Hello, I am Thierry Chopain, a freelance interactive art director, co-founder of Type8 Studio and a UX/UI design instructor at SUB de Pub (Lyon).
Based in the vicinity of Saint-Étienne, I cultivate a balance between creative ambition and local grounding, between a high level design and a more human pace of life. I work remotely with a close team spread between Lyon, Montpellier and Paris, where we design custom projects that combine strategy, brand identity and digital experience.
My approach is deeply cooperating. I believe in permanent relationships built on trust, mutual listening and the value of every perspective. In addition to aesthetics, my role is to bring clarity, meaning and visual consistency into every project. In addition to my design practice, I teach PubWhere I not only support students in controlling UX/UI concepts, but also in shaping their path as independent designers. Sharing what I have learned on the ground, the victories, the struggles and the lessons is a mission that is much important to me.
My daily life is a mix of slow life and agility. This hybrid rhythm enables me to remain faithful to my values, while I continue to grow in a demanding and inspiring industry. I work together with a trusted network of creatives, including Jeremy Fagis” Marine Ferrari “Thomas Aufresne” Jordan Thiervoz” Alexandre Avram” Benoit Drigny And Olivier Marbons To enrich each project with a shared creative high -level vision.
Featured projects
OvA investment
It is an investment fund built around a strong promise: To invest in the most valuable assets of our time. Type8 Studio collaborated with collaboration with Department of Creation House And Paul Barbin To design a completely re -devised website that fulfills his daring vision and distinctive positioning. Site structure, visual direction, voice of voice and user experience were all re -defined to reflect the strategic precision, elegance and progressive nature of the fund.
The purpose of this project: Position OVA as a benchmark that combines financial performance, innovation and rarity, through refined design, a seamless interface and adapted development, to strengthen its credibility with a demanding target group and strategic partners.
Discover the website
Hocus Pocus Studio
Hocus Pocus is a Lyon-based animation studio that specializes in creating CGI and visual effects for television, cinema and video game industry. The studio offers the best quality services with an always higher technical and artistic level of requirement. I worked on this project in collaboration with the Lyon-based studio a dinner That specializes in customized and carefully manufactured projects.
The purpose of this project: Develop a coherent and professional digital brand image that emphasizes the visual effects, while the visibility and online presence is increased to attract and inspire confidence in customers.
Discover the website
21 TSI
21 TSI is not your typical sports holding. Supervision of a portfolio of brands in the space of sports equipment that the team wanted to break from the form of the standard company website. Instead, they imagined a digital experience that would reflect their DNA where innovation, design and technology come together in a rich, compelling journey. We have worked together Department of Creation House And Paul Barbin To create something really unique.
The purpose of this project: a website that embodies the DNA of 21tsi: innovation, technology, minimalism. A compelling and aesthetic experience, a clean design and an approach that is investigating new ways to deal with sport via AI.
Discover the website
It would have
Teria is a system that offers real-time centimeter level positioning. It is an innovative tool that makes localization and Georeferencing possible. We wanted to create an intuitive and innovative experience that perfectly reflects It would haveThe precision and progressive vision. A large part of the work was aimed at a clean, minimalist design that ensures a smooth navigation that makes room to emphasize the incredible work of Alexandre AvramPresenting the products through Spline and 3D Motion Design.
The purpose of this project: Develop a clear and professional digital brand that reflects the identity and values of the brand, shows product innovation and increases visibility to build trust and attract customers.
Discover the website
Creating visual identities for musical artists
In a dense and ever -evolving music scene, striking more than just great sound requires, it is also a strong and coherent visual presence. Whether it is the cinematic intensity of Lecomte De Brégeot, the rough emotion of Élimane, my approach remains the same: making a visual universe that extends and improves the essence of every artist, regardless of the medium.
I am a design Visual Identities” WebsitesAnd digital assets It combines daring aesthetics with clarity. The goal is to give every artist a unique space where their music, vision and personality can come to life both visually and emotionally.
A decisive moment in my career
A turning point in my journey was the transition from working as an independent designer to the establishment of a structured creative studio, Type8 Studio. For more than ten years I have been working solo or within informal networks, juggling projects, constantly adjusting and learning how I can form my own freedom. That period gave me a lot – not only in terms of experience, but also when understanding what I really wanted … and what I no longer wanted.
Creating a studio was never a predefined goal. It gradually came together, through encounters, shared values and the growing need to shape a little more collective and sustainable. Type8 was born from this shared intention: Bringing skills and creative ambitions together while maintaining individual freedom.
This change was not a break, but a natural evolution. I have not left my three identities – independent designer, studio -art director and educator. On the contrary, I integrated them into a more fluent and conscious ecosystem. Nowadays I can choose the most relevant role, depending on the project: sometimes the studio takes the lead, sometimes it is the freelance spirit that fits best, and at other times it is the educator in me that comes to the fore.
For me, this hybrid model, which some people can see, is a tailor -made balance for me, deeply tailored to how I am an example: adaptive, deliberate and led by respect for the goal and values of the project.
My design philosophy
I see design as a tool for meaning, people and impact that go beyond mere aesthetics. It is about creating connection, clarity and relevance between intention and users. This approach was formed by my collaboration with my wife, an expert in digital accessibility, which increased my consciousness of inclusion and real user needs that was often overlooked.
Today I bring ethics, care and Respect in every projectFocusing on accessible design and core human values: kindness, clarity, usefulness and respecting user restrictions. I give priority to human cooperation, adjusting every solution to the context and values of the customer, even if this goes against trends. My design combines strategic thinking, creativity and personal dedication to create enriching and socially valuable experiences.
Tools and techniques
- Figma: To design, create and collect ideas together.
- Jitter: For making flexible and fascinating movement designs.
- Loom: To efficiently exchange feedback with customers.
Tools evolve, but they are just a goal. What really matters is your ability to think and create. If you are a good designer, you know how to adapt, regardless of the tool.
My Inspiration
My imagination was formed somewhere between a game screen, a sketchbook. Among all my influences, narrative video games have a special place. Titles such as “The last of us“I have had a deep impact on me, not only for their striking doctor, but because of their ability to tell a story in an immersive, emotional and sensory way. What inspires me in these universes is not only the gameplay, but how they create an atmosphere, build a meaningful moments and make an emotion on the vision or a sensing design.
But my inspirations go beyond the digital world. They are at the intersection of street art, furniture design and sneakers. My personal environment also plays a crucial role in feeding my creativity. Living in a small village close to nature, surrounded by calmness and serenity, gives me the mental space that I have to create. It is often at these quiet moments, a walk through the forest, a shared silence, the way in which light plays on a path that comes to the fore.
I am a creative who exists at the intersection: Between telling stories and interaction, between city and nature, between aesthetics and goal. That is where my work finds its balance.
Last thoughts
For me, design has always been more than a vessel, it is a way to connect ideas, people and emotions. Every project is an opportunity to tell a story to create something that feels both meaningful and timeless. Stay curious, stay human and don’t be afraid to push boundaries. Because the most memorable work is born when passion meets the goal.
“Converting ideas into timeless experiences.”
Contact
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
If you are a brand, studio or institution looking for a strong and distinctive digital identity. I would like to talk if it is a project, a potential collaboration or just sharing a few ideas.
#strategy #story #creative #path #Thierry #Chopain #Codrops