James Yarnell

James Yarnell grew up in England, where he earned a B.A. (Hons) degree in 3 Dimensional Design. In 1995 he came to the U.S., where he found work as a production assistant on Dallas. This led to work on various television shows. He eventually began working with the renowned Roy Christopher and Bruce Ryan. Today, Yarnell works as a production designer; he has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, and in 2009 won an Emmy for the art direction on American Idol. Yarnell is currently the production designer of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol.

James Yarnell grew up in England, where he earned a B.A. (Hons) degree in 3 Dimensional Design. In 1995 he came to the U.S., where he found work as a production assistant on Dallas. This led to work on various television shows. He eventually began working with the renowned Roy Christopher and Bruce Ryan. Today, Yarnell works as a production designer; he has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, and in 2009 won an Emmy for the art direction on American Idol. Yarnell is currently the production designer of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol. He has served on the Art Directors/Set Decorators Peer Group Executive Committee for six years.

Show more

Awards & Nominations

11 Nominations | 1 Emmy
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special - 2024
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety, Reality Or Reality-Competition Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • James Yarnell, Production Designer
  • Dancing With The Stars
  • "Night At The Movies, Halloween, Season Finale"
  • ABC
  • BBC Studios
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety Or Nonfiction Programming - 2013
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming - 2011
  • Nominee
  • James Yarnell, Production Designer
  • American Idol
  • "Episode 1018"
  • FOX
  • FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 TV Ltd.
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming - 2010
  • Nominee
  • James Yarnell, Production Designer
  • American Idol
  • "Idol Gives Back"
  • FOX
  • FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 TV Ltd.
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming - 2009
  • Winner
  • James Yarnell, Art Director
  • American Idol
  • "Episode 821/822"
  • FOX
  • FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 TV Ltd.
Outstanding Art Direction For A Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming - 2008
  • Nominee
  • James Yarnell, Production Designer
  • MADtv
  • "Episode # 1315"
  • FOX
  • Girl Group Co.
Outstanding Art Direction For A Variety, Music Program, Or Special - 2006
  • Nominee
  • James Yarnell, Art Director
  • American Idol
  • FOX
  • FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 TV Ltd.
Outstanding Art Direction For A Variety, Music Program, Or Special - 2006
Outstanding Art Direction For A Variety, Music Program, Or Special - 2005
  • Nominee
  • James Yarnell, Art Director
  • American Idol
  • FOX
  • FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 TV Ltd.

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Kate Moran and Academy governor James Yarnell
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Steve Morden, James Yarnell and John Sparano
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
James Connelly, James Yarnell and guest at the Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception in Beverly Hills, California.
Fill 1
Fill 1
Kate Moran and Academy governor James Yarnell
Camera

Kate Moran and Academy governor James Yarnell

Mark Von Holden/Invision
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Jason Sherwood, Television Academy Governors James Yarnell and Halima Siwolop, John Sparano, and Adam Rowe at the 2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

James Sparano, Steve Olson, and Television Academy Governor James Yarnell at the 2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governor James Yarnell, Kristen Merlino, Television Academy Governor Halima Siwolop, and Brian Stonestreet at the 2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Steve Morden, James Yarnell and John Sparano
Camera

Steve Morden, James Yarnell and John Sparano on the red carpet at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

James Yarnell, Steve Morden, and John Sparano at the 2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center on Thursday, August 30, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
James Connelly, James Yarnell and guest at the Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

James Connelly, James Yarnell and guest at the Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Browser Requirements
The TelevisionAcademy.com sites look and perform best when using a modern browser.

We suggest you use the latest version of any of these browsers:

Chrome
Firefox
Safari


Visiting the site with Internet Explorer or other browsers may not provide the best viewing experience.

Close Window