annik troxler interview

annik troxler interview

we spoke to graphic designer, annik troxler about her work and influences.

DB: please could you tell us briefly about your background?
AT: I was born in wolhusen, switzerland [1979]. I studied graphic design at the cantonal school of art of lausanne (ECAL). my final thesis ‘vergissmeinnicht’ won the swiss federal competition for design in 2005, which gave me the opportunity to collaborate for six months with mevis & van deursen in amsterdam. in 2006 I returned to switzerland and began working as an independent graphic designer in basel and I have been teaching at the basel school of design since 2011. I live with my husband and two children irma and anton in riehen.

DB: how would you describe your work to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
AT: colorful and playful. my designs are often made using manual techniques and explore the context of the content.

left: 2014 calendar
right: illusions performance of tabea martin & matthias mooij, poster, 2013

DB: what has been the biggest singular influence on your work?
AT: my father niklaus, who is a very well known graphic designer. he’s inspired me since my childhood but I’ve always wanted to design differently from him so to avoid comparisons.

posters for the ‘willisau jazz festival’ (together with paula troxler)
left: 2013
right: 2011

DB: what’s the thing you enjoy most about print work compared to screen based projects?
AT: the feel of the surface is very important to me. with printing you can achieve wonderful colors that are not always possible to see on a screen, especially with silkscreen.

left: the lecture ‘design and compose’ at the basel school of design, poster, 2009
right: lecture at the basel school of design, poster 2008

DB: which type of project do you enjoy the most?
AT: any project where the client is open minded and enthusiastic.

left: intimities solo concerts at the jazz festival willisau, poster, 2008
right: interne lecture at the basel school of design, poster, 2008

DB: what are you hoping to explore with your work in 2014?
AT: I’m always hoping to discover new things. in the future I would like to collaborate more with other designers.

left: intimities solo concerts at the jazz festival willisau, poster, 2007
right: lectures from the east at the basel school of design, poster, 2009

DB: do you think it’s important for a designer to be able to draw?
AT: I don’t draw extremely well and I don’t practice a lot but I think that I have my best ideas when I’m drawing.

invitations for a series of lectures at the basel school of design, 2007

DB: what do you do to keep your ideas fresh?
AT: I always try to do new things. it could be a new technical skill or a finding a new starting point for a project – fortunately these new things often happen by accident. I’m also lucky enough to have two young children who need me with them most of the time – as a result I cannot over think other things too much at the moment!

logo for amarillo surf corumba

DB: what compels you to design and what other compulsions do you have?
AT: designing allows me to discover things. I’m also compelled to make good food and to spend time with my family.

pages from annik’s thesis catalog, basel school of design, 2010

DB: do you have any superstitious beliefs?
AT: I like to work when I’m in a good mood. if I’m having a lot of fun while I’m designing I think those good feelings are evident in the work, and therefore its output will be good and positive as well.

annik’s thesis catalog, 2010