A picture of luxury, glamour and grandeur
At a creativity workshop I was asked to select a picture out of a magazine. From the pile of magazines, a picture of the Eiffel Tower drew my attention immediately. It was exactly what I needed.
Paris and living in an imaginary glamorous world
When I was a little girl, I had this stunning image of Paris. Like a glamorous perfume advertisement. A lively city where every one was perfect, pretty and happy.
Paris, the city of glamour
When I was a little girl, I had this stunning image of Paris: stylish ballet dancers and mannequins dressed in Coco Chanel’s petite robe noire, were drinking their morning coffee and eating pastel coloured macaroons in a prestigious café at Boulevard Saint-Germain while enjoying the warm sunshine in luxury and having all the time of the world. With music of Ravel’s Boléro playing in the background, they were chatting about the latest haute couture fashion styles and watching famous artists and writers go by. Like a glamorous perfume advertisement. A lively city where every one was perfect, pretty and happy.
Visiting the real Paris
In my mid 20s, I finally had the chance to visit Paris. Crammed up in a touring car, we drove through a busy, joyless and mass touristic city. Rain poured down while we passed Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre tower, Centre Pompidou and Eiffel Tower. The city totally lacked my imaginary glamour and grandeur.
My reason for being a visual designer
At the workshop the picture of the Eiffel Tower brought back the memory of my ‘imaginary Paris’. It made me realise that by working as a designer, I create an image of a perfect world of glamour and grandeur over and over again. It helps me to escape the reality of every day life and be the girl who keeps “paper flowers in the bottom drawer” (A Gentleman’s Excuse Me’ – written by Scottish singer Fish).