Alexandre Petit-Barat

A look back at your ESMA years

What was your course of study before joining esma? And your career path at esma?

I had a strong taste for drawing when I was young, but it was more the geometric shapes and colours that attracted me than the drawing itself. When I was young, I was influenced by Saul Bass, for example.

It was natural for me to go into graphic design. I took a Bac L with a plastic arts option. As part of the option, I presented a Stop Motion film. I liked it so much that I started looking at schools for this kind of study. They recommended ESMA.

WHAT WAS YOUR COURSE AT ESMA?

I started with a MANAA. Then I did the two-year BTS in Graphic Design, followed by the Bachelor in Digital Strategy and finally a year in Motion Design(editor’s note: courses that evolved into the Cycle Professionnel Design Graphique).

At the same time, I’ve been a reservist in the army since 2011. I give around forty days a year to the army. I’ve been able to do the classic military job, particularly during Operation Sentinelle as part of the Vigipirate plan. I was also given the opportunity to do graphic design for the army, creating logos, badges and educational content. I’m still doing these military cycles.

For me, it’s a way of living several lives at the same time, retaining my original passion for design while contributing to an activity of general interest.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE COURSE?

When you arrive at school, you realise that it’s a very demanding course! You have to work hard to keep up. You have to be assiduous. It doesn’t just happen!

Whereas most of my fellow students stopped at the end of their BTS to become computer graphics designers, I continued my studies to build up a slightly more developed profile. In particular, I’m a versatile computer graphics artist, but I’m also a motion designer, so I can do animated design. I can also give advice on communication strategy at the start of a project.

Overall, I loved the teaching staff and teachers at ESMA.

How did you get into the business world after leaving esma?

I had a gentle introduction to the job market through an internship at the end of the year. A four to six month placement with DLP Paris. I learnt the trade with them, and in the best possible way, because I came across a very caring organisation that gave me a sense of responsibility by allowing me to take on projects for clients. I saw that I had been well trained at school.

Your career path

Can you tell us about your job, what it involves and what you like about it?

I was looking for challenges in my job. I find them in the freelance side of things, where I have to find new customers and build loyalty with those who have already put their trust in me. It’s a part of the job that I enjoy as much as being creative. I make a living from my skills.

Can you tell us about the different projects you’re working on?

After the course, I asked myself what I wanted to do. I set up a self-employed business (2018) so that I could have my own clients in the Montpellier-Nîmes-Alès region. I’d had a network since my studies. The company is called Sergent Peanuts. Sergeant is my rank in the army and Peanuts was the nickname I was given because I let go of Peanuts (sic). I put this structure on hold to work with the SAS La Lavande group for nearly three years as head of the design department, communications strategy, web design, etc. I’ve also been involved in a number of other projects.

I’ve now reactivated my business. I tend to work with private individuals. Lately, I’ve been working with the human resources director of a listed group, François Castaldo. He’s starting out on his own, and I designed his visual identity. I’ve also immersed myself in 3D design to work in real estate.

The arrival of AI has made it much easier to create images, but I don’t think that really creates any competition, because there aren’t many people who know how to interpret AI. It’s a new tool.

I gave a talk on freelancing at the ESMA open days in Toulouse. I was asked to re-edit the animation of the ESMA logo, which is broadcast along with the animated films on the YouTube channel.

To conclude

WHERE WILL YOU BE IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?

I have two hypotheses! Either I’ve been seduced by a company that allows me to be in charge of its design department, or I’ve expanded my company. I would have closed my own business and opened a larger structure with more staff.

AN ULTIMATE AMBITION?

I don’t know. As soon as I have a step to climb, I climb it. I don’t know about visualising the top of the steps. Maybe having a great team of designers.

ADVICE FOR FUTURE STUDENTS..

I’ve got a bit of old-fashioned advice: design doesn’t stop at school. ESMA is the stepping stone, but what will make a personality is all the work you do to create a unique profile that will make you want to work with you.