Interview 18: Stefan Bucher…He Loves You

Several years ago I met Stefan at a How Conference, actually we were taking part in a design game show put on by Print Magazine modeled in the Iron Chef fashion – pics here. I enjoyed getting to know my design pal and, like most of you, enjoyed watching his monsters slowly develop over time – whether it was through his daily birthing of monsters, his great monster book (or other books), or just watching how they have became more and more a part of his work. My fellow Humble Pied amigo is always great to chat with and talk “shop”. Please enjoy this latest installment of 29 Questions.

1: Where do you hail from originally?

Hannover, Germany

2: If you had to work for someone or some organization, who would it be?

NASA

3: Other then design, what is your secret dream profession?

Bruce Springsteen

4: When you are working what types of music do you listen to?

All of it.

5: Which of your books is your favorite or did you enjoy the most?

Which of your kids is your favorite or do you enjoy the most? I can’t pick. All Access was a hugely painful process, but it was my first, and I love that it became so dense and ambitious. 100 Days of Monsters, well… that’s the Monsters, so of course I’m going to love that one, and The Graphic Eye is my youngest, the prettiest of the bunch, and was just fun to do. They’re all sincere efforts to make the best books I could make at the time.

6: Which designer that is no longer with us would you liked to have met or collaborated with?

The aliens who built the pyramids.

7: What do you do for fun?

I answer questionnaires.

8: It seems like you are nocturnal…when do you sleep?

I’m sorry, what now?

9: If you were going to have a beer with one of your monsters – which would it be and what beer?

I don’t drink beer. But 100 and I are going out for Grape Nehis, later.

10: Your 29th monster – tell me about it? What’s up with the tongue?

Check him out here – He’s got 29 Problems, but the Tongue ain’t one. That thing is very useful for gathering foodstuffs, making friends and influencing people.

11: Since you are connected to the Matrix…what pill would you have chosen?

Which is the one where I get my own custom tailored vinyl jacket? That one.

12: What is your worst enemy of creativity?

Fatigue.

3: We loved your articles for STEP, sadly now out of print. How did those come about?

Thank you, first of all. I’m glad. Those are some of my favorite pieces. As with all my stuff, there was something in my head that needed to come out. I had seen R. Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb’s illustrated reports in the New Yorker and wanted to see if I could do something like that, too — and pay squiggly homage to Chris Ware at the same time. I grew up drawing comics, and that format lent itself to the convoluted way I think. It let me write about stuff that matters to me without becoming terminally earnest.

14: What super power would you most want?

Flight. Sorry. Boring answer, but come on! Of course it has to be flight!

15: Which super power would you want your mortal enemy to have?

I have a mortal enemy? That’s disturbing! What have you heard? Granting your premise, I’d say I want my mortal enemy to have the super power to mellow out. (Actually, I’d maybe like that super power, too, but I have to imagine that being able to fly would go a long way in that direction already.)

16: What is your guilty pleasure snack?

Single-serving sweet potato pies, and chocolate that comes in the mail.

17: You recently became a US Citizen…what does that mean to you?

It means everything. It means not having to constantly audition for the right to live where I love to live. It means I can say what I think without having to worry that it’ll show up in my file. I called my congressman the day after I got sworn in. Most importantly, it means that I don’t have to look at every situation in terms of “Is there any way this could hurt me with immigration down the road?” It means being able to breathe again after over 10 years.

18: What part of that process could be most improved on?

Oh boy… that’s a tough question, because there are so many moving parts to the process. The thing I’d most like to see would be a change in public opinion. We always pay lip service to the Founding Fathers and the Ideals This Country Was Founded On. We’re “A Nation of Immigrants” and yet a lot of times we look at anything that’s in any way foreign with fear and hatred. Even in a post 9/11 world it would be nice to draw a distinction between terrorists and immigrants, and perhaps look on the latter with an open mind and a kind heart. It’s not right to come in and then pull the drawbridge up behind you.

19: When is the last time you went back to Germany?

2002.

20: What illustrators do you admire?

Ralph Steadman, Ronald Searle, J.J. Sempé, Lara Tomlin, H-G. Rauch, Kurt Halbritter, Mort Drucker, Christoph Niemann, Steve Brodner, Yuko Shimizu, Pete de Seve, Chris Ware, Laura Laine. That’s the tip of the iceberg.

21: Who is the cooler monster – King Kong, Mothra, or Godzilla?

I don’t see Mothra or Godzilla getting any face time with Fay Wray, Jessica Lange, or Naomi Watts, do you? Then again, King Kong’s just a big primate. Is he really a monster or more of a glandular case?

22: Of all your monster propaganda do you have a favorite item?

Always the next one.

23: What would you shop for at Echo Park Travel Mart?

The choices are legion, but I’d pick up a bottle of leeches (nature’s tiny doctors), a can of Mammoth Stew, and a ray gun. That will cover you in a wide range of situations.

23: Reading, listening to music, watching movies. Which order do you do those things or which is most inspirational?

All inspire me. I love beautiful sounds — music or voice, sung or spoken. That tends to inspire me most, because it means the most to me.

25: How do you deal with criticism of your work?

What are you implying? Fuck you!

26: Do you have a favorite conference experience?

So far, I have to go with the AIGA Make/Think Conference in Memphis. A lot of great things came together on that one. The week I’m writing this I’m at Design Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, and so far I have to say… not bad, not bad. Though I am a little homesick.

27: Where would you most like to speak next?

In Wayne Coyne’s living room, in James L. Brooks’s living room, or on the International Space Station. I will be speaking in South Africa in February, though, so that ain’t bad, either.

28: What are you working on now that has you most excited?

This sounds so dumb and conceited, but it’s true: I wish I could tell you! There’s some really cool skunk works stuff going on. Please stay tuned!

29: What does design mean to you?

It’s my way of making things the way I think they should be.