This interview was fist published on Un nouVeau iDEAL on Monday, January 23, 2006
Dear iDEALS, after earning a degree in Graphic Design from the ESDI HighSchool for Design (Ramon Llull University, Barcelona. Spain), Albert got trained in photographic processes at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts van Antwerp in Belgium..When you visit his site it is very hard not to be amazed not only by the quality of his work but also by the fact that Albert is so young and managed to reach that level.. After working for some studios, such as Base, in 2003 he took up residence in Barcelona, and there, in 2004, he established himself as a freelance designer with his own studio. He focuses his efforts on editorial design, and most of the time he works on books, catalogs and magazines design for clients belonging mainly to the arts, fashion, architecture, design, and photographic spheres. It is an ideal Resume dont you think?
FilepMotwary: So Albert, what is your original nationality?
Albert Folch: I'm Spanish. Born in Barcelona.
FilepMotwary: My father is from Syria. I never got the chance to actually learn to write Arabic but every time I come across "Arabic Calligraphy", I admit I'm amazed. Are you aware of Arabic Calligraphy and the fact that actually there are people who study to learn how to write it? Would you ever use it as part of your graphics?
AlbertFolch:I'm not particularly amazed by Arabic calligraphy. In fact I’m amazed by the typography in general. I like very much to use it for my work. I think the typography is much stronger than a picture some times. Typography is something abstract with a lot of meanings, and is your brain which decides the real meaning or the real image of a word.
FilepMotwary::Has it ever been a "drag" for you working for a client?
AlbertFolch: Sometimes...of course! I always say the client is a very important part of a commission, maybe, sometimes one of the most important conditioning. Sometimes the commission starts very well, and i can figure out a very nice result, but the client is who decides at the end, and who have the real power about the result. I have work for money sometimes, designing things I don’t like at all, but most of the times I enjoy my work, and my results. It's why I'm still a graphic designer. If the balance would be in the other way round, i mean, most of the works are for money, them I will quit being graphic designer.
FilepMotwary:How does fashion become an object in your work. Do you feel superior when you are doing graphics for a designer that already has an image but comes to you because he needs a change?
AlbertFolch: Fashion is something very important in my work. It's around my personality. I like fashion, i love fashion design, i love clothes I think fashion is not frivolous... I have a lot of influences which comes from fashion world: photographers, fashion designers, graphic designers, etc...Of course i not feel superior! If somebody came to me because he needs to change, I will give him a change! jajaja. Is my work!
FilepMotwary: I saw some images of Yohji Yamamoto at your site..What was that about? It reminded of older documentary made in the 1980's with Costume National as main Topic. Are you aware of that graphic design era?
AlbertFolch: One year ago, I had the possibility to go to the PittyImagine fashion fair in Florence to make some pictures of the event for a magazine of Barcelona. I was lucky to have the possibility as well to get a portrait of Yohji. He is something really important in fashion. He is one of the Pioneers. I wanted to get a picture really simple, I mean, no effects, no tricks...only him!
FilepMotwary:Does it happen to you, walking on the street and feeling you are "the king of the World" after a personal success?
AlbertFolch:Of course not! The kings of the world are the devils of this society ;-)
FilepMotwary:Have you experienced love at first sight or is it something you dream about?
AlbertFolch: I experience love maybe 10 times per day! ! in ZERO seconds feeling, but love anyway...
FilepMotwary:Please share with us a day of you being 8 years old, a sad or a happy day..
AlbertFolch: Buff! I have such a bad memory! But, just yesterday, talking with my mum, she reminds me I was 8 years old the day my grand father died. I thought I was much older cause I had that day so fresh in my mind... Was a very very sad day for all of us....
For more on Albert Folch visit www.albertfolch.com
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