Aurélia Durand
Aurélia Durand is an artist, illustrator, animator, and muralist based in Paris. She dedicates her artistic voice to representing Afro-descendants as joyful, proud, and empowered—a united community whose destinies are intertwined. Her books include This Book Is Anti-Racist, a New York Times Best-seller, and her clients include Disney, Nike, and Google. In 2020, she was a keynote speaker at Adobe Max.
Hi Aurélia! Tell us about yourself and your design journey - how did you get to where you are today? What first sparked your interest in art and illustration?
My artistic journey started when I first entered the doors of art school when I was 18 years old. I did not grow up in an artistic family. I have always loved drawing - my parents saw it and pushed me to pursue an artistic education.
There is a difference between drawing for pleasure and drawing every day to become a professional. At school, I learned that it was my thing - I loved developing creative projects and nothing would stop me from being creative. Hard work, passion, pride, and dedication led me to where I am today.
How would you describe your illustration style, and how has it changed over time?
My style is my signature; anyone can recognize my work by looking at the lines and colors I use. My work is vibrant, colorful, and joyful. I want to convey positive messages through my work and the energy that I draw is contagious. I like to hear what people experience when they enter my world. My style is in constant evolution as I grow.
You’ve worked with a wide range of clients, including Adidas, Banksy, Herman Miller, Instagram, Sephora, and NPR. What is your creative process like and how do you approach collaboration?
When working with people, I like to communicate with art directors because we are able to have constructive conversations about the project. Art directors know how to use my skills to make the best illustration campaign.
Are there particular themes you like to explore through your work?
I like to create portraits of people and play with different color combinations. I also like to explore new ways of creating, such as painting, animation, augmented reality, and other ways to create illustrations. It helps to stimulate my creativity and brings me new perspectives about the world.
Where do you find creative inspiration?
I find inspiration in movies, music videos, and in observing people at my window.
What’s been one of your favorite projects to work on so far? What would be your dream project?
I do not have any favorite projects; I like to see my work in its entirety. I was amazed to see how my work has evolved during the past five years. I liked the first years of my career where I was developing my style because I was working on lots of personal projects and I did not have any deadlines, but at the same time, I was not making a living from it. Now, I make a living from my artwork, and I work on unique campaigns worldwide to spread positive messages. I think my dream has already come true.
Do you have any favorite design resources?
I go to museums/ galleries, travel and watch the news.
What advice would you give new designers who are just starting?
To all aspiring designers, find inspiration in your life, do something you like, do not listen to people, and listen to your intuition.
What are you working on now, and what’s next for you?
It's top-secret ! :)
