Having studied graphic design together, Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann decided to form a creative partnership based on their love of craftsmanship. Known collectively as Zim & Zou, they create handcrafted objects out of tangible materials like wood and thread. But it’s their paper sculptures that really caught our attention.
“At the very beginning, we started working with paper just for fun between graphic design commissions, and of course because Lucie’s family was working in a paper factory in the Vosges Mountains,” they explained in an interview with Adobe’s online magazine. “We had access to a lot of paper sheets, so we just played with paper. That’s how our first paper project came out. Then we dropped it on the Internet, we had some positive feedback, and we were quickly contacted by a client for our first commission.”
According to the two artists, paper provides an endless source of inspiration for its versatility, its infinite range of colors, and its unique textures. “We have a predilection for paper because it’s a versatile material, easy to sculpt, and very rich in terms of color or texture,” say Zim & Zou. “Most of the time our designs are very intricate and time-consuming and use bold colors. We like projects that tell a story, not just decorative stuff.”
Currently based in France, their clients include huge names like Hermès, IBM, Microsoft, and TIME, creating anything from window displays to complex installations. Enjoy some of their work in the gallery below.
