Figure 7

Who is Figure 7 ? Figure 7 is composed of a photographer and two graphic designers. We are three independent creatives who decided to work together in order to be able to conduct greater projects. We all have quite different visions of design and that makes sharing enriching. We always try to link text and image, type and letter. For us, laying out isn’t simply putting an image next to a text, it is about linking both in an attempt to create complete images. We started by working on really concrete things but we always manage to adjust to demands and supports.

What brought you to work in Lyon ? We didn’t necessarily want to settle in Paris. Lyon seemed more comfortable to settle down as independents. We liked the city’s dynamic and it is humanly approachable. People meet really easily in Lyon. It isn’t a huge city, studios that matter know each other. But it doesn’t stop us from working for other people throughout France, and even beyond. We can however feel that we don’t have access to the same clients that Parisian studios do. They have more possibilities, but we live well with it. We also keep working currently as independents.

Was it a desire to work in a shared studio ? It really was. Two desires directed the choice of this space. We wanted shared offices that would also serve as workshop. We wanted a place where we could escape our computers. We keep a manual angle in many of our projects. It allows us to have more space, especially for the shootings in the photo studio. We sometimes found ourselves with outside creatives working on other mediums on which we can also interact. It brings a working dynamic which is quite interesting. The exchange and recoil enabled by showing our projects to people doing a completely different work is unbelievably enriching. It is always interesting to have their feedback and to know how they apprehend our work and vice versa. Not being only amongst graphic designer is nice too.

How do you see yourselves evolve as creatives ? We advance step by step everyday but we each have our vision of what we would like to do within the five to ten next years, we let time do things. Everything is built gradually. We would love to discover new mediums, go beyond what we have already done to expand our field of action in the area of creation. We would like to travel too, without ever stopping from opening up to new things. Interview conducted in April 2015 ©ktlg