Designer Margot Lévêque’s tongue-in-cheek celebration of US laundromats

Margot Lévêque’s publication Washer is quite simply about washing machines in the United States, specifically in Los Angeles. Margot was inspired by the graphic symbols and signs at the laundromats she visited while in LA, and the unique feel of US laundromats. “They left their mark on me, and I found it so interesting I wanted to translate my experiences and publish something about it,” explains the Paris-based designer who’s currently studying at ECV.

Divided into five parts, there’s sections on everything laundry-related including the washing machine’s cycle (pre-wash, wash, rinse, spin and drain); top ten places to do laundry in LA with detachable business cards that act as coupons; and opinion pieces and advice from users found on blogs. “Another section contains serious and scientific papers about the reason why washing machines do not clean properly. I end with a portfolio of washing machines I found on Flickr. What could be more splendid than pictures of washing machines!” says Margot.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek tone of the publication, real thought and consideration has been applied to the design and aesthetic of the project. “For the front cover and titles I used a typeface named La Gomme (The Eraser) created by Valentin Bajolle and Virgile Flores, two design students,” says Margot. “I also used GT America extended type, La Maison Neue and Lora for the plain text.”

The myriad of typefaces echoes the jumble of clothes that get tossed into the washing machine and this light approach to a relatively dry topic is why Margot created it. “I wanted to bring light to a topic that is obviously of not interest at all and make it something interesting to deal with,” she says. “I tried to convey this through off-the-wall, quirky design and exaggerated artworks, which reveal the kitsch vibes I saw in the USA.”

Margot’s process is very intuitive as she works first by hand, drawing and expressing all that come to her mind. “Then I shape it on the computer. Looking at my design projects I’d say my work could be distinguished by dense and coloured compositions that opt for a offbeat visual approach.”