“Get rid of norms. Cherish differences. Give space. Care for yourself. Care for each other.”
Name
Katharina Hüttler
Profession
Illustrator and Graphic Designer
Website
Who are you? What do you do?
Katharina. I walk through life with open eyes and try to make the best out of it.
Where are you from?
Vienna, Austria.
Your style in 3 words?
Delicate. Mysterious. Feminine.
Your weakness? Your strength?
Sensitivity.
Sensitivity.
What makes you different?
Depends very much on whom or what to compare myself with.
When did you decide to become an Illustrator?
I never decided. It somewhat happened.
What do you find most fascinating about your work?
Usually I get completely lost in the process of drawing and designing. It gives me joy. Even though it’s work, it usually feels light and easy. When it doesn’t, I end up with bad results. The hard and painful way rarely worked out for me in the past.
A few words about your favourite creation?
I have a hard time liking my own work. I usually make it and let it go quickly. I am never too amazed by it. There is not a favourite creation, Yet I favour the ones when I felt really inspired and the production-process was easy.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
I love art and admire many artists – my list of inspiring people could be endless! I studied at Bauhaus university in Weimar, so I have to mention artists of the Bauhaus and black mountain college such as László Moholy-Nagy, Ruth Asawa or Anni Albers. It fascinates me how their compositions were just a notion of a more comprehensive holistic spirit.
I admire a lot of contemporary illustrators, cartoonists and graphic novelists of the diy and self-publishing scene just as much. Coming across the work of Louise Reimer, Tallulah Fontaine and Ohara hale during my exchange studies in Montreal was a little bit of a revelation. This kind of work was new to me at that time. Some might think it’s naive or childish, but I find it magical. Such drawings are personal and each one of them is unique! When I met Isabel Peterhans and Patrick Bonato in Switzerland I found out about a similar scene in Europe. Most Illustrators struggle with making money from that occupation. They often have full-time jobs and draw during the nights. That is true passion. Plus, I always felt a kind of “sharing is caring“ attitude with those people. Illustrators are really the nicest people in the world – most of them are a little crazy too. I always totally felt at home in that environment. I think I was never quite cool enough for the fancy graphic design or fashion cosmos.
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
I just recently returned to Vienna and started working as an illustrator and graphic designer at bureau F. This agency focuses mainly on illustrative graphic design, which is truly unique in this city. I was lucky with that opportunity – this job fits me 100%. I had always enjoyed working for clients, but now it feels a little like I get paid for what I love to do anyway. Of course, I am curious how a full-time job will influence my personal style. I think my journey has just begun …
Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“
balance.
2017: Where are we going?
One step closer towards death.
When the going gets tough…
Take a break. Do the opposite. Shake it off.
Your city’s favourite spots?
I am in love with my home-city. Now that I returned after 5 years of living abroad, I see it from a new perspective and I appreciate being back. Vienna is a one of a kind city with an extraordinary high level of living-quality. One gets around by walking or cycling easily and one experiences things that could never happen anywhere else in this world. Just a few of my favourite spots are:
Jörgerbad: a traditional swimming pool – I love it for its architecture and for the typical Viennese visitors.
Museum of Natural History: it is still the morbid cabinet of miracles it used to be when I was a little girl. There are the same glass cabinets filled with hundreds of mounted animals, human skeletons and asteroids. it’s like moving through a very weird dream!
Ottakring: I grew up in this district. Walking through it always makes me feel at home. I love it when different cultures and realities clash together like on the market square of yppenplatz – there is always so much to see, hear, smell and explore.
Do you have a vision?
Get rid of norms. Cherish differences. Give space. Care for yourself. Care for each other.
Tell us about your future plans…
Plans never really quite worked out, so i rather not make them.
#…?
#whatgoesaroundcomesaround #betterbekind
♥ Katharina’s Instagram ♥ Jörgerbad ♥ Museum of Natural History
