tools built with artists,
not against them.
Aestelier explores how technology can support visual artists without taking control of their works, methods, or private spaces.
The interviews are used to build from real practices: understanding how artists work, what slows them down, what must remain under their control, and under what conditions a digital tool can genuinely help.
Building with artists instead of designing in their place.
Understanding real practices before freezing a tool, and protecting what must remain under the artist’s control.
Artists already use digital tools to search, produce, classify, archive, and present their work. But some recent technological uses have weakened their position: unclear consent, image extraction, opaque datasets, and models trained without clear agreement. Many feel dispossessed.
Aestelier starts from another direction: creating tools made for artists, with artists, within a framework that protects their work and their ability to decide. The goal is not to replace artistic gesture, but to augment the workflow, while leaving control with the artist.
The interviews are not meant to extract data. They are meant to build a tool from field reality, within an explicit protection framework.
Understanding the workflow, with a focus on references.
The interview is about how you work: tools, habits, private zones, and conditions of trust.
The first subject studied more closely is visual reference research. This came from early conversations with several artists, where collecting, organizing, and reusing references appeared as a recurring pain point.
The aim is not to define how an artistic workflow should operate. The aim is to understand how it already operates, in order to design a tool that fits into it respectfully.
An exchange limited to what the artist agrees to share.
During the interview and after it. Each right below can be exercised without justification.
An interview generally lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Consent is requested before the exchange, and participants can ask questions about the framework before starting.
It is not necessary to show personal works, sensitive files, or a complete workspace. Artists can speak generally about their uses, show only what they want, or show nothing at all.
- 01refuse a question
- 02avoid showing personal work
- 03decline screen sharing
- 04hide files, folders, or references
- 05refuse recording
- 06pause or stop the interview
- 07withdraw or limit consent
A document for transparency, not a rights transfer.
The form makes the framework explicit. Consent options remain unchecked and chosen manually.
The form makes the framework explicit before the interview: what is requested, what can be refused, what will not be done, and under what conditions words, identity, or examples might be used.
Participants access it with a code sent before the exchange. The form only pre-fills the necessary context: project, interview type, date. Participating gives no automatic rights over the artist’s works, references, identity, or words. Any public or specific use requires separate written agreement.
What I choose to open.
- 01take part in the interview
- 02allow or refuse note-taking
- 03allow or refuse recording
- 04allow or refuse transcription
- 05allow internal analysis of the answers
- 06allow or refuse follow-up contact
- 07approve any public quote separately before use
What remains out of scope.
- 01train an AI model on the artist’s works or references
- 02index works in a database
- 03create a dataset from shown or discussed images
- 04reuse, transform, or publish a work
- 05publish the artist’s identity without agreement
- 06quote the artist publicly without separate approval
- 07use their name, image, or work for marketing
you already have an appointment.
Access the form with the code sent before the interview. You will be able to read the framework, choose consent options, and prepare the exchange.
you are discovering the project.
Write to me to discuss the approach, ask a question, or suggest an interview. I reply personally.
A personal note
Behind Aestelier, there is a person listening to you, not an automatic collection.
My name is Guillaume Schneider. I lead this research to understand how artists really work with their references, tools, and private spaces before designing anything.
The interview is a voluntary exchange. You can ask a question, refuse a part, come back to a point, or ask what will be done with your answers. My role is to keep this framework clear and never turn participation into general authorization.