Today we meet Julien Mercier, Lausanne born graphic designer, living and working between Paris and Lausanne. He studied at ECAL, and at the School of Visual Arts, NYC. Upon graduation, he interned at Studio Laurenz Brunner, Berlin, after which he continued to work as a freelance graphic and type designer on various projects for the Studio. In his own projects, he engages in a variety of medias ranging from editorial and type design to scenography and video.

Which priorities and / or concerns do you currently face in your practice and how do you face them?  In other words – which critical questions keep bouncing back within your work / projects?

I feel amused by the endless strife between art and design. The idea that design somehow deals with the barren task of communication, whereas art is a noble, selfless search for meaning… Art sticks with what’s sacred, valuable, unspoken, and design gets to create images/objects for daily use. This may have had reasons at a time when artists spent years carefully crafting unique pieces…

At a very low-brow level, this makes for an interesting playground. This is the area where the well-worn ideas of “Art” and “Design” can merge and create uncomfortable objects. So much for the protocol.

“Doubt, Delight and Change!” – was a claim by Cedric Price (an unconventional and visionary architect best-known for buildings which never saw the light of day – but who was one of the most influential and visionary architects of the late-twentieth century). What is your claim and why?

 I don’t have one. But I like the idea that he became the most influential and visionary architect without ever actually getting the job done.

 And what we really want to know from you is: What is your most treasured possession?

My noise-cancelling headphones.

© Julien Mercier

© Julien Mercier