Fabien Barral is a french happy graphic designer whose innovative and unique designs attract clients from around the world. He runs the “graphic-exchange” blog since 2006, a popular online venue for creatives. He learned his trade as an agency art director, working on projects for large corporations like McDonald, L’Oreal or Konami.
Designer Interview With Fabien Barral – Mr Cup @iammrcup – #DesignerInterview #thelogocreative https://t.co/SGRYf69Tp2 pic.twitter.com/IOpIL3bq19
— The Logo Creative™ (@thelogocreative) 5 June 2019
Passionate by letterpress printing and more generally by a beautiful useful object, he collaborates with other creatives to do an annual limited edition calendar sold only via his website. He designs the first three editions, but since 2015 he collaborates with worldwide creatives and uses crowdfunding to fund the project. He shares his stories on stage invited to do talks in Australia or in the States.
After years working under his own name, it is now under Mr-Cup pseudonym that he develops his own projects… In 2012, he visits Asia with family, to see what life can offer, and to met Balinese craftsmen to work with them on wood products… He set up a collection of wood letters which were a big success. After 1 year and half of hobo life, he was back in France.
In 2014 he launches a new project with his wife: the first french magazine about gluten free way of life. Few months after, a creates a new company with a long time friend to make one of his dream come true: a real printed design magazine sharing stories about creative peoples: Walter magazine! Again, he funds it with a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Since 2015, he moves in Arles, the inspiring city where Van Gogh lived. He set up a creative studio there and build a team to work on his clients and personal projects at the same time. Among others, he creates a real printed design magazine sharing stories about creative peoples: Walter magazine; letterpress inspiring poster and so much more he sells on his online shop.
In 2018, the launch his first playing cards deck, EPHEMERID, which received an amazing success during its crowdfunding, opening doors to new perspectives.
The Logo Creative – Hi Fabien thanks for taking part in our designer interviews it’s great to have you.
Fabien Barral – Hi Andrew I’m honoured, and thanks for including me!
The Logo Creative – What was the turning point in your life when you decided to become a designer and how did you proceed?
Fabien Barral – School was not my cup of tea, and I always felt stupid learning things I didn’t care about. At the end of my schooling, there was a forum presenting working life to young people. I discovered this amazing school where you were taught how to design magazines and CD sleeves. That’s a job for me I thought? I sigh up and loved every moment. Since then I have never stopped developing what I was taught back in those days. It wasn’t that long ago but the era of communication has since then developed so dramatically, at that time the internet was hardly known, not mentioning Photoshop!
The Logo Creative – What does your day consist of?
Fabien Barral –It was really different 3 years ago and it would be probably different in a couple of years. I like change, I like to get out of my comfort zone… But for the past 2 years, I set up a studio in Arles, where I live. Before that, I was in another part of that, and before that, I lived in Bali for a year! But my day is a balance between answering email and trying to create stuff!
The Logo Creative – What was the first logo you ever designed?
Fabien Barral – I am not sure I remember that! Probably at design school, for a dance company…
The Logo Creative – What is your favourite Logo you have designed?
Fabien Barral – Hard to said… it depends on the mood! most of the time I like the most recent one as I think it takes me a year to arrive there… Here are some projects.
The Logo Creative – What is your favourite Logo of all time?
Fabien Barral – There is so much awesome logo out there! But I think maybe it is the record label 4AD one.
The Logo Creative – Can you describe or give us an overview of your logo design process?
Fabien Barral – I do not think I have a usual way of doing that. I log organic identites, and the logo is just an element of that. For exemple for the Yard project I started with the Y in the circles, and then create the other elements… I follow the creative flow…
(http://mrcup-studio.com/work/the-yard-vfx/)
The Logo Creative – In your opinion regarding Logo Design pricing do you prefer working on a fixed rate or customer budget and can you explain why?
Fabien Barral – It’s really important for me to work with clients that understand the not usual process of creation. You can not say how much time it takes to create something. It could be fast, it could be long… So I prefer to work on budget and that I will have to take the time I need to found the right identity.
The Logo Creative – How long does it take to complete the average logo design project from start to finish?
Fabien Barral – Again, it could take 10 minutes and sometimes 10 days! But it took me 20 years to create it in 10 minutes…
The Logo Creative – Are you a MAC or PC User and is there a reason for your choice?
Fabien Barral – I am on Mac, but I was on PC before. I move on Mac in 2010 only because I had an iPhone in 2009 and I feel it was time to move. In the beginning, I hate it as it was like being in a foreign country without knowing the language! Then I understand it and I do not want to come back.
The Logo Creative – Which software do you use frequently?
Fabien Barral – The classics… They are just tools…
The Logo Creative – What is your favourite style of logo design? And why?
Fabien Barral – Organic, the ones that live with a project, or have a lot of different possibilites…
The Logo Creative – What is your daily inspiration when you design?
Fabien Barral – There are so much! Most of the time, Behance, and links from people I follow on Twitter and Instagram. Pinterest also, but I miss found because I love how randomly it was
The Logo Creative – In your opinion what’s the best and worst part of your job being a designer?
Fabien Barral – The best is the feeling when you create something and the freedom, the worst is that I can spend 8 hours just answering email!!!!
The Logo Creative – Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Fabien Barral – In the design world, there are so much… again! I like creative people so filmmakers, musicians, photographers, designers… people who see the world their own way and give their vision to the world.
The Logo Creative – Who is your favourite Graphic Designer and why?
Fabien Barral – The best is to check the excellence section of my blog, these people are so amazing!
The Logo Creative –What’s your favourite design quote?
Fabien Barral – Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.
The Logo Creative – In less than 10 words what is graphic design?
Fabien Barral – A creative doing art with a purpose.
The Logo Creative – What steps did you take to start your graphic design business? Did you have to make any sacrifices on your journey?
Fabien Barral – I started with a friend as a duo, then worked as an art director in a studio for some years… then jumped on the freelancing side. I do not think I did any sacrifice…
The Logo Creative – Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you would have changed early on in your career?
Fabien Barral – No, I do not think so…
The Logo Creative – If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?
Fabien Barral – Follow your instinct, it will bring you where you want to go (and buy your music on vinyl instead of CD…)
The Logo Creative – What’s the most important piece of advice you have received as a designer that’s helped you?
Fabien Barral – Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.!!!
The Logo Creative – What would be your advice for new Logo and Graphic Designers?
Fabien Barral – Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.!!! It helps me to be creative daily, to see beyond the surface of things…
learn more about Fabien Barral | mr-cup.com |