James Hilston, with decades of graphic design, illustration, and informational news graphics experience under his belt, has spent the majority of those years as an editorial staff artist at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His professional experiences range from advertising art to infographic journalism. He has also taught upper division courses in informational graphics and web publishing & design as adjunct faculty at Youngstown State University.

James has won numerous international, national, and state awards, including:

• A staff Pulitzer Prize in the category of Breaking News Reporting

• Society for News Design award for Best of Newspaper Design in information graphics/breaking news

• Society of Professional Journalists Best Graphic Designer in Ohio

• First place Associated Press of Ohio award for informational graphics

• Multiple Golden Quill, Associated Press Media Editors, and Keystone Press awards

James graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in studio art/graphic design from Youngstown State University. He also holds an Associate of Arts degree, with honors, in Mathematics from YSU, in addition to having studied mechanical engineering for 3 years at the General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich.