Ecological designer

You have already done many projects: an ecological exhibition, collaboration on the Lévi Strauss memorial board, book illustration, design of several typefaces, wallpapers, t-shirts... How would you present your work to readers?

Luke: We work in several visual areas, from logos and integrated images, websites, illustrations, to independent exhibitions. We don't want to focus on just one thing because the work might become too monotonous. We try to work for companies with which we also agree in terms of philosophy. We try to look at the projects in a broader way, so that society can also benefit from it. Recently, we are more and more attracted to organic waters. Aktu - alen is our latest ecological project, an exhibition entitled Actions are louder than words, in which we once again collaborated with the ecological society Ecovitae, and the client was the Department for Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Was this exhibition a kind of relaxation? Are you preparing another ecological project?

Catherine: We really enjoyed the exhibition, but it wasn't exactly relaxing. In the implementation part of the exhibition, we collected trash, printed and sewed by hand, sang, recorded sounds, coordinated subcontractors, etc. We are already preparing for the next eco-project, which we will present at the Design Month. We want to make people aware of the problem of excessive consumption of plastic bags. We are creating an alternative: a collection of fabric shopping bags called Mula. These are tailor-made bags, made in Slovenia, printed with our motifs and patterns.

Are you devoted environmentalists or do you find ecology a challenge from an artistic point of view?

Luke: We said to ourselves that if we're going to design, then we'd rather tackle projects that are also socially responsible. We may be a little above average when it comes to environmental issues, but we are not extremists. We separate the waste, but sometimes we also go somewhere by car (laughs). We recently took part in a cleaning campaign on the coast, where it was very fun and useful at the same time.

Your project Tipotapete, where you created your own wallpaper collection, is interesting. Is this your imagination or did you find inspiration in the surroundings?

Catherine: The wallpaper as such is our imagination, but other authors have also come to similar results. It's about making patterns by typing. During our studies, we went to Tipobrda workshops for several years, where we freely experimented with letters, to the extent that we abandoned letter shapes and used completely abstract shapes instead. This resulted in fonts - patterns that we applied to the wallpapers. We offered the idea to the company Berlintapete, which accepted the cooperation, and this is how this collection was created. However, the wallpapers have been "standing" for some time, as we are now in different waters.

Luka, you started a project where you deal with philosophical t-shirts. What will they look like and do you see them being a sales hit in a year or two?

Luke: It is a master's project in which I collaborate with the philosopher Peter Kuralt, who collected famous philosophical quotes, and I interpret them visually. The shirts are called Philoguerrillo and the website will be ready soon. I am not concerned with sales performance, the goal is to find out how we can convey philosophical knowledge through images. Philosophy moves in too closed circles. The idea is to return to the streets, to encourage random passers-by to reconsider through T-shirts.

They have already won many awards. Are the awards a confirmation for you, maybe they boost your self-confidence and give you a new impetus for work? What other prize would you like? look framed on the wall?

Catherine: At the beginning, we hoped that we would win more projects as a result of the awards, but in Slovenia, awards do not mean much. Business is still largely done through acquaintances. During our studies, awards meant more to us; they were confirmation that we are doing well. The greatest value comes from Brumn's two awards from the Biennale of Visible Messages in Slovenia. Otherwise, we don't long for prizes anymore and we don't particularly want any.

They said that your work takes place in "waves", in one period you are fully occupied and in another period completely without work. What do you do in the lull at work?

Catherine: We take vacations and go on trips. Luke: I'm already preparing for that time to come again (laughs). Catherine: We prefer to go to nature, the Karst is my favorite. Some time ago we also went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. This trip made such an impression on us that we also prepared an exhibition on this topic.

Are you a gourmet and do you also explore culinary corners in cities?

Catherine: We are not exactly gourmets, but we like to buy organic food. Otherwise, I rarely eat out, I prefer to cook at home, and Luka does the washing up (laughs). We both don't eat meat, so we sometimes have problems with food in restaurants. But we recently discovered a great pizza with fresh spinach in Trta na Prule. We also like Govindas in Šiška.

Is the studio, where you create, also your home and life, or do you strictly separate work from privacy and is your free time dedicated to completely different things?

Catherine: Home and studio are in one and intertwine. If you're doing something you love, you can think about it twenty-four hours a day. Sometimes this is also a problem. For example, when we argue about work, it can quickly affect our privacy. but we still find free time. Then, for example, we sing, we go to concerts. This year we attended concerts at the Brežice Festival for the first time and really enjoyed it. Luke: Music is very important to us in our free time. Coming in December is the cousin of legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. This will be the concert of the year for me.