2011). Amit has become a recent sustainability expert for Good Magazine while also being a speaker and contributor to various conferences concerning sustainability and green jobs across the nation.

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