Interview with Relajaelcoco: The Relaja Spirit<\/h2>\n
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Code: I\u2019ve had the chance to see your work before this conversation, but for those who aren\u2019t familiar with you, could you tell us a bit about the studio\u2019s background? When did it start, how did it all begin, and who is Relajaelcoco?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> We started 11 years ago, while we were studying graphic design at IED. Pablo and I trained to be all-round designers, always driven by a curiosity that led us to experiment in different fields: infographics<\/strong>, editorial design<\/strong>, branding<\/strong>, illustration<\/strong>, VR\/AR<\/strong>, motion graphics<\/strong>, and digital products<\/strong>. Code: Great, now let\u2019s talk a bit about your work. Can you walk me through the creative process at a studio like yours? How do you approach a new project?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> It really depends on the project\u2014designing a magazine isn\u2019t the same as creating the design and user experience for an interactive website. And don\u2019t get me started on the complexity of a virtual reality project! But there\u2019s always a common foundation: staying open to creativity, avoiding stress, and keeping pressure at bay. From there, the most important thing is dialogue with the client\u2014to fully understand what we\u2019ll be working on together, and what the constraints or possibilities are. Building a strong relationship with the client and their team creates a dynamic that allows the creative process to flow without limits or misunderstandings.<\/p>\n Code: I often talk to lone-wolf designers and creatives, so I\u2019d like to take this chance to ask about teamwork in a design studio. What are the pros and cons?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> Honestly, we only see advantages. The only real challenge has been learning how to manage a team and the workflow each of us needs. But overall, working together is a huge plus. Every member is part of a smooth-running machine, and each role is essential to making it all work. The most important job for Pablo and me in recent years has been making sure everyone feels comfortable and valued.<\/p>\n Code: I see you\u2019ve recently won an award for a project you did in collaboration with other creatives\u2014congratulations! Can you tell me about the project and what it was like to receive that recognition?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> Yes, the IED Madrid awarded us Best Editorial Design for a publication we created with Santillana to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution, with illustrations by Mol Studio and texts by Carlos Grassa Toro. It was a major project and a tough one, because we had very little time and coordinating eight hands is no small feat\u2014especially the first time. We\u2019d worked with Mol before, which helped a lot. In just two months, we managed to design and illustrate the entire book. It was a tricky publication, covering many political and social topics that could spark controversy\u2014even though it\u2019s a book for 10-year-olds. Code: Before I hit you with the final round of questions, just out of curiosity\u2014what exactly is the \u201crelaja spirit\u201d? ;D<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> It\u2019s a way of life that Pablo and I bring to our everyday. It\u2019s an exciting, playful outlook that strips away the stiffness and seriousness from so many things. It\u2019s about keeping things light, using humor to make our environment as relaxed as possible, even when there\u2019s pressure all around. It\u2019s about doing what you want without regrets, and not letting others hold you back.<\/p>\n Code: And now, for our quick-fire round:<\/strong><\/p>\n Code: What\u2019s the best thing about being creative?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> Having a mental freedom that goes beyond everything. Truly being creative means having no prejudices and being open to everything.<\/p>\n Code: And the worst?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> Sometimes you feel misunderstood. No matter how good your intentions, there are people who just don\u2019t get you. It\u2019s not just us\u2014Easy Rider explains it perfectly.<\/p>\n Code: Would you recommend it to a friend?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> It\u2019s the best thing that can happen to you.<\/p>\n Code: How do you see the state of the industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> It\u2019s growing, organically, after the crash of 2008. The level is very high, it\u2019s diverse, and the visual quality is consistently strong. But it needs more structure\u2014right now, that diversity is more of a challenge than an advantage for the profession. We\u2019re still confused about what design really means, and we\u2019re not always clear on the designer\u2019s role or what conditions we should accept. That\u2019s why, together with other designers, we founded Meet A Designer over a year ago. We think it\u2019s essential to meet and talk, to establish some common ground that helps us promote ourselves to all those organizations that use design or are discovering creativity for the first time.<\/p>\n Code: What are you working on now\u2014any new projects?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco: We have quite a few. Some we can\u2019t talk about yet, but they all have one thing in common: they\u2019re for fantastic clients who are giving us the chance to \u201cdress up\u201d their projects and make an impact. Code: To wrap up, I want to thank you for welcoming us and for keeping the creative flame alive in Madrid. Is there anything else you\u2019d like to add?<\/strong><\/p>\n Relajaelcoco:<\/strong> Yes! It\u2019s important to believe in yourself and in what you\u2019re passionate about. It might sound like a self-help book, but if you don\u2019t, you miss your one shot at happiness. It\u2019s a tough process and requires self-criticism, but it\u2019s not impossible\u2014and if you can get past all the \u201cno\u2019s\u201d you\u2019ll hear, you\u2019ll find some truly amazing rewards.<\/p>\n www.relajaelcoco.com<\/a><\/p>\n www.behance.net\/relajaelcoco<\/a><\/p>\n www.facebook.com\/relajaelcoco<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIt began with just the two of us, and now we\u2019re a team of six: four designers, a manager<\/strong>, and a developer<\/strong>. Over the years, many talented people have come through the studio\u2014each one bringing great energy and a passion for creativity and good living.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/codewebbarcelona.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/5.jpg\")
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\nOur approach was to go for visual impact, highlight illustration with dynamic lettering and compositions, and create a dual reading level\u2014one for kids and another for parents. That way, adults could find references from their own childhood or teenage years woven into the historical narrative.
\nThe response has been amazing from both kids and adults.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/codewebbarcelona.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/3.jpg\")
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\nWe\u2019re working on two rebranding<\/strong> projects for Spanish companies, two annual infographic<\/strong> reports\u2014one of them is the fifth edition for Ayuda en Acci\u00f3n. There\u2019s a national campaign for a car brand, a mini-campaign for the Thyssen Museum in Madrid, plus notes from the courses we teach in Madrid and Segovia, and the planning of new personal projects.<\/p>\n