Patecreme

Let’s welcome Diego Leal, illustrator from Bogota/Colombia.  After being an expert of icon design through his iconhive collection, Diego focuses nowadays vector illustrations with a mix of graffiti and latin influences.

Strong colors, precise curves, Diego is being exploring his sneakers style spirit.

My name is Diego Leal, I’m 28 years old, I’m a designer-illustrator from Bogota - Colombia, at this time I’m working at grupow in Saltillo Mexico as a designer and illustrator, I enjoy a lot what i do.

2/  You’re from Bogota, what about the creative scene in Colombia ?

Well, according to my experience, about the designers, there is a lot of new talent with interesting and new styles, with the will to do a lot of innovating things. If we talk about the clients and agencies, they are looking for a more traditional concept where unfortunately the design is not too important.

Yes i’m working at grupow, an agency with a lot of talent and a great will to create, my position is illustrator, but from time to time I colaborate with some other design related stuff.

4/ Are there any influences from the Colombia arts history ? I’m a big fan of Botero works… been influenced by his graphic works ?

Personally i’m not a Botero’s fan, still, I admire the respect and renown he’s achieved around the world, and the fact that he has put Colombia’s name in the list of good things, not the bad ones. I find the art of David Manzur very interesting, his dramatism and surrealism are inspiring, I love the sort of geometry he applies in his compositions.

5/  You’re moving very “urban” lately  (2 or 4 colors graphics, LaFraise tees..), and that way, your works seem to have more impact, to be more direct..Planning to develop that style ?

Yes, i like that style very much, but to tell you the truth it’s been hard because i was used to use a lot of detail, layers and effects, and when i make an illustration i always want to put something else there, you have to know when to stop, what I like about this style is that it’s more into shapes and colors than into creating distraction or somehow “playing” with different effects and stuff like that.

6/ Tell us about your iconhive project too ?

I worked several years in icon design, so i decided to start mi own stock. Iconhive is a project that I mean to push forward, however I’ve had to go slowly since I invest my spare time on it, and lately it’s been a bit hard.

7/ What’s the “cliché” you have of Europe, and especially France dealing of the graphic scene ?  Watching your works,  we could believe you feel closer to Europe designers, than US ones..

Mi reference for the European design is very good in general, i’ve seen a lot of great designers and illustrators, I had the pleasure of work with a spanish designer, I found indeed his style was very european, elegant, very modern, quite impressive, however, I feel more identified with latin american design.

8/ Thanks for your time,.. any last words ?

merci beaucoup for this interview! to be honest it was an amazing surprise for me! I felt very flattered to have my work recognized, thanks a lot!, well, to finish with a few words, create and enjoy what you do.