James Dayton is the founding principal of James Dayton Design in Minneapolis. Prior to his founding his own office, Dayton worked for Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle in Minneapolis, Robert Lamb Hart in New York, and Frank O. Gehry & Associates in Los Angeles. James Dayton Design has designed over forty projects and buildings in its eight year history to date, and continues to produce work of increasing complexity and scale.

James Dayton Design received a 2005 AIA Minnesota Honor Award for the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, a project that highlights the firm's rigorous approach to design. Dayton was also recognized for his outstanding work with both Minnesota Young Architect and National Young Architect Awards in 2006.

Architecture for JDD is a first-person, empirical experience. It is about making thoughtful, well-crafted spaces that serve clients well and contribute positively to the built environment in a creative and innovative way. It is evident that James Dayton and his firm occupy a unique position in the architectural design industry in Minneapolis, with much of the recent work rooted in the Santa Monica School. Dayton’s work is bold and forward-looking, utilizing innovative forms, industrial materials, an integral use of daylight and a collaboration with fine art in such projects as the Minnetonka Center for the Arts and The Blake School. With Dayton’s close ties to his mentor, JDD is the first architectural firm in Minneapolis to utilize Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project, the Catia-based software designed by Gehry’s office, further establishing JDD as a leading design firm in the region. The software will also allow the firm to further develop its role as a leading technical practitioner, with an emphasis on rigorous detailing and construction management.