Who I am and what I doI’m Swiss and have lived a total of over 8 years in Vancouver Canada. I studied visual communication there and am self-employed since 2004. Mostly, I create brand-building concepts and convert them into 2D and spatial design.A large part of my work revolves around how I develop those client concepts - concepts that are easily and simply communicable - perceivable with all 5 senses. Research and consulting take up most of my time. In Vancouver I was part of a team that developed new trade shows and other cultural happenings. I was assigned the design of print and spacial media for these events – and the nature of these projects led me to wallpapers, which were then my favorite, after the mostly strategic preliminary work. On the side, I taught packaging design at Langara College or traveled with my girlfriend to hippie markets on the Gulf Islands to show and sell homemade pillows. I returned to Switzerland in 2007. My work here remains the same. My clients are varied, ranging from large companies to individuals who want to turn their passion into a profession. How I workWhen it comes to the design of my own things, I just let myself be surprised by what happens naturally. I work mainly on computer, and technology has intensely influenced my methods. What inspires meSimplicity, my friends, travel, nature... I think inspiration occurs through awareness and joy. I try to travel through life full of curiosity and mostly it works out that I get a portion of inspiration back as a reward. My design philosophyThat’s also my fundamental design philosophy: first - awareness, and then - just try it out. In wallpaper design, I think it’s great to see how technology sets trends. With digital wallpaper many technical solutions became evident. Now it’s more a mixture of old and new, from hand-drawn to technically sketched – and that makes it all the more exciting. I don’t feel there is a conflict between old and new technology, instead a fascinating and potential synergy or development can take place. The wallpapers that I create are mostly individual orders and serve as a spacial addition to the overall design. That has, in this respect, nothing to do with art. For me, wallpaper is ‚deco candy’ - simply there to be enjoyed, or placed as a communicative addition to the space, and not engaged in a dialog with art.My stylistic influencesEveryday discoveries, mostly very simple things, band of horses, Vancouver + the Pacific Rim. Technology. My future goals and ambitionsOne of my greatest wishes would be to design fabrics. With a little print machine and my own small shop - a shift of focus away from client-oriented projects. My likes and dislikesPersonally, I like discovering places and collecting new experiences and I dislike canned peas and carrots. And when people try to force me into these canned mentalities. Professionally, I like successful teamwork and dislike complicated designers. |