The most twisted ideas arrive at night as I drift into a light sleep.

  Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

My name is Michel BIANCO-LEVRIN, I am the Artistic Director and the Co-Director of Diplomatic-cover.

I have followed studies of traditional graphics print, and even time I have discovered the Web, and I have used flash since 1999.

I have worked in different studios as graphist / web designer (2 years). And I started freelancing under the name of DIPLOMATIC-COVER.

Two and a half years later I joined Marilyne Andine Allard my collaborator and accomplice - marketing formation - to develop the company that we drive today.

Now we have stopped expanding the company's structure in order to keep a qualitative line, our principal aim.

DIPLOMATIC-COVER is composed of a team of passionate psychopaths.

  What do you do for inspiration?

The general ideas are rather traditional, they come from films, videos, design books, FWA;)

The most twisted ideas arrive at night as I drift into a light sleep.

  Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

www.magnoliathemovie.com (2003, but so nice!)

corpsebridemovie.warnerbros.com

www.Facingnewyork.com

  What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Rayman 4, for the complexity, video, 3d, action script. A true piece of team work, and I am proud to have such a well rounded and focused team.

  What software couldn't you live without?

Photoshop, without any hesitation.

  What projects do you have in the pipeline?

A big project for a game, 2 fashion websites, and the new website of Diplomatic-cover, there will be many changes ;)

  Who do you rate as being the top 3 design companies?

2adanced for its vision of things in advance, and what it brought to the Web. BigSpaceShip for its irreproachable work. Moreover, I adore the site of WEFAIL, for their creativity and their single style.

  What did your very first site look like? Is it still online?

Hehe, my first website was homogenese.com, very experimental, with animations image by image, a tech/trash universe. It's not online anymore.

  Have you written any books, if not do you plan to?

Not for the moment, my dream would be to make a collection of drafts, visuals, feelings, and universes, a purely visual book.

  What was the toughest thing you ever did with Flash? How long did you spend on it? Is it still online?

It is the site of driver 3, at the time I did not code at all (I came from print), the site is done almost fully with goToandPlay.

I did not know the variables, this project was enormous in 6 languages, with Wallpaper Creator and Screensaver Creator. I had to create by hand all the possibilities, many sleepless nights. The site is no longer online.

  Do you think Flash is here to stay?

It is on!!! Flash is THE footbridge for interactive video, new Web services etc. Flash has a reputation for anticipating one's needs, video/php/streaming… the tool is becoming massive.

I think that the base of the software is good and Flash has succeeded to prove that it was evolutionary, thus it should remain for some time to come, and the Flash team are really visionary ;)

  What are your views on design/graphic school. Do you think someone can get into the field without educational experience in a school environment?

I think that schools are very useful for the creative step, the organization, and dissociation between the idea and the tools.

The people who did not go to school often mixed the tool and the idea, and can lose in coherence. It is due to the fact that they started with the technique and not with the creation/conception.

On the other hand a person who has his own universe, inevitably does not need to make it at school.

  When your company was just getting started, what did you find was most effective for getting new clients?

Buzz, the FWA for Transformers, and our website.

  How have you learned so many Flash/design skills and techniques and can you offer any advice for newbies?

Be curious, I think that it is only the true advice (the assistance of flash is quite good, it is the best teacher). And especially mix your techniques!!! 3d, 2d, illustration, Typo.

  What is the most expensive thing you've bought in the last week?

XBOX 360 Games.

  What type of overcoat do you wear when Flashing, basically are you a labels man?

One day, a fashion victim/One day, a big bear.

  Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

BE CURIOUS.