in conversation with Guillaumit

From creating wacky characters to developing tech-savvy carnival concepts, Guillaumit refuses to be limited by his body of work

- Ruth Hamilton

French graphic designer, illustrator and motion artist Guillaume Castagné – known professionally as Guillaumit – loves a creative challenge. He’s worked on diverse projects for clients including Orange, Sony and the Pompidou Centre, and is more than happy to dive into a subject he knows nothing about, and come out the other side the master of a new medium. Guillaumit’s work can be recognised through his use of geometric shapes, vibrant block colours and humorous characters, which he uses to tell stories that walk the line between poignant and ridiculous.

Here he shares insights into his career so far, from creating a new type of carnival to taking on the world as one half of music-design duo Gangpol & Mit.

How would you describe your style?

I usually work with simple shapes and plain colours, but I always bear in mind that there are numerous possibilities and I enjoy experimenting with different contexts and subjects. I especially care about the relationship between the posters and the external environment.

Your work covers graphic design, illustration, motion and more. Which would you say is your main passion?

I really couldn’t say. My illustrations will inspire my costumes, my animations will nourish my books… it’s my own recipe and I’m comfortable with this process.

What’s your professional background – did you study design?

My career path is unusual. I went to university to study art, but also studied video and cinema. I was digging the New Wave! As my studies were ending, I met Gangpol [musician Sylvain Quément] who asked me to produce an artwork for his record and then a music video. It went very well and I dropped out of university to film and document concerts all around the world. We did this for 10 years.