Anaïs Odoux on making collage her creative playground
The French designer and illustrator reflects on how a self-initiated collage project evolved into a defining part of her career, and the beauty found in analogue techniques
For many creatives, personal work exists on the periphery of professional life – a space to experiment between briefs or pursue ideas clients might never commission. For French designer and illustrator Anaïs Odoux, it has become the catalyst for an entirely new chapter in her practice.
Her colourful paper collages, built from hand-cut forms, textured coloured pencil and bold compositions, began as a personal experiment alongside a career in graphic design. Today, they have become both her creative playground and a sought-after part of her commercial work. “I always try to feel as free as I can and have fun with it. It’s a breath of fresh air,” she tells CR.
Rather than treating personal work as separate from commercial work, Odoux sees it as an essential part of her creative process, where ideas can evolve without the pressure of a brief.
