Taking the pulse with Nicolas Lambert

Multiple Applied Arts Awards winner Nicolas Lambert, Art Director and Designer, won yet again, picking up two Awards in 2024 Awards for his illustrations La Chicane. The project resonated with the Illustration and Design Awards jury's.  Applied Arts was curious to know more about the project, his process, and his creative life.

Can you walk us through the specifics of creating this piece?

This project is an unexpected experience. The client is an event for young musicians in Edmonton, organized by the Centre de development musical. At the time, Louise, my 9-year-old daughter, was working on a paper-cut project at school. Without any objectivity about my daughter's creation, I asked to use some of her work, which I found graphically very effective and close to an aspiring Saul Bass. Given the theme of the event, the client was very keen to have illustrations by Louise, my daughter. I was very happy with the end result, but I didn't expect it to be rewarded. However, I sent in our project to Applied Arts with the mindset of “you never know”, and the rest is history. In the end, I'm a proud father and designer who uses a young illustrator without even having to pay her,...and I received an award for it.

 Who is your creative hero?

I discovered the Republic of Designers with the video game Wipeout 2097 at the age of 16. It was my first conscious encounter with design.TDR was at the crossroads of everything I loved at the time, and still do: fun, noise, video games and music. For me, it was the future, although over time I came to realize that they were heirs to the modernism of the '60s, but recycled during the '90s.

What is your dream work environment?

I have the chance to work from home, in a cabin in the middle of the woods. My "colleagues" are some deers practically knocking on my windows. I am basically the Snow White of the designers. It's a very quiet place, conducive to creativity and far from the energy, a little too intense for my old bones, of an agency environment. This doesn't stop me from disturbing this calm from time to time by playing harsh, pretentious music during my working hours.

We look forward to seeing more of your (Louise, an illustrator in the making) work!