Presenting the kick ass class of Young Guns 22
It’s a kick-ass class. Young Guns 22 is topping the charts in creativity. But are you even surprised? Of course, not. If you’re new here, let me catch you up. Young Guns is a community of incredibly talented individuals – think amazing cinematographers, animators, illustrators, photographers, designers, and directors – and a new class of winners is chosen by an expert jury every year. This year we have 33 winners and among them, we have some very new, very exciting titles to unveil – an Architectural Designer, Composer, Stage & Show Designer, and Colorist.
We interviewed the winners so we could share their prowess with you. And if you’re a NYC local you can snag a ticket to the official YG22 Party at Sony Hall on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, where you will have the chance to meet and greet them.
Young Guns continue to dominate the creative industry, so we’re happily presenting you with the kick-ass class of Young Guns 22.
Céline Hurka
Type Designer, Studio Céline Hurka
Based:
The Hague, Netherlands
Hometown:
Karlsruhe, Germany
What were your original impressions of the Young Guns competition, award, and community?
Last year, my friend Ryan Bugden won the award, which led me to explore the website. Even just online, it felt like a great community to be a part of and a huge honor to be recognized amongst such a diverse pool of creatives.
How did you end up in the creative field?
When I was around eight years old, my grandmother gifted me a calligraphy book. I spent countless hours trying to replicate the letters and drawing ornate initials with my friends. Back then, I thought to myself, “I wish this could be a job.” Later, I became interested in photography and graphic design and found my way to art school, where it soon became apparent I wanted to work independently and where I finally learned I could become a type designer.
Congrats on the YG win! Why did you decide to enter this year?
Thank you! This was the first time I entered since I only heard about the competition last year. I felt my work matured to a point where I could present a strong and comprehensive selection, so I decided to take the leap. Last year, I started my own type foundry, and applying for the award seemed like the perfect opportunity to reflect on my work and structure it for the application.
You only get to submit six projects that embody you and your talent. So, how did you decide which pieces were good enough to make the cut?
For this entry, I decided to primarily focus on my type design work and show a broad variety of what I am interested in. Most of my recent work develops from intrinsic personal stories outside of commercial frameworks. It was also essential to showcase work created with some of my dearest collaborators and friends, emphasizing that type design can transcend its supposedly closed-off niche.
What was your reaction when you discovered that you won?
I was about to sleep at my place in The Hague and checked my e-mails one last time before drifting off. The adrenaline of the news immediately woke me up, and I called my closest friends to celebrate with drinks and late-night fries. It was a wonderfully unexpected and sweet night.
How does your current home inspire your creativity as an artist?
Living in The Hague has been tremendously inspiring over the past 10 years. I believe in staying longer in a space and really making it your own. For my work, I get to travel a lot, and having a solid base has been essential for creating my work. The Hague also has a very active, and supportive art and design community. My friends all have various multidisciplinary practices, and our work inspires each other. Most of my inspiration in recent years actually comes from outside the field of type design, either from those encounters or time alone in nature. I’m deeply inspired by the intensity of life and a romanticized approach to living - I get very emotional over the cries of seagulls at night, the rose garden, shooting stars during summer nights, and sunsets over the sea.
“I’m deeply inspired by the intensity of life and a romanticized approach to living - I get very emotional over the cries of seagulls at night, the rose garden, shooting stars during summer nights, and sunsets over the sea.”
Now that you’re a part of the Young Guns community, are there any past winners you look up to and admire?
Ryan Bugden (YG21) - I admire Ryan’s incredible work ethic and his ability to deliver professional, clean, yet innovative solutions in type design. Chloe Scheffe (YG17) - I am especially inspired by the diversity in her practice and her beautiful approach to layout and typography. Bráulio Amado (YG13) - I have been following Bráulio’s work for years and love his use of color, composition, and type.
If you could create a new Young Guns tradition, what would you want it to be and why?
It would be wonderful to be paired with a former winner for a conversation about each other’s work. This could be either a private call or a recorded session leading to an interview archive. I believe it would be a nice opportunity to form a tighter community and to expand everyone’s network.
Name a dream project that you have yet to fulfill — maybe Young Guns will propel you in that direction!
I’m currently shifting my focus toward more physical projects in collaboration with artists from other fields, and I would love to explore this direction further. It would also be great to work on a larger scale, such as a mural, projection, film or theatre set, or exhibition design. Content-wise, I would love to collaborate with institutions or brands that are proactive about preserving nature and wildlife, such as botanical gardens and national parks.
Will we see you at the YG22 party in NYC in November?
Yes!
Come party with us and celebrate the class of Young Guns 22 on Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 PM, at Sony Hall in NYC!
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