Marion Bretagne
Marion Bretagne
Creative Designer / Illustrator / Founder of Sonriso Studio / Artist
Madrid, ES
www.marionbretagne.com
instagram @marionbretagne
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a multi-displinary creative designer and illustrator, every single day at the studio is very different but what I do daily is solving creative problems in a fun and aesthetic way.”
I am primarily a multidisciplinary creative designer and illustrator working mostly in branding and creating visual identities with an artsy touch. Then I also run a risography print studio in Madrid called Sonriso Studio where we print projects for other creatives, organise workshops and artists projects. Finally I’m also an artist and printmaker, and sell my own artworks. The personal projects, the painting, printmaking, the clients projects… they are different disciplines but they all complete each other within my creative practice
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I’m actually a self-taught creative. I studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh but then started a career as a designer. I’m still surprised on how this happened. Essentially I started doing a lot of personal projects; creating fake brands for fun, designing some photography books, painting, creating hand-drawn animations. Little by little, I build a portfolio. About six months after University, I got a job as an editorial designer in a gallery in Madrid which taught me so much about layout, typography, attention to details and printing techniques, but I think my style and personality was a better fit for a career in branding and illustration. So I left my job, started to get clients, kept on doing personal projects, started Sonriso Studio, and been going on since then, learning and growing everyday.
How do you stand out in your field?
I always try to do things differently. Of course, I’m influenced by trends and other designers, as any creative in the instagram era, but I’m always looking to create visual identities that stand out and that are visually very striking and artistic. I work mostly by drawing or painting by hand and bringing everything together digitally. I love to bring textures and mix typography with illustrations.
Somebody once described my work as a very organised colourful chaos, and I kind of liked this description.
Surprisingly I’m not a chaotic person, I’m very disciplined and decisive.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Currently I’m working on a brand for a minimalist cosmetic routine for babies, which is really fun. I am also in the process of rethinking the strategy and visual identity of my riso studio, as I want to bring more social workshops and multidisciplinary projects.
Of course, I’m always working on creating new prints and paintings.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I think my style is artistic, joyful, colourful but elegant and quite feminine. I love the idea that imperfection is perfect as it is, in life, in people and in art. I like for things to be real, emotional, intuitive and in movement, rather than too serious and rational, and I think my designs translate that.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I love having multiple skills and I think that they feed each other and help me grow and stay playful everyday.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
How short a day is. How many things I want to do and try and learn and don’t have the time for. That and endless changes and small tasks filling my to-do list everyday.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Instagram! It takes so much time and energy but it's so useful.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Cheesy but...nothing, it’s all been a learning curve and I have no regrets. I love how things in my life unfolded. I feel very blessed. But I think in a couple years, I’m might want to tell my present self to not put too much pressure on myself, to stay playful and get out of the studio.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
What is the psychology of being creativity? Where do creative ideas come from?
I'm fascinated with the creative process and why / how artists create.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I love working on full brand identities. When someone comes with an idea and a passion: and make it come to life. I would love to work on restaurant, bars or hotels. But anything from illustrating poems, creating a wallpaper, or a window display for a shop seems super exciting.
I also want to have more international exhibitions of my prints.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
I love working with new brands that know really well who they want to be but give me the creative freedom to advice them on what that means visually. The perfect client is someone who doesn’t want to do things like competitors, and is not going to be scared by creative and crazy ideas. More practically, a client that comes with reasonable deadlines and is organised is always making the work easier and more efficient.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
The best way to get in touch with me is by email: hi@marionbretagne.com but instagram is also completely fine.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Being social and doing personal creative projects.
This member profile was originally published in September 2020, Updated September 2021.