Jean Jullien

Jean Jullien is a French graphic artist whose instantly recognisable work offers a witty, observant, and often playful commentary on contemporary life. While his creative output spans painting, illustration, installation, and even clothing, the core of his practice is a unique blend of graphic design and illustration.

His artistic path began in the coastal town of Quimper, Brittany, where he enrolled in a practical graphic design course after school. This foundation introduced him to the crafts of image-making and communication. He later moved to London to further his studies, graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2008 and the Royal College of Art in 2010. London proved transformative, offering a melting pot of cultures that inspired an illustrative practice based on observing and summing up the world around him, akin to a form of visual journalism.

Jullien's work is characterised by a deliberate simplicity and expressive line work. He prioritises the idea and what he wants to communicate over technical precision. This approach is influenced by the playful, tactile work of designers like Alan Fletcher, Saul Bass, and Paul Rand, as well as the French poster art of the 1950s. He describes his creative process as creative gymnastics, often setting aside time for personal drawing to maintain a playful spirit, especially when engaged in commercial projects.

Experimentation and diversity are central to his philosophy. He consciously works across many mediums—from brush pen drawings and paintings to sculpture, animation, and clothing—to see how far he can stretch his creative identity. He founded the animation studio Jullien Brothers with his brother Nicolas in 2011, a collaborative venture that balances Nicolas's focus on drama with Jean's inclination toward playfulness and comedy. He also co-founded the lifestyle label Nounou in 2016.

For Jullien, this constant exploration is key to a sustainable practice. He believes that by showing diversity in his personal work, he encourages a diversity of professional commissions, preventing creative stagnation for both himself and his clients. His commercial practice began organically while he was still a student, sharing work online during the early days of blog culture, which led to his first commissions.

Now a father, Jullien is looking to the future with a desire to focus more on personal projects and longer-form narratives, such as graphic novels or animated series, while continuing his commercial work. He aims for his art to leave a playful and humorous reflection of our times, a slightly distorted yet genuine retelling of reality.