Illustration around photography by Louise Lacour

Since the beginning of Luz Editions, I have been working with Louise Lacour, graphic designer and illustrator.
Working together led to the visual identity of Luz and the layouts of our wonderful tea towels.

Knowing that Louise is also an illustrator, I asked her to work around the idea of "reverie" for our last collection of decorative cushions. Now that the moment has come to unveil the collection, she shares with us her creative process.

Can you introduce yourself?

I’m a French freelance graphic designer based in Lisbon.
I work with a pretty wide range of clients and the projects are very varied. I can be working on tea packaging one day and an animated GIF for a renovation company the next one.
For some time now, I have been focusing more intensely on my own personal and artistic development.

If you could let people know anything else about you, what would it be?

Confidence has always been my biggest challenge even if I have been a freelancer since I left school 10 years ago and I have always been an entrepreneur. When I think about it, it makes me smile.

What sparked the idea for the "From poetry to reverie" collaboration?

For our second collaboration I wanted something different and more personal but there were some restrictions regarding the photo that could not be modified or retouched.
I had previously worked on a photo book with a line that emphasized the horizon of the landscapes and slowly it became the starting point for this cushion project.

Photos are fragments of memory. They come to stand on our timeline and sometimes awaken memories that go beyond the frame. It's often a bit blurry. Here each drawing highlights the main lines of the image and proposes to extend them into an imaginary and poetic interpretation of the scene.

What story do you imagine behind each of these photograph?

The "Paz" cushion is a symbol of calm and serenity. I imagine a boat trip between a father and his son, the kind of suspended moment that is both banal and important.
The "Vida" cushion represents innocence and joy of life. The little girl is focused and is trying to reach her brother who is waiting for her a little further on the other side of the river.
The "Alma" cushion is the soul of Portugal. For me it is really the perfect old representation of the Portuguese woman waiting for her sailor husband on a shadowless beach.

What were the challenges you had to encounter to complete this work?

They were all challenging because on the 3 cushions I had to represent water with a few lines each time in a different way. The big challenge was also to take into account the volume of the cushion in the design.

What inspires your work in general?

I pride myself on being able to adapt my style to each client, like a chameleon.
My own interests and style show up more on personal projects. It is either hyper minimalist or full of details. I'm quite obsessed with eyes, nature and fractals.

Do you have methods, and what do you do to keep ideas fresh and not repetitive?

Looking back at your career, what has changed since you started, and what has stayed the same?

I'm still a freelancer and I love managing myself. Nothing has changed in that respect.
However a lot has changed since I have a child. I had to become a super fast worker with more confidence. My relationship with clients has obviously changed and it's much better this way.

What is your favorite work?

My favorite works are those that can be held or used as your products or experienced as my land art project Eye contact. I also love creating brand identities and artworks because I always enjoy the creative and intellectual process that leads to the result. It always starts with a pencil and paper and it’s usually fun.

If you had to choose between the 3 models your favorite, what would it be? And why?

I think my favorite is "Alma". The combination of the photo and the illustration is perfectly balanced.
I can't wait to find out which cushion is the most popular !

Any projects coming up you would like to share with us?

I am currently working with Hermès on different projects and it’s always a delight to collaborate with them. They have such a good taste !
Besides that I plan to launch a small online store to sell my illustrations.
And with my architect-urbanist sister we have proposed an art installation for the upcoming Boom Festival. We are still waiting for the answer so please cross your fingers 🤞🏻

Discover Louise's work at :
www.louize.fr
Instagram : louizestudio