Rui Pu makes graphic illustrations that are direct, a little odd and sure to bring a smile to your face

“It’s funny how an ordinary photo can become something completely different with a caption or a change of context,” states Rui Puan illustrator and graphic designer based in China. And we can definitely see why. Throughout Rui’s portfolio, you’ll find energetic colour schemes, fuzzy and warm gradients, a myriad of texture and familiar themes became something weird and crazy. A horse-human, for instance, with 2 heads– or a guy breaking out of a Taco Bell with oily treats flying all over.

After studying digital media– “but wasn’t very interested in the course” — Rui finished and worked as a designer at ByteDance, which is where his illustration tasks truly started and ended up being something to check out even more. He transferred to London to study for an MA in Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts, followed by a progressing practice that includes dealing with publications and brand names such as Apple, Spotify, Nike, and Columbia University. The New York Times and Bloomberg Businessweek. All of which remain in Rui’s unmatchable, goofy visual.

Taking motivation from web culture and memes, Rui has actually constructed a practice of conserving odd images and videos, which will then go on to motivate his developments. He likewise enjoys taking a trip, hanging around in unknown locations “without planning too much sightseeing” and roaming around, “looking at odd signs, flyers and graffiti and noticing people’s everyday lives – those little details often give me inspiration”

When the innovative stimulates hit, there are 2 approaches which tend to follow depending upon the kind of job. If it’s a commission for among his customers, he will dive into the quick and– when he’s got a grip of it– he will consider how he can make the concept “clear” and, obviously, “the artwork fun”He includes, “Political and economic topics can take quite a while just to get my head around.” A couple of various instructions will be proposed, and one will be selected with the art director, which will then be established in Procreate and Photoshop,[ “replacing parts of the drawing with photographic collage.” It’s like a collection of concepts coming together, rushing the initial into

something practically unrecognisable. “Finding the right photos takes ages! I often try lots of similar photos before choosing just one. A small change in an expression or gesture can make the whole image feel like a different vibe.”

When it comes to his individual tasks, which are a huge part of how he’s established his unique design, the procedure is comparable however a lot “looser”he states. “Sometimes I just put a few photos I’ve saved or taken together and see what happens. I enjoy not knowing exactly how it will turn out.”

100 Horses is an excellent example of this procedure. An individual book made this year in event of the Year of the Horse, Rui gathered 100 “weird” horse images from the web and daily life, then put his signature spin on things. On the cover there’s a horse mid-leap, a pendant of geometric spheres decorating its neck, plus a mix of typographic designs peppered around the border with a collection of images. Inside there are more horses, however not as we understand them. They’re extended, extended, deformed into dinosaurs, strawberries and put into odd situations. “I let go of my usual concerns about grids, typography and colour, and just had fun. The finished book was very different from my first idea, but I loved the surprise and how relaxed it felt making it. I hope these weird horses bring a little energy and make my friends smile over the new year!”

In a series for Bloomberg Businessweek’s Extra Salt column, Madeline Montoya, then-art director, welcomed Rui to highlight the column, which utilizes food as a method of checking out politics, company, customer patterns, culture and identity. “I wanted to make some of these heavier topics more fun, so I made quite a few silly images: boxers fighting with hamburgers for gloves to show competition between American burger brands, a US map made of sauce bottles, or a huge egg filling the frame,” he states. “I enjoy turning an article’s ideas into something direct and a bit absurd, something that makes people smile while getting the point across.”

Which’s the essence of it, truly– Rui’s work exists to make individuals smile, and turn familiar or much heavier subjects on their side. “I hope people feel the humour, absurdity or a little sarcasm, straight away. If someone recognises a collage image or a meme and thinks, ‘Oh, you know this too!’ That makes me happy.”