Raphael Achache talks us through his retro board game inspired cover...
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m a person.
What was the inspiration behind the cover?
LeftLion approached me with the concept of creating a Guess Who? board with illustrations based on the core magazine staff themed on characters from popular games. After looking at a few versions of the Guess Who? board game covers, it was clear to me that we had to create something as close to the original cover as possible. All the hard work had been done: the horrible seventies colour scheme and badly collaged photography. It couldn’t have been done any other way.
How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on?
To be honest, a lot of my work is quite varied. One day I can be out illustrating cans of dog food, and the next I could be creating fine art to be hung on someone’s living room wall. It’s rare, however that I get to combine disciplines, so putting together photo and illustration was fun. The nostalgic element was also a winner.
Tell us about some projects you’ve worked on in the past…
A lot of my work revolves around product innovation; I sit in meetings and draw ideas. Cheese snacks, electric toothbrushes, toilet paper. One of my favourites last year was spending a few days with a well-known vodka brand in New York. But most of the time I’m in places like Slough or Welwyn Garden City drawing sustainable multi-purpose cleaner or cold soup for cats. It’s all good fun.
What have you got planned for the future?
I’m actually having a go at going fully freelance from the beginning of February, trying to make it as a self-employed graphic designer and illustrator. To be honest, my main plan is to get some work so I can keep paying rent.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
Nah…
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