Published by Leonardo Calcagno
WHO ARE YOU?
Glenn D’Hondt and Sylvia Meert, aka Eugene and Louise.
YOUR CURRENT JOB
Eugene and Louise is a Belgium based studio. We focus on illustration, character design and original content.
On the one hand we develop our own properties, which go from animated series to board games, children’s books and even little brands we create ourselves. If we see an opportunity, we simply jump in.
On the other hand we deliver commissioned work an editorial work for publishing, advertising and television.
IN WHICH CITY ARE YOU LOCATED?
Our studio is located in the beautiful fields of Aaigem (Erpe-Mere), that’s right between Brussels and Ghent.
A WORD TO DEFINE WHAT KIND OF WORKER YOU ARE
We’re what you’d call an inseparable team.
If you add up our skills, you get the perfect worker.
That would be a mixture of being endlessly imaginative, but also very precise, structured and disciplined, with a great sense of harmony and humor, but most importantly always working with great pleasure.
WHAT TOOLS ARE ESSENTIAL TO YOUR LIFE (APP, SOFTWARE, ETC)
Our most essential tool is our team up. The way we ping-pong new ideas from one head to the other and turn them into fun projects.
Aside from that we can’t go without a sketchbook, pen, our computers with the classic adobe software, the Wacom drawing tablet and some milk and cookies on the side.
WHAT DOES YOUR OFFICE SPACE LOOK LIKE?
It’s a small but open studio, attached to our home, surrounded by nature.
One big desk table in the middle of the room, wooden floors, white walls, and lots of inspiring books, toys and windows.
WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU ARE WORKING?
That depends on the mood we’re in, the pace we’re working on or what season / weather it is. Mostly we listen to singer songwriter music. But on a hot summer day you can also catch us working on Motown tunes or 80’s classics. And when Sylvia’s not around, things might get a bit more rough music wise 😉
DO YOU HAVE A WAY TO ORGANISE YOUR DAY TO MAXIMISE YOUR WORK?
On days when we have a lot on our plate, we try to win time by working on times when we’re not bothered by emails and phone calls. Glenn’s the early bird, Sylvia’s the late one. So when our schedule is pretty tight, Glenn gets up real early (mostly around 5 o’clock) to get a big chunk of his work done before 9. Sylvia does the same, but prefers the evenings.
WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY?
Routine. As boring as it may seem… But there’s nothing like creating a good schedule, which we kind of created after years of trial and error.
Know what time of the day you are at your best and put the hardest work in those hours. Place emailing, planning or non creative work (like accounting) in a moment when you slow down or run out of inspiration. Take enough breaks. Walk the dog, do some gardening. Outdoor stuff does wonders for your mind. Meditation is also a big help for the both of us.
And finally be attentive for those moments you’re suddenly working when you’re not supposed to. Unsuspectedly your creativity might take you places and give you solutions you couldn’t come up with behind your desk. Make sure to take notes on those occasions 😉
YOU’RE BETTER THAN YOUR COLLEAGUES TO:
We don’t consider ourselves as colleagues, rather as one team. It’s our combo that brings out the best in us.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE ANYONE HAS GIVEN YOU?
Make a drawing a day. Even if you’re having a bad one.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST TIP FOR SAVING TIME?
Block social media and surfing the web, just to get “inspired”. It’s a trap. One we still fall into sometimes, unfortunately.
WHAT IS YOUR ROUTINE START AND END OF THE DAY?
Since we run the studio from our home, our routine start and end of the day is mostly kids related.
Glenn checks the first emails while the boys are taking a shower and starts with his doodle/drawing a day for Instagram while Sylvia brings them to school.
First part of our working day pretty much ends when the kids return from school and run in and out of our studio to make homework, build Lego mansions or share their adventures.
Depending on our work load either the working day continues the moment the boys are in bed or we can call it a day and watch a new series on Netflix.
ASIDE FROM YOUR COMPUTER AND YOUR PHONE, WHAT GADGET CAN YOU NOT GO WITHOUT?
Eugene: if a bass guitar is a gadget, it would be my bass. Louise: I’m not much of a gadget girl, but one thing I can’t go without is my milk and cookies break.
Eugene and Louise
