"Home Video" is the 5th part of a series of projects (the 3rd is an installation running in Selfridges department store in London) that Laurent started with the publication of the magazine "Into You", reproduced in a monographic book 'ABC +' (Die Gestalten Verlag Publishing). "Into You" is composed of inter-related stories of horror film fanatics. Every issue comes in a different form adapted to a specific project, e.g. a T-Shirt, an exhibition, a record cover, a film, etc.

For the first time Laurent Fétis’ work is presented in Germany. The "Home Video" installation is an over-sized imaginary videoclub, consisting of works specifically done for the Nike Spiritroom in Berlin. Laurent Fétis is a leading representative of the french graphic design scene, well known for his postmodern psychedelic art works.

After graduating in architecture, Fétis founded his own design studio in 1999. He developed collaborations with commissioners and creators like Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec, Sofia Coppola’s lable Milkfed, Nike, Bless, Eley Kishimoto, Cacharel, Showstudio.com, Centre Pompidou, Paris Modern Art Museum, Palais de Tokyo, Kunsthalle Wien, French Ministry of Culture, Japanese Railway, Daimler Chrysler, Selfridges, Vogue, Dazed & Confused, The Face, Nylon, Studio Voice, Surface, etc…

Further, he creates designs for musicians such as Beck, Mellow, DJ Hell or Tahiti 80, and co-directs videos and films with the artist Elisabeth Arkhipoff (DJ Mehdi, M83, MTV…)

Laurent Fétis also supervised the graphic and titel design of Roman Coppola's film, "CQ". His work has already been shown in several exhibitions and lectures in Centre Pompidou, The French National Library, Transmission Gallery /Glasgow, The Melbourne Fashion Festival, Royal Society of Arts / London, Fabrica / Italy or Arts centre Beursschouwburg / Belgium.

A brief questionaire with Laurent Fetis.

Name: Laurent Fétis
Date of birth: 1970
Nationality: French
Profession: Designer and art director
Sins: Too many to be quotated
Addictions: Too many to be quotated
Passions: Everything connected to creation
Food: Anything from Italia
Color: All colors
Politics: I strongly believe in anarchy
Next project: Corporate identity for a cinema company
Got popular with: I don’t know

What is your profession?
I’m doing commercial art.

Your approach to design is being copied by many aspiring designers; do you enjoy your impact on the design world?
I see what you mean, but I don’t see this kind of ‘impact’ as something positive because it’s generaly the surface of things that is copied. Each work I’m doing has a strong connection with the project I’m working on. It is not a question of style or trend. I’m not so interested in forms if they are not connected with ideas.

Where do you get your inspirations and your nourishment?
From life.

It seems as if you do exactly what you want to, enjoying your full artistic control on a variety of projects. How this, while other designers suffer restrictions?
It’s not exactly the case I’m not working like an artist I’m feeded with commissioner’s ideas. My work consist of making them match with what I think is the best for them. But it’s true that I’m absolutly not frustrated by this way of working.

What is your mission while you are on an assignment for example for Nike?
The nike project is very particular. It’s an invitation to do something with them without any precise asking so I’ve onsidered this oportunity as a free way to fit a particular side of the office work, more disconnected from precise commision with the brand image. The Nike Spiritroom is more an "envelop" for a satellite project made by me. In the other cases it’s more an exchange with commisioners and it’s this exchange that interests me.

Is it important for an artist to work with commercial brands or is it rather hazardous for his authencity?
It does not make any problem for me to work with brands. I’m working only for things I like.

What is your message to your fellow designers?
Hello

How is a typical day at work?
Fortunately there is no such thing as real typical day for me.

As a child you wanted to become...
An adult.