Lili des Bellons draws with vibrant colors and eclectic influences in a surprising workstation: a barebones studio that includes a wooden desk, very few books and very little artwork. “I try to stay as neutral as possible,” the Parisian illustrator explains. In reality, Bellons’s inspirations swirl around in his mind’s eye; he’s fueled by African art, comics, medieval miniatures and iconography, and French painters such as Gustave Courbet and Pierre Klossowski. An Egyptian theme appears in the form of Bellons’s trademark wolf. His beastly creations merge the symbols of ancient stories with the modern neon mythologies of video games. This inventive style has caught the attention of clients like Leo Burnett, World Music Day in Shanghai and Hohe Luft magazine. Despite these clients and his 15,000 followers on Behance, des Bellons says he’s not yet proud of his work. His dream? “To work even harder in 5, 10, 20 or 100 years; it’s important to me to have no regrets.” In the spirit of no regrets, des Bellons avoids having another item in his minimal studio—an eraser.
This Yokohama, Japan–based design firm brings to light the stories behind brands.