Page 122 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2024
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ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              F                 rom an early age, George Pytharoulis loved design,
                                                                           influence





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                fashion, photography, and anything related to aesthetics, his
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                natural inclination towards the visual arts shining through.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                He formalized this love by studying graphic design in both
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Athens, Greece and London. His relationship with images
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                is very unique. Εveryday things act as stimuli to his mind to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                create new worlds and a new perception of reality. His love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                of music entered this creative mix. His sources of inspira-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                tion include walks along the centre of Athens, interesting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               architecture, imaginative outfits, classic movies by the likes of Hitchcock, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               suspense books. On Sundays, you’ll find him wandering the streets with his Po-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               laroid camera in hand or drawing and exploring new designs and techniques.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               With your experience as a designer and concerning the creation of corporate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               identity, what are the strongest elements you would display if you were brand-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ing Greece, our country?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Light as a source of energy, inspiration, and hope that connects the present, past,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               and future, a widespread light, this is what I think describes Greece. It’s a light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               that comes from our history, our civilization, and the people of this land, where,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               I’d like to believe, kindness, generosity, and humanity still prevail. Cultural, his-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               torical, and societal values that hold from generation to generation and evolve
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               through new perspectives and stimuli. Greece’s strength is singular, even though
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               it hasn’t revealed itself in full yet. The elements I’d use to compose Greece’s visual
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               identity would highlight the characteristics above while creating a dialogue be-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               tween modern and classic forms.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Also, the colour blue that dominates our clear skies and vast seas and the intense
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               geometric motifs of our architecture would complement this identity’s canvas.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Symbols and designs that convey messages both clear and allegorical. I really be-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               lieve in the dynamics of productive contradictions. And our Greece can support
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               this with courage and virtue.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Can an effective logo overshadow its product? If so, in what cases?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A product’s logo and visual identity are essential parts of its final image. The
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               principles of visual identity must project the values, philosophy, and unique
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               characteristics of any product in a clear, meaningful, and aesthetically perfect
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               way. All our senses are equally important. Visual stimulation and the emotions >


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              BRANDING




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ATHENS






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              George Pytharoulis, Creative


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Director in Communication

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Design, delves in the visual


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              identity potential of Athens

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       KOSTIS SOHORITIS  Riviera, blending the past


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              and the future.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Interview by  ELSA  SOIMIRI

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