When an Illustration Becomes the Face of a City

In 2019, Teelent launched the official contest for Varese Design Week 2020. The theme of the fifth edition was Labyrinth—an invitation to interpret the concept of a labyrinth through any form of creative expression.

My starting point was the idea of transforming a real place into a space to explore.

I chose the Basilica of San Vittore, one of Varese’s most iconic landmarks. Rather than simply reproducing its architecture, I wanted to explore how far it could be reinterpreted without losing its identity.

The stairways change direction, volumes overlap, and the pathways seem to chase one another without ever reaching a clear destination. The labyrinth isn’t built around the building—it emerges from the building itself.

Looking back at the illustration today, I feel that the competition’s theme eventually became almost secondary. The project was really about the way we perceive cities. There are places we believe we know perfectly well, yet a simple shift in perspective can completely change their meaning. Even a familiar building can become a landscape waiting to be explored.

At the time, I was particularly fascinated by isometric geometry. I spent countless hours studying volumes, perspectives, and architectural compositions built through subtraction, trying to create illustrations that were minimal yet easy to read.

Color played an equally important role. A significant part of the project was devoted to refining the palette. I kept making tiny adjustments to hues and saturation, searching for the right balance between blues and pinks—one that could create depth without making the illustration feel heavy.

The competition was originally meant to award a single winner, with a selection of additional works displayed in the exhibition and featured in promotional materials.