Diego Lara

What is your story? After graduation at university two years ago, I started working as a freelance graphic designer. During my studies, I had already taken part in some projects and worked in a little studio named RV.Studio. Currently, I continue to collaborate with design studios and businesses while developing my commissions and personal projects, growing step by step.

Is there a project in particular that you want to talk about? With my partner in crime Rafa Ruiz, co-manager of Mad is Mad, a gallery focused on budding artists in Madrid, we will relaunch the independent publishing house MAD LIBRO that was born in 2005 with Toletis, the first MAD LIBRO KINDER published. Now we want to take a leap forward and grow, so we could compose a catalogue of quality books, with an important artistic content, in which design and image are its characteristic values, without a thematic priority.

Do you think there is a lack of a design culture? How would you describe the teaching of graphic design in Spain? It depends a lot on the country and the priority to the local design by each city. Porto, London or Copenhagen are examples of cities that have been able to embrace design into their culture, and their citizens appreciate it. However, in Spain it remains a challenge. The value of design is not sufficiently defended and the interest that exists is of a significant minority. Linked to this is the difficulty of carrying out independent projects, with the lack of support from the government. Despite the public interest, new generations have a predilection for graphic design and digital trends. Due to this interest, new types of school have emerged in Spain, offering long programs with teachers into the professional environment who can show you exactly how things work.

What are your graphic design career goals? Keep going forward, learning and enjoying the graphic design profession - as a matter of fact, a very difficult one to develop in Spain in such times! Interview conducted in June 2017 ©ktlg