Hi MrWayne,
Nice to see around again!

Glad to see you again too.

I know you don’t like speaking about your design, but is Battle stars an ode to the stars? Do you like watching the night sky and sleeping out in the open? Did you have any difficulties designing it?

In fact, this design comes from an idea I’ve had for a while. When I was young, we looked up at the clouds and their shapes and we thought up funny stories about them (And I think everyone has done this at least once). When the night comes, the clouds fade away in the darkness and then the stars appear. To me it is simply pleasant to watch the stars when the night falls and in a good company!  As for sleeping out in the open, I’m a bit too sensitive to cold, unless there are some bottles around.
Any difficulties? Like all my drawings, it didn’t go exactly as it was planned but we get some money that way. My biggest problem was to find harmony, a scenery between the constellations and that it remains readable. I made a couple of versions but I’m quite satisfied with the result.

Could you please draw your own interpretation of “Closed for summer, we’re on holidays” ?

Thanks MrWayne!

Thanks laFraise for this new interview and especially to Tailortown for the great printing job! It’s just awesome to think about that what you’ve created on a screen will be printed exactly as it appears on a shirt!

Global warming by FrigoBanjo

A black humor t-shirt with the new design by FrigoBanjo ! Check out what he says about it !

Hi FrigoBanjo, Nice to see you again!

Hi, glad to be back !
What is the story behind “Global” … sound like global warming obviously? Is is a big matter for you?

Nope, I sincerely hope that things would get worse and that we suffocate under our own trash… well beyond the « ecological message » that I enjoyed when I got the idea (And I do not have any illusions how it can reach people over a t-shirt), I thought it would be nice to deal with this kind of serious theme but with some childish aspects such as the penguin, the bear with the big head and the big glass of orange juice, maybe too simple but a very smart metaphor of an outrageous consumption system, which reflects today’s society, buried itself under manufactured flooding … or maybe well a glass of orange juice kicks ass on a t-shirt for the summer … ah nope it’s not the basic idea J
Have you any message to the community?

No message but kisses!
Could you please draw me your interpretation of «Closed for the summer, we’re on holidays”, thanks FrigoBanjo!

Thanks Nathalie & Lafraise !

Super? by Quinelas

A scary shirt with his monkey, and Quinelas tells us more about his new psychotic design !

Hi Quinelas, nice to see you again!

Nice to talk to you, too :)

Tell us the story behind “Super”. What inspired you and how did you create the design?

The idea came during a conversation with my greatest friend Ike Motta. We talked about some new cartoons that we really liked and we started thinking how 3 girls in front of a “crazy monkey” would be in the real world. After that each one of us created one part of the design, and the end result was infesting =)

Do you like monkeys or do they scare you?

Yeah, I really like primates in general, I like the similarity to humans. Normally, I’m not afraid of monkeys, with one exception, the “creepy Monkey”, that animal is really scary.

Were you the kind of kid who used to scare little girls at school?

No, I usually was busy doing other things with the girls, I didn’t have time to scare them.

Do you like to be scared and are you the kind of person who loves horror movies and psychodramas?

I really like dense narratives, my job is based on that. I love movies and books with this theme. Like, for example: “The Shining”, “The Exorcist”, “The Alberg”, “Saw”, etc.

Do you like music?

Yeah, I like music, I think it is the fuel for creation.

What music do you listen to when you are:

Going to bed: Astor Piazzola (classic tango) e Chico Buarque (Bossa Nova)

In the shower: Los Hermanos (Brazilliam Rock)

Driving: Queens of the stone age (Rock)

Drawing: everyonce taged

Travelling: Midlake (country/rocky), Zé Geraldo (MPB)

Stressed or angry: Slpknot, Slayer, Pantera and Sepultura

Happy: Bad religion, Ramones, punk rock in general.

What is the definition of art for you?

Art is the scream of our souls! I was very deep right there! Hahahaha!

Do you have any other passions other than graphic design, like gardening, photography, sculpture?

I really like to mould, sculpture and do photography. But about photography, I have to admit that I’m not really that good at it =/

How’s life in Brazil? What do you like and what do you hate about your country?

Life in Brazil, especially in São Paulo (the city I live) is very agitated, like any metropolis in the world. What I like most here is how receptive Brazilians are, they are very friendly. I really love the rich fauna and flora. And what I hate the most is the corruption in politics, disorganisation, and the high taxes and the people don’t do anything about it.

How long have you known laFraise and how long have you been submitting designs?

Since 2008, and since then my style has change a lot.

Have you got a message for the community?

I do, “The World is more than cute things” Hugs for everyone!

Draw me a car, thanks Quinelas :-)

Milk shake by Scroluna

A funny shirt with a great cooperation between Scro and Pandaluna ! Check out the interview !

Hi Scroluna,

Could you please introduce yourself to those who don’t know you yet? When did you start with graphic design?
Hi I’m Scro, dreamer and official idea giver for Pandaluna even if he doesn’t really need me for that :-) I didn’t really start with graphic design, my field is to give ideas, with a preference for puns and playing with images. I tried working with illustrator for a few weeks and the only thing I could get from it is a cow … must be a premonition :-)

What is the story behind “Milk shake”? How did you cooperate with Pandaluna?
I was sitting in my room and looking at the horizon, suddenly I saw houses, potatoes and a macaque floating in the air. I suddenly realised something was going wrong but most of all, there was a big cow, a UFO got it, got its milk and threw it over a tornado … well I might have seen to many American movies :-)
It made it hard for Pandaluna with my non-existing knowledge of drawing, I drew some stuff like a 7-year-old kid to explain the scenery, I scanned the drawing and we exchanged over 3000 e-mails to get to this design! Patience always pays off! We had a first version on laFraise already but it was done too quickly.

I guess you guys love milk shakes? Or do you dream taking the cow by its tail and make it spin?
I’m not very keen on sweet things so I avoid milk shakes, but I would be tempted with the second option J

Strawberry or chocolate milk shakes?
Hmmm laFraise milk shakes!

Do you like video games and which ones?
I do because you can have fun with several people and I don’t like playing alone. I like the basic games like Mario Cart or football games like Fifa or PES :-) I also love heroic fantasy games.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re:
In bed: A lullaby
Under the shower:  DJ Water jet
Drawing: I do not draw
Travelling: Voyage Voyage
Happy: accordion music
Sad: melancholic rock even if it gives me the blues even more!
Cheerful:  Rock that rocks
Alone: Nana Mouskouri but hiding it
As a duo: soft music

What is your definition of art?
It is a wide theme, art has to be vibrating and has to make your sensivity and reason vibrate. It cannot be a just a style exercise, because art for the sake of art is nothing, according to me.

Do you have any other passions?
I change passions like I change my shirts, but if I had to answer in a basic way, I would say travel and Asia, but in general I love culture and being cultivated. I’m a very curious person.

Who is your favourite artist at the moment?
AI think I will have to say Pandaluna J Honestly, I always appreciated his dynamic style and the colours he uses.

How long have you known laFraise and how long have you been submitting?
I’ve known laFraise since 2006 and I’ve cooperated with laFraise designers since 2006. (In addition to Pandaluna, I’ve worked with Jebs, Missbean and Pix, if I have to say names.)

Do you have a message for the community?
I think that more comments/tips to improve designs would be welcome, so please guys, do not hesitate to give a feedback!

Draw me a goat, thanks Sco :-)
Pandaluna will draw it, because otherwise I would burn your eyes :-)

Symphony for a mermaid by MrWayne

The new romantic and poetic designed by MrWayne for all mermaids and sailors’s lovers ! And we got a surprise from his daughter and we just love it ! Thanks Maiween :-)

Hi MrWayne,

How have you been since the last interview?

Well not bad, considering it’s my third interview at laFraise! I can’t complain!

laFraise : What is the story behind “Symphony for a mermaid”? Is it an ode to your wife? How long did it take to design it?

I don’t like telling the story behind my designs because I think it breaks the charm of it. I just would say that it is a man lost within life’s tumults and who is looking for something to brighten his horizon!

And yes it is an ode to my wife and to all women and love in general.

I do not remember how long it took but I remember that I took it to the limits of what screen printing can do!

laFraise: Do you like the Sea? Have you ever done any water sports?

Oh yes I love the sea but I’m not a great swimmer. I love to just lie there and since I live 60 km from the ocean, I try to go as much as I can. And I’ve never done any water sports, but I would like to some day and before it’s too late (Like surfing for instance, I would love to!).

Multicrass: Does the dream of being a sailor haunt you?

Not at all, but I do get seasick.

Multicrass: What is a siren for you?

My wife! But she doesn’t smell fish!

Multicrass: What would the melody be for a captain who wants to get a girl?

Santiano by Hugues Aufray ! (ok, I’ll leave…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH0BMaU67Is

laFraise: Shrimp or prawns?

Don’t care, I love both!

Reynald: MrWayne, your universe, dark and poetic at the same time, seems to come out from Tim Burton’s spirit. Are Tim Burton and his films a source of inspiration for you?

I like Tim Burton’s world, but I’m not a huge fan! It might inspire me but other worlds do so as well.

laFraise: Do you have any other passions besides design?

Yes basketball and at the moment I’m watching the NBA playoffs and it’s really exciting!

laFraise: What is the second most beautiful gift in your life ? (Except your children who hold the 1^st place)?

I would say the mother of my children even though we cannot really classify the most beautiful gifts in life!

laFraise: Draw me a plane, thanks!

“A Plane” by Maïwenn (my daughter) for laFraise.

Bubblausorus by Vinsse

Bubblausorus is the newest funny designer t-shirt at laFraise for all dinos lovers, a new design by Vinsse !

Hi Vinsse ! Are you ready for another interview? Because I am! :-)

Tell us more about your new design “Bubblausorus”. For example: What  inspired you? How did you create the design? How long did it take you to create? Is there a subliminal messages with the bubbles?

It is a typically nostal-geek idea, which was inspired by the old good video game “Bubble bobble”, which I first discovered on an Atari 520ste that I had when I was between 10 and 12 years old. This video game was transformed into another series called ”Puzzle bobble (bust a move)”, a game that we could play in old good cafés at the time.

Bubble bobble

Puzzle bobble

As for the design’s conception, I did it in a classical way, with a pencil, and then I scanned it. I then refined it in Photoshop and colored it by using Illustrator. There’s no particular subliminal message, I’ve just tried to imagine these two characters in the most realistic manner, like a pre-historic reconstitution.

So you like Dinos and other small creatures? Do you like Pre-history and did you like this class at school?

Yes I do like Dinos and as a good Strawberry, I looooooove little creaturs in general, I think it’s quite obvious in my work, as well as for prehistory … I do not remember that much from school or what I’ve been taught, I was much more pre-occupied with bothering girls and laughing  with my friends.

Did monsters scare you when you were a kid? Do you have any remedy against them?

I grew up on a big farm in the countryside in the middle of nowhere and all that it includes at night: cracking wood sounds, little creatures wandering on the roof, big creatures in the outside world, the wolf’s howling … So monsters didn’t really scared me at that time. But after having lived 10 years in a city, now I’m scared to death when I go back to my parent’s house, and I do not have any other solution to drown my scares than with alcohol.

Do you like music and which style?

I live in/with music from mornings to evenings. I listen to everything all the time, no favorite style…just good music, that’s all!

What do you like to listen to when…

You do the dishes ?

You ride your bike ?

You drive in your car?

I do not have my driving license.

You sit in the bathtub ?

You’re drawing?

You have a romantic time with your girl?

What makes you laugh and what makes you crazy in life?

Politics! It makes me laugh, but it also makes me crazy at the same time – it is a two-edged sword.

Do you have any hobbies or passions outside of graphic design? Like sculpture, fishing…do-it-yourself stuff?

From March to October: I am busy with gardening…I just love it!

Are you addicted to playing video games? Which ones?

Adicted is a lot to say, but I play a little bit every day …I try to avoid too many captivating games…I play mostly on “Xbox Live” with “call of duty” during little 15-minute sessions several times a day. Afterwards I love playing with all Mario, Zelda on DS or on Wii. But for the story, with Georges we try to collect all generations of consoles, from the legendary Atari 2600 to the ps3. An example of a nice discovery from Georges is the « Intellivision » and the « microvision », which we own and it works!

Are you a movie-goer? What is the most recent movie that you saw?

I recently saw the movie Sweeney Todd by Tim Burton, and I must admit that I was kind of dissappointed with it. I’m quite a movie-goer, but I’m much more into TV shows, I love watching “The Big Bang Theory” …it’s fun J

How long do you know laFraise, and how long have you been submitting your designs?

I discovered laFraise at the end of 2006, and thanks to her, I’ve learned how to work with Illustrator and I developed myself in the area of graphic design! All thanks to the fruit!!

Do you have any message for the community?

First of all a BIG thank you, and as a conclusion, even though it’s a bit “beatnik” to say so… “Love each other” or something like that.

Draw me a goblin, thanks :-)

Thanks for everything.

Fusion ya! by Pandaluna

A fun shirt with the fusion between the beaver and the duck, designed by Pandaluna !

Hi Pandaluna

Please introduce yourself to those in the community who don’t know you yet? How and why did you get into graphic design?
Hello, my name is Alexandre Deviers aka Pandaluna, a guy who makes funny drawings. I started drawing when I was around 4/5 years old (My mother enrolled me in a painting workshop). As for my studies, I went to a normal design school and I finished first out of seven people. Then I joined a study office for a year and then I got to know laFraise, I got to know some people in the industry and since I’ve been working as a freelance graphic designer in Toulouse.

Can you please tell us the story of “Fusion ya!!”? What inspired you and how did you create the design?
I’ve had this idea for Fusion ya in a corner of my head for a while, and one evening, I was discussing with georgeslemercenaire (Yes I know hype people, I even have Beyond’s and Casajordi’s FB’s contacts :-)), we found out we both had the same idea, we talked about it the whole evening and then I started and this is the result! As for the realization of it, it is something very personal (I’m a big fan of me), a simple thing without outlines, something effective. It took me 4 hours to do the drawing, the execution and the retouches.

Do you prefer ducks or beavers?
The castnards. (A mixture between French words Canard and Castor)

Who is your favourite artist/designer at the moment?
On laFraise I love Vinsse and georgeslemercenaire lately, then Naolito who has some good ideas, I love FrigoBanjo’s style and my personal favourite of the moment is Bubusam.

What makes you laugh and what drives you crazy?
I love playing with words and I hate hippies (F*** Off and let me go back home).

Do you have any other passions other than graphic design?
Music since I’ve been playing bass and guitar for 15 years in several rock bands. And I like also video games a bit … okay no, a lot!

Do you like video games and which ones?
Video games and me is a bit love story. If I had to only name one, it would be Street Fighter, all games consoles mixed up together, what a nice time to beat my friends! I also love all Zelda and Mario games and lately I love – an old game – Oendan on DS.

How long have you known laFraise and how long have you been submitting designs?
I’ve known laFraise for 5 years and I’ve submitted for about the same amount of time. It’s been a while since I’ve submitted and it feels real good.

Have you got a message for the community?
I love you guys (and girls)!

Draw me a crab – Thanks Pandaluna!
Thanks to you!

Who will be the Next laFraise Rubik’s Cube Champion?

I was supposed to be in Leipzig on Wednesday because Dave promised to solve the Rubik’s cube for me on camera. I immediately said yes because first of all Dave had a crush on “le penseur” by Massala.K and wanted to honour it with a nice video. But, I couldn’t make it to Leipzig, so Dave filmed the video himself :-)

A little thinking and concentration and Dave did it! I certainly wouldn’t be able to do it! Dave resolved the Rubik’s cube in 3 mins 26 seconds.

Here’s the video proof!

Then Dave and me got on the same wave length and we said “What about organizing a contest?” Yep a contest with this iconic 80s puzzle: The Rubik’s Cube! Maybe you can already guess what we have in mind?

Rules of the game:

Film yourself solving the Rubik’s cube with a camera, webcam or any other tool you can make a film with, an entire film, without cuts and tricks. The Rubik’s cube must be mixed up before you start just like you would shuffle cards.

IMPORTANT :Show off the Rubik’s at the beginning and at the end ! All videos that do not respect the rules will be refused or submitted to the community for a judgement!

Who wins?

The winner will be the one who solves the Rubik’s cube in less than 3 min 26 secs (If under 3:26 then it is our best laFraise score) and the best score will get a laFraise t-shirt.

T-shirt value: 17 Euros

Dates: From 6 May 2011 through 15 May 2011

Where do you post the videos?

If you have a YouTube account, you can send us the links o that we can affiliate it to ours. Otherwise just upload it on a site where we can get them afterwards and we will post them on our account.

Results: Results will be announced the week of May 16th and the winner will be honoured on our blog, newsletter and just about anywhere we can talk about it :-)

So it’s time now to get your Rubik’s cube out of the cupboard and practice! Let the game begin!