From Paris to magier: Slint’s Journey

When Slint moved from Hanover to Paris at 17, she didn’t just change countries, she stepped into a completely new creative world. From struggling with French in school to building a career in art direction and now working remotely as an art director at magier, her journey is bold, international, and deeply rooted in branding.

In this interview, Slint shares how she found her way into design, why she believes branding is everything, and what communication truly means in her day-to-day role.

How Did You End Up at magier?

I’m originally from Hanover, Germany, but I moved to Paris when I was 17 to study art direction. I had French in school – and I was honestly so bad at it that I almost didn’t graduate because of French.

When I first arrived in Paris, I worked as an au pair for two young girls. At the same time, I started an internship at a German startup called ManoMano, kind of like an alternative to IKEA. I was hired as a community manager for social media, but I worked very closely with the graphic design team. That’s where I really got into graphic design.

At some point, I realized that art direction was exactly what I wanted to study. The funny thing is – art direction as a degree doesn’t really exist in Germany the way it does in France. So even though the first year was extremely hard and I didn’t understand a word in class, I pushed through.

I studied at ECV Design in Paris and later lived in Bordeaux as well. In total, I spent around six years in Paris and three in Bordeaux.

After working four years at a Parisian design agency, I took a break and traveled – to Central America, Asia, and different parts of Europe. Traveling, meeting new cultures, and stepping outside my routine was exactly what I needed.

When I came back to Germany, I was looking for a remote job. I wanted to work from my safe space – home – instead of being overwhelmed by another big city again. That’s when I applied to magier.

And here I am.

Why Did You Choose a Startup Over an Agency?

I’ve worked in agencies before, and I actually love agency work. I think for young designers, agencies are incredibly important. You learn so much about print, execution, technical details, and how to defend your design decisions in front of clients. You really learn how to solve problems.

That’s something I also appreciate at magier – we work with different clients, which means we constantly learn and adapt.

But I also like the startup vibe. I worked at another startup before, and I enjoy the younger team energy, the team spirit, and the feeling that everyone supports each other. At magier, you really feel that people are holding together. The spirit is different from agencies – not better or worse, just different. And right now, that’s exactly what I was looking for.

Did You Freelance While Traveling?

Yes, I’ve been freelancing for about a year alongside everything else. After I quit my agency job, I started designing small things for people I knew.

Then an old friend of mine, who opened a fashion label, asked me to design for her. That was super exciting. I did small projects, mostly for people in my network.

It was fun and very personal. But I still feel like I want to learn more – especially systems, processes, and certain “codes” of working at a bigger scale. And I think magier is a great place to grow in that way.

What Type of Design Is Your Favorite?

I’m a big fan of Bauhaus. I love branding.

For me, branding is everything. If you don’t have branding, you don’t have a brand. It’s the foundation – the starting point. It defines how you communicate, what your visual language stands for, and what image you present to the world.

Personally, I love minimalism, conceptual thinking, and functionality. I also have a tiny obsession with grids and typography – I guess that’s my German side.

But in the end, I don’t believe in having one fixed style for client work. Of course, I have personal preferences. But my job is to adapt to what the client truly needs. My style is secondary. The brand’s needs come first.

For personal projects, it’s different. But for client work, it’s about solving the problem – not expressing my own taste.

What Skills Are Important as an Art Director?

The biggest skill for me is organization and planning.

As an art director, you’re not just designing. You’re translating between different people. The client communicates their wishes to you. You communicate them to the designer. The designer gives the work back to you. And then you communicate it back to the client.

That’s multiple steps – and in each step, misunderstandings can happen.

When I was “just” designing, I wasn’t fully aware of how much clarity and structure are needed to prevent those misunderstandings. Now I see how important it is to plan enough time, clarify expectations, and communicate clearly.

So I would say: communication, organization, and clarification.

What Does Communication Look Like in Your Day-to-Day at magier?

I communicate all the time.

With designers. With clients. With the team.

It’s about finding the right balance in a brief, giving enough detail so the designer understands the direction, but also leaving space for creativity. And it depends a lot on the person you’re working with.

Some designers need more context. Others need less. You adapt.

That’s also something I enjoy, adjusting to different personalities and working styles.

How Is It Working in a Multicultural Team?

I love it.

I’ve lived in Germany and France, and I’ve traveled a lot so working in a multicultural team feels natural to me. Different cultures bring different humor, communication styles, and perspectives.

Humor especially is important. It makes everything lighter.

I speak German, French, English, and I’m currently learning Spanish. It’s funny because sometimes I mix up professional vocabulary between languages. I learned all my design terminology in French so sometimes I have to relearn technical words in German.

But overall, I think languages and cultural diversity are such a strength in a team like magier.

What Do You Do Outside of Work?

Traveling is still a big passion of mine. I love discovering new places and cultures.

I also spend a lot of time with friends. And art is always part of my life, whether that’s visiting exhibitions, observing visual culture, or just being inspired by my surroundings.

Living in Paris for so many years was incredibly inspiring. You’re constantly surrounded by art, architecture, and creative energy. That definitely shaped me.

Have You Worked Remotely While Traveling?

Yes, I have.

That’s one of the things I appreciate most about remote work. It gives you flexibility and freedom. You can structure your life differently and still deliver high-quality work.

For me, that balance between independence and teamwork is ideal.

How Would You Describe magier in One Word?

Magical.

It fits the name perfectly – and it really captures the energy of the team.

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