Christian Borstlap (1971) is what you could call a modern creative; without much formal schooling he became a designer, illustrator, art director, and filmmaker. Borstlap started in London at Wallpaper* magazine. Then he moved to BBDO Amsterdam where he was very successful with his work for Amsterdam Zoo Artis – he created ‘Artis de Partis’. Around that time he also made a brilliant poster for the Comic Book Convention – the latter was so iconic that the concept later ‘popped up‘ in China. After that Borstlap worked for KesselsKramer for four years. This year Borstlap won quite some prizes for the Children’s Stamps campaign – a Lamp (Dutch Art Director’s Club), Dutch Design Award, Golden European Design Award, and Yellow Pencil (D&AD). He also made a wonderful stop motion video clip for Clutchy Hopkins – who’s music also featured in the Children’s Stamps video. This summer Borstlap founded his own studio.

As a kid, what were your most creative moments?

I’ve always drawn a lot. My first commission was painting the kindergartens puppet theatre when I was 4. I remember I had to show sketches to he teacher first before they’d let me paint it. Things haven’t changed that much, really.

Which creative effort has given you the most satisfaction?

The fact that I can combine all that I love to do for a living.

Satisfaction is also a day-to-day thing: for example a film I did last week for Nowness; the whole thing had to be ready within 4 days – concept, artwork, animation, sound. In the end the very critical commissioner approved it. And there’s the Children’s Stamps project. The whole concept was about something relevant: “The things you learn in life”. And it raised about € 9.5 million for charity. On top of that the film that brought the design to life brought me personal success.

What fascinates you?

Digital technology. And the way it changes our lives; last year I’ve worked for clients in London, Tokyo, and LA.

And food! I don’t see why good restaurants shouldn’t be subsidized by the government, while musicals are.

Who is your favourite creator?

One of them is definitely Wim T. Schippers . Not only because of his wide variety of work; he is a visual artist, writer, actor, and television/theater play/radio maker. Also because his work has always been way ahead of its time. Since his revolutionary television work in the seventies, there hasn’t been anything like it. I know there are lot’s of men in their sixties that claim to still feel like an 18 year old boy. Well, I met him a while ago and he is the only one who can honestly claim it.

When did you decide, I want to work in advertising?

I remember that pretty clearly. It was my drawing teacher telling me that people in advertising were sent to exotic islands when having a burn out. At sixteen that sounded pretty good. It never happened though.

What’s your most important lesson in advertising?

“En waarom zou uitgerekend ik dat nou net niet kunnen?”
It is a Wim T. Schippers quote that more or less translates into: ‘And why should I, out of all people, not be able to do that?’

And every word of Milton Glasers’ “10 things I’ve learned” is true.

What’s the most exciting ad project you ever worked on?

It’s not just one project. For me it’s the mix of things; the combination of graphic design, digital, video directing, books, campaigns, illustration, and animation. And it’s even more exciting that I can combine all this in the creative agency I’ve started up this summer.

What’s your favourite place in Amsterdam?

Home.

And it was good to see the Stedelijk Museum open again. It shows how much a city needs its culture on display.

What would you like to change in Amsterdam?

Kopenhagen aims to be carbon neutral in 2012. Non emission-drivers in Stockholm park their cars for free. I have the idea Amsterdam misses the ambition to keep the city (and the city’s air) clean. The solutions should be more drastic and more creative. Near my house a few streets are blocked for cars, because the neighborhood asked for it. Why not close down more streets and have more parks, instead of roads? We live in a city where everything is within a 25-minute bicycle ride away. It shouldn’t be much of a problem. This goes especially for the inner-centre of Amsterdam.