Johanna Bonnevier

How would you describe what you do?

Graphic Design, Art Direction and Illustration. I work mainly with print based media in the fashion, architecture and art industry, but I also do signage, installations and film based work. I am currently a Creative Designer at Topshop whilst also running my own studio.

What is your background?

Before getting into graphics I studied Art History and I also worked with both costume design and painting traditional clogs in Sweden. I moved to London about 8 years ago and studied at Camberwell College of Art and Central St Martins College of Art and Design. Since graduating I have freelanced for several design studios and I have also worked in publishing, designing art and design books.

Who inspired you at the outset?

I've always been a major fan of Jan Tschichold.

Who, or what, inspires you now?

Lately I've been really inspired by mythology and folklore. There's too little mystique in our lives these days. There's one very interesting creature from the deep forests of Sweden — 'Mörksuggan' a figure of terror that would emerge to scare children into safety. As darkness falls she would eat up the road so you could not find your way home.

What was the last useful thing you learnt?

This is perhaps not the last useful thing I learnt, but it is an expression I keep getting back to. Kill your darlings — don't linger on design ideas that does not belong there, simply because you really really like them.

What are you working on right now?

I'm designing a magazine for the opening of Topshop and Topman in Las Vegas. It's going to be very bling with gold foil, gold pantone and spot varnish. I'm also designing titles and credits for a series of fashion films and I just finished a hand drawn textile pattern for a swedish fashion retail brand which they will use in their next collection.