Paris design collective Atelier Acte Studio works for Hermès and Gucci—but never shows their faces. A rare look inside the playful, analog-obsessed atelier that breaks every branding rule.
07. Hip & Trendy: Atelier Acte Studio
Written by Pinzle Editor Ha-young Jeon (www.pinzle.net)
Monthly Artwork Pinzle Website: www.pinzle.net
Pinzle is Korea's only art subscription service, introducing one artist and their work to the world each month. We wanted to share what the lives and spaces of the artists we love actually look like — and inspire everyone building their own creative space.
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Some spaces give you a strange sense of wonder just by existing. Places that sometimes draw you into contemplation, sometimes leave you speechless. Workshops, ateliers, studios — whatever you call them, these are artists' spaces. Time seems to move slower there. Even mundane moments feel like they could spark inspiration. What do the studios of globally recognized international artists actually look like?
The Paris-based design collective, 'Atelier Acte Studio'.
Famous for creating visuals for Hermès, Gucci, Marc Jacobs and other major brands, the trio — Valentin, Julien, and Sébastien — work across photography, type design, music, and video. Their output is unpredictable, playful, full of energy and wit. But there's one more peculiar thing about them: they never show their faces.
Morning light still clung to the Paris streets. I weaved through people rushing to their destinations and slipped into a side alley. A steep staircase painted white creaked underfoot. The door at the top groaned open. I'd arrived: Atelier Acte Studio.
They say spaces come to resemble the people who inhabit them. The neon sign in the back corner reminded me of that. A lightning bolt glowing electric blue — no static, just quiet hum. It didn't dominate the room, but it captured the studio's vibe perfectly. Hip. Trendy. Was it just me, or did even the coat rack by the door look sharp?
True to a design studio that works across musician album covers, brand campaigns, and everything in between, Atelier Acte's workspace was packed with bold imagery. Artwork still in progress on computer screens, test prints stacked neatly on desks, editorial shoots mid-layout. It felt like stepping into the kitchen for the first time after only ever seeing the plated dish. That made it more thrilling. I'd been invited backstage.
I sat down across from the three elusive faces. I'd been curious what kind of people they'd be. After talking, I understood. That playful energy in their work isn't some conjured aesthetic. It's just who they are: people with instinctive curiosity about the world, who turn that curiosity into joyful delight.
When the conversation turned to work, their expressions sharpened. By the window sat a small display of past projects: postcards that could pass as exhibition pieces, musician albums they'd designed, framed artworks. The variety matched the volume. How many hours went into this scene? How many negotiations between artistry and commerce, between personal philosophy and client demands — the unavoidable tension every design studio navigates.
The three have been working together for nearly 10 years now. Long enough for mountains to wear down, they say — but their relationship and instincts have never dulled. Being three kept them unpredictable while maintaining a kind of triangular balance. That's why I'm excited to see what comes next. Like the work-in-progress on their desk, Atelier Acte Studio can become anything. Their journey is still unfolding.
Everyone reads books and watches movies, but art still feels distant and intimidating. What if you knew how the artist saw the world before encountering their work? Wouldn't that make it richer, more personal? That's the thinking behind Pinzle's art subscription service. Each month, we introduce one artist making waves in the global art scene. We visit them, document their lifestyle in video and print, and produce their selected work as a large-scale artwork. We want to bring art closer to people who thought it wasn't for them — or couldn't afford it.
Atelier Acte Studio, 'Squarespace-Record Store'
Atelier Acte's <Squarespace-Record Store> features — appropriately — vinyl records. One balanced on a fingertip, others precariously stacked above it. No consistent pattern. You can't predict what comes next, but instead of collapsing, the stack keeps climbing upward. Doesn't it feel a bit like Atelier Acte's own trajectory? What seems reckless might just work — you won't know until you try. What are you stacking right now?
[Series Index]
(Tokyo) 2018. 08 A Simple Home: Taku Bannai 2018. 09 Classic Tatami: Kotaro Machiyama 2018. 10 The Master's Workshop: Tatsuro Kiuchi
(Paris) 2018. 11 With Love: Severine Assous 2018. 12 A Cozy Nest: Vincent Mahé 2019. 01 A Playground Built with His Daughter: Tom Haugomat 2019. 02 Hip & Trendy: Atelier Acte Studio
(Berlin) 2019. 03 Bethanien Kunsthaus, Source of Inspiration: Michela Picchi 2019. 04 Smoke-Filled Studio: Guillaume Kashima 2019. 05 Berlin University of the Arts: Carmen Reina 2019. 06 Form and Space: Clemens Behr
