Cheeri

What is the story of Cheeri? We studied together at the ENSAD in Paris. Once we were both graduated in graphic design and multimedia, we have decided to follow our own path. Félix went to the studio Des Signes and Jean-Baptiste in his living room. We had the opportunity to work on projects together, which led us to become partners, then we created Cheeri. An e for each of us.

Apart from your commissioned work, how important is the research process in your practice ? Like many, we don’t want to specialise in a particular area, to avoid routine in the process of creation. When we work in very different worlds, it forces us to change the lines of thinking and research. We also have very short event projects, which are often an opportunity to experiment. Still, the research is very often linked to a commissioned work and we do not always have enough time to develop the personal projects that we have in mind.

You initiated Air Poster. Could you tell us more about this project and its future exhibitions? We wanted to make time for experimentation and research. Thus Air Poster was born. We really wanted to create occasionally outside our commissioned work, to materialise our ideas and desires, for the pleasure only, to get some fresh air. We were lying on the lawns of the Parc Montsouris, with our friends GR20 when we got this idea. We wanted to value graphic design in a different context. The idea is to invite different graphic studios, to make a series of silkscreened and numbered posters, and to organize an annual exhibition/sale. Little by little, the event became famous and grew with two exhibitions last year, including one at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Many studios are asking us every year to participate, and we hope to attract foreign studios, but it requires energy. Once again we don’t have enough time, which is why this year we decided to create an association to become a structure and move forward.

After almost ten years of existence, how would you sum up your practice? How would you like to continue growing? Very sincerely we think that we are lucky to do this job! We have the feeling of having a stable activity, and always a lot of projects that we are excited about. Most often, we develop quality relationships with clients, although sometimes we find that some do not fully understand our job. A little more every year, we think about changing our way of working. Currently we are freelancers, Cheeri works as a collective. The idea of setting up a structure and welcoming other graphic designers seduces us. But the decision is not so simple. It involves other responsibilities and a new way of working. Our deepest desire is to continue to be at the center of the creation process. Do we really want to grow? Interview conducted in November 2017 ©ktlg