No more headaches
Never drive like this
Bernard Chadebec – 1976
Bernard Chadebec – 1994
how to make strong, legible posters that could be quickly understood. A poster is nothing wordy. — Did you work only at INRS? Yes, I have been faithful to them. I was happy there, and it was very entertaining. — Did you work at their location? Yes, there was a studio dedicated to graphic creation that had up to 7 graphic artists working at a time. — Did you all work together on the same projects? No, each person worked on his own project. — What was the general procedure? An order was formulated using specifications regarding the intended audience and communication goals. The next step was to document any necessary research (pictures, company visits, articles). We also consulted researchers, engineers, and doctors. Finally, we would design a layout that then had to be validated.
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— Could decisions be discussed or was it final? How can one be credible if not? I was paid to do a job. If someone said that job was not well done, I had the right to defend myself. That is credibility. In some cases… — What were the objections about? Would they be aesthetic or only about the message? Yes, about both the content of the message or the aesthetic quality. I always took into consideration that I had to follow the specifications, but I was also paid to be original. But a touch of originality can also trigger heavy criticism. — Did you have influences? Yes, at that time we were looking towards the Polish school of posters. We were influenced by Savignac, Auriac, Hervé Morvan; these artists had posters all over the cities. — Have you been frustrated by your work at INRS? No. Designing posters is something complicated. Sometimes as hard you try, inspiration does not come. Sometimes, it’s simple: you are on the subway sitting in front of a woman wearing gloves with multi-colored fingers,
and The One and
there you go, the poster is done (p.37). creative process is different each time. has to observe, listen to oneself, then organise it all.
— It’s difficult not to stare at your posters… I was obsessed with this question: how to make my posters stand out in the generally confused workshop and yard environments. We had to play with vivid colours and simple forms. As far as meaning was concerned, I wouldn’t start from the operator’s reality; I didn’t want to make a photograph of his reality (he knew it better than I did). I used metaphors, and very quickly (often through the text) I would come to the reality. In calling the operator out that way, I thought I would surprise him, and thereby interest him in what we had to say in an original way.
I was hired to do a job; my personal tastes were not especially taken into account. Again, it had to be seen, read, and understood right away. — Do you have any advice for the next generation ? Madame de Sévigné said:“ When I listen to only myself, I accomplish marvels.”
— By entertaining him… Yes, or frightening him. I also used humour, drama… all scenarios were possible. — What emerges from your work is simplicity, almost minimalism… Right, but not especially for aesthetic reasons.
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