Cachetejack
Burger King rebrand by Cachetejack, 2021
Cachetejack is a Spanish freelance illustration duo comprised of Nuria Bellver and Raquel Fanjul. The two illustrators have been working together since 2011 and their illustration universe is full of colors, energy, humor, and irony. Working across a variety of mediums including books, magazines, newspapers, drawing, painting and more, Cachetejack combines reality with a quirky point of view to create situations and environments closer to the viewer.
We spoke with Nuria and Raquel to learn more about how Cachetejack was formed, how they approach creative collaboration, and where they find inspiration.
Hi Nuria and Raquel! Tell us about yourselves - how did you get to where you are today?
Every step you take counts, starting from childhood. When we went to university and had to choose which studies we we were going to focus on, we both chose Fine Arts and we met on the first day of school! We love art, it’s a magnificent way to share your creativity. Creativity is one of the unique qualities of being human and everything in life can benefit from it. We have always been amazed by the concept of Bauhaus, but that is not the only one. If you observe the world around you, you’ll find creativity and inspiration. We got to where we are today by making mistakes, taking risks, letting intuition guide us, with lot of passion and love for what we feel we must do, and of course, through our friendship.
How did you become the design duo Cachetejack?
We met the first day of school in Fine Arts at our university in 2006. We quickly became friends, sharing jokes and laughter, and during the last year of our degree program in 2011 we wrote some manifestos against the system signed as a mysterious character called “Cachetejack.” After that, we decided to transform all of our critical ideas into drawings to visually reach everyone - and that is how we formed our duo. We created a design style together and share all our ideas, thoughts, and insights to make this Cachetejack monster grow and it’s now 10 years old!
Design Duo Cachetejack
How would you describe your aesthetic and how has your design style changed over time?
In the beginning nothing existed, so we created everything from zero, which was the perfect way for two people to approach and feed an only soul. We shared all of our interests and we experimented a lot, playing with shapes, type, and textures, looking to art history, and transforming and mixing ideas. For every project, we tried to introduce something new to contemplate new possibilities - then taste, time, and experience guided us into a natural flow of just being ourselves.
You’ve worked with a range of clients, from tech companies like Apple, Netflix, and Snapchat, to brands like Nike, Mastercard, and your recent Burger King rebrand project. What is your creative process like?
We talk with our clients, they expose their needs, we listen, and observe. Then, we start to talk about what we imagine and both of us, each one in her own solitary space, create ideas and then bring our ideas to the table to share. We like to work alone first and then share. Once we share our ideas with each other, we choose the best ones and then we share them with the client. We also propose different color palettes depending on the feelings we have about the project, or if the client sends us guidelines. Once the ideas are clear we proceed to paint!
How do you approach creative collaboration with each other and with your clients?
Collaborating with each other is natural and we don’t have to do any more than have a conversation. We are friends before anything else and we have an easy way to talk and joke about things. We have been friends for 15 years and a lot of communication has always been involved! With clients it’s also natural, we listen to what they have to tell us about their brand and their thoughts, and then we reflect about an approach and solution that can be interesting for both of us.
What’s been one of your favorite projects to work on?
Mural paintings, because they can be enjoyable for everyone! Sharing pleasures is always extra satisfying.
Where do you find creative inspiration and do you have any favorite design resources?
Nature, emotions, people, and life. These are the most precious resources we always have.
What advice would you give to designers just starting out?
Let yourself fail - once, twice, always. Life is movement and in the changes is the where the evolution happens. Relax, enjoy life, spend time with the people you love, and always choose to laugh. The more you can keep your inner-self happy, the fresher your brain will be.
What are you working on now and what’s up next for you?
We are planning some projects as mural paintings and some Christmas ones too! In the immediate future: to get vaccinated and take a vacation to the sea!
