The love story that made one of the most original creative duos in the world

Ben&Julia are not, strictly speaking, two people. Not anymore.

After more than twenty years of living, thinking, drawing and making together, they’ve become one entity, or “a two headed creature” (their words, not ours!)

They first met in Versailles - Ben grew up in Béziers and studied editing and animation in Paris, Julia grew up in Lausanne and studied exhibition design in Vevey then graphic design in London - and, as they say, “it was a love story”. They connected instantly through humour, imagination and the way they saw the world.

Deciding to make a go of it, they left their jobs and built something of their own, combining shared passions for illustration, puppetry, costumes, materials and mixed techniques. Their first major project was the music video for ‘1973’ by Tahiti Boy and the Palm Tree Family which, looking back, they identify as a key moment that defined their approach. “It was a fully mixed media piece, shot in nature, blending handmade elements with visual experimentation” says Julia. “The film quickly gained international attention and set the foundation for what became our signature style.”

From there, everything accelerated. They moved to Berlin to gain space and freedom, and began developing larger and more ambitious projects, “always pushing this hybrid approach further”.

Fast forward 20 years and they now run a fully independent studio combining production, post production, and a large workshop for fabrication, spanning sculpture, casting and set building. Alongside collaborations with brands, musicians and cultural platforms, they also create and develop their own original IP and character driven worlds.

As their work grew, so did their desire to be closer to decision‑making. Rather than dividing roles, they are both directors, art directors and creative directors. “We both draw, sculpt, design, and think visually.” However, technically, they have different skillsets, so there is always going to be some discrepancies, “but fundamentally,” says Ben, “we overlap a lot!”

Having spent time inside agencies as creative directors - most recently at Innocean Berlin - they understand the full ecosystem in a way most directors don't. They've been close to strategy, built relationships with brand decision-makers, watched ideas get diluted between floors, and learned to be resilient about it. “It taught us not to be too attached to ideas. In agencies, you can develop hundreds of concepts for a single brief, you still have to move forward."

That experience made them sharper, more protective of ideas, and more direct and transparent in how they work. They believe artists should be brought in earlier, closer to strategy, before the layers compound, and that strong creative voices need genuine trust to do their best work.

Ben&Julia grew up between analogue and digital and felt that transition directly. What they took from it was the understanding that if you remove the pleasure of making from the creative process, you feel it in the work instantly. “Working with real materials, drawing, painting, building, shooting, brings a physical engagement that is essential to us.”

Curiosity and discovery runs deep in their process. “Even with very advanced digital tools, nothing replaces the feeling of a pencil on paper, or working with real light,” says Julia. “A lot of things do not happen in your head. They happen in reality, through experimentation. The material reacts, the light changes, accidents happen, and those moments become part of the creation.”

Over time, that relationship with tools and ways of seeing becomes its own kind of artistic voice. For Ben&Julia, physical making with real materials creates a stronger connection to reality. “In a world that is increasingly mediated by screens and artificial representations, staying grounded in something tangible feels important, both creatively and emotionally.”

With a playful and distinct style that feels crafted, it’s no surprise that brands want to own a piece of it.

“Brands today are looking for a strong identity,” says Julia, “something that feels unique, recognisable, and that people can instantly connect with. They are looking for worlds.” What matters to Ben&Julia, is that each project has its own language: “Something that belongs to the brand, but also feels fresh, distinctive, and memorable.”

They talk a lot about worlds. Whether it’s their own self-initiated original IP, or for brands, they approach every project as an opportunity to build a world. For brands, “it’s a space where they can exist in a more expressive and emotional way, while still being clearly at the center” says Ben. This is where they combine a strong concept with a unique universe to bring brands forwards in a way that feels original and meaningful.

They also understand that longevity matters. Even within the constraints of advertising, they’re always imagining what could live beyond it. “In advertising, a campaign usually has a beginning and an end. But we do not approach it like that,” they explain. Instead, each project is considered as part of a larger world, something that could be revisited, expanded, and remembered years later.

A device they use often as an anchor, to communicate values and personality, is character. “A character starts a bit like a human being,” they say. “You draw it, and suddenly something happens.” Often, they name the character almost immediately. “Once it has a name, it exists.” That emotional attachment shapes everything that follows - posture, attitude, rhythm, humour - even if the character only appears for a few seconds on screen. It’s this invisible depth that gives their work warmth and longevity, and allows brand worlds to feel inhabited rather than constructed.

Part of what makes Ben&Julia such trusted collaborators is their ability to move fluidly between culture and craft. Their influences span film, music, illustration, comedy and contemporary art, but they are as equally interested in people. “We genuinely love people. We love meeting, sharing, exchanging ideas.” That curiosity naturally extends to clients, and understanding what a brand wants to say, who they are, what they are navigating and what they want to be felt.

The joy, as they see it, is in the collaboration itself. “Our approach is just a natural extension of who we are - it’s the curiosity, empathy, and pleasure of creating together.”

< See Ben&Julia's work here >