This is the sixth installment in a series of interviews with the Kolapse remixers. Cedric Theys, who already contributed an interview with Lärmheim to the project, talks to graphic designer Ritxi Ostáriz.
How did Kola’s artwork come about? Was it based on the music or did it exist before the music?
It was made originally for the album. In that time I worked mainly in black and white and with geometric shapes. I was starting to get bored with my own style. It was so great that Tobias asked me for something with an “ethnic or tropical” feel (I don’t know if these were the actual terms) [Edit Tobias: I think “tropical” was indeed a word I used.]. So, probably for the first time, I decided to try something more organic, fewer angles and circles.
What techniques did you use? Is it more of a digital creation or does it come from drawing or photography?
It combines both. I won’t reveal the whole recipe of the artboard but I can say it all started with the photography of a pineapple. I think it’s the first time I reveal this secret!
You have a very unique style for album artwork. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I honestly don’t think I have a specific style, though I have been said that many times. If you take a look at my whole portfolio of designs, you will find very different approaches. It would be hard for me to talk about where I get my inspiration from as there is no one single way of working. Every project has its own methodology.
You’ve worked extensively with Markus Reuter and with the Iapetus family. Are there other record labels and/or artists you work with a lot too?
Markus has been a key figure in my design career and he has trusted me and my skills many times. He is for sure the client I have worked on the most projects with. But there is also Vegard Tveitan ‘Ihsahn’ and Heidi Solberg Tveitan, from Mnemosyne Productions, who have commissioned me for many of their projects. In fact, they were my first client in the music scene. I am so proud and grateful for having had the chance to work for them.
What other design and creative work do you do?
Music design has only been one of my specializations. I have also worked as a motion graphic artist and as editorial designer for books and magazines. In the last five years I have worked full time for the brand consulting firm Saffron Consultants and I am currently a Senior Visual Designer at Fjord, a Service Design consulting company.
What are some of the things you are focusing on right now that you’ve never done before?
Good question! I am currently directing, writing and recording a weekly radio podcast about Anthropology, Ethnography and the History of Human Beliefs. I am having a lot of fun and having the chance to meet and interview a lot of great scholars, writers, journalists…
Download Kolapse for free, make sure to browse Ritxi’s online portfolio at ritxiostariz.com, and sign up for the a100ql newsletter where I share news, thoughts, essays and materials related to the blog once or twice per month.
Ritxi Ostáriz, this guy is awesome,
I admire him so much; is so multifaceted and humble, he always is fullfilling his dreams and goals, never does not stop himself, he is like a warrior that never gives up, he love what he does.
I had never seen someone so welldisposed likehim, if someone
can’t do it, Rixit will do it, he does it.
About his graphic design works,
there is freshness, dare, at the same time introspection.
When I look at some good artists work, no matter what the artists does;
I always ask myself: where was their mind. Not many artists awakens such feeling on me, Ritxi is not afraid, don’t care on what others may think about him.
About the topic Ritxi
are focusing on right now:
El Libro Rojo, is a magnificent podcast; deal on humanbeing world view, culture, religions, philosophy, societies, people.
El Libro Rojo is a wonderful podcast
so necessary at this time we’re living on; this world is on chaos and this kind of work like Ritxi does, it gives hope to all those people (I included myself) wishing for a different world where all mankind respect to each other.
No culture and no societies
is better than other, all culture and societies on this world are important:
We have a tiny world and all of us
have the same home, we can’t kick out to the neighbors next door because of them are different.
That is the reason why I love
El Libro Rojo, I always learning out new things, each one of their episode is different, it never repeats to the previous one.
In fact, with his podcast, was the way
I found Ritxi and discovered all his beautiful graphic design work, of course, I also have found out many good musician. Great job Ritxi, never stop to flying up.
Thank you for your comment, Borincano. I agree!