Paul Boudens

If you like cutting corners, you might describe Paul Boudens as ‘a graphic designer, mostly active within Belgian fashion and culture, who also designs a lot of books.’ The thing is: Paul Boudens really, viscerally hates cutting corners. The name Paul Boudens has become synonymous with Belgian fashion. His signature style has been a propelling force in the visual language of art, theatre and dance for decades, across Europe and far beyond.

Paul Boudens © Jeroen Lommelen

Paul’s work has an unparalleled kinetic energy with a distinct and layered finishing touch that’s mesmerizing to fashion-obsessed Gen-Z’ers on TikTok and creative industry veterans alike.

Paul Boudens

“Every collaboration is very intense for me. You get a 100% Boudens or nothing”

Paul Boudens

Aside from his leading graphic design for Walter Van Beirendonck, the Fashion Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp, he’s also created universes for Yohji Yamamoto, Dries Van Noten, Jurgi Persoons, Haider Ackermann, Olivier Theyskens, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s Rosas dance company and P.A.R.T.S. school, the Brussels Opera, Kaaitheater and more. He has designed more than 50 books, featured as collector’s items in the best bookstores around the world. (out of the interview taken by Dominique Nzeyimana & Immi Abraham for the publication on the Henry van de Velde Awards 23)

The jury on Paul Boudens:

The jury decided to award the Lifetime Achievement Award to graphic designer Paul Boudens due to his signature style, international appeal and influence on the graphics industry both in Flanders and far beyond. In the past 30 years, Paul Boudens has developed a strong, iconic style and he is seen as a passionate designer who is not afraid to challenge the status quo. Paul is a pioneer of graphic design and has helped the Belgian fashion industry to establish its identity with his quirky designs, in which handcrafted elements often play a major role.