There’s a quiet revolution happening in the world of podcast visuals, and if you’ve watched any of the Know Thyself trailers lately, you’ve already seen it. Behind those captivating, almost hypnotic visuals is Louis Lemaire, also known as Louis Lee (byloulee), a French motion designer and visual artist who has spent the past year and a half shaping the aesthetic identity of one of the most talked-about self-discovery podcasts on the planet.
From Freelance Creative to Art Director
Louis Lee runs byloulee, his creative studio, where he focuses on short-form visuals, intros, reels, and visual assets for brands and creative projects. His ongoing collaboration with Know Thyself has been a defining chapter of his work, giving him the opportunity to shape a cohesive visual identity over time.
For those unfamiliar, Know Thyself is a podcast created and hosted by André Duqum, exploring themes of consciousness, personal transformation, and self-understanding. The show has featured guests like Tim Ferriss, Deepak Chopra, and Sadhguru, consistently delivering conversations that challenge listeners to look inward. And for every single episode trailer over the past eighteen months, Louis has been the creative force translating those profound ideas into visual form.
Since last June, Louis has expanded his role beyond trailer creation. He now works directly with André on the broader visual direction of the entire Know Thyself brand. It’s a partnership built on shared values and a mutual understanding that visuals should never just be decoration. They should mean something.
The Philosophy Behind the Art
What makes Louis stand out in a crowded field of motion designers? It comes down to intention. He describes his approach simply: creating visuals that feel both meaningful and genuinely beautiful, without overdoing things. In an era where maximalism and visual overload dominate social feeds, that restraint is refreshing.
There’s something almost meditative about his work. Watch any Know Thyself trailer, and you’ll notice how the visuals breathe. They don’t assault you with information. Instead, they draw you in, creating space for the ideas to land. This isn’t accidental. It’s the result of someone who thinks deeply about what visual storytelling actually requires.
Louis isn’t content to be a specialist in just one corner of the creative world either. He’s actively working to master the full scope of visual art, including motion design, filmmaking, traditional design, and VFX. His reasoning is practical and ambitious at the same time: his long-term goal is to grow into an art director with a real, hands-on understanding of every part of the creative process.
That holistic approach matters. When an art director truly understands how a cinematographer thinks, what a VFX artist needs, or how a graphic designer approaches composition, they can lead projects with clarity and empathy. Louis is building that foundation now, project by project.
Why Know Thyself Works
The pairing of Louis Lee and Know Thyself makes sense when you understand what both are trying to accomplish. André Duqum built the podcast as a community dedicated to helping people understand themselves and the world around them. The show explores everything from neuroscience to spirituality, always circling back to that fundamental question of self-knowledge.
Visuals for a project like this can’t be generic. They can’t feel corporate or overly polished in that soulless stock footage way. They need to match the depth of the conversations, which is exactly what Louis delivers. His trailers set the tone before a single word is spoken, priming viewers to receive something more substantial than typical content.
What Comes Next
Louis isn’t planning to stay where he is creatively. He’s spoken openly about his intention to eventually work from the United States, in order to be closer to projects, collaborators, and creative environments that push his work further. Part of that draw is Know Thyself itself. As the podcast continues to expand its reach and influence, closer proximity to the creative ecosystem could naturally support its visual evolution.
For artists watching Louis’s trajectory, there’s an important lesson here. He didn’t wait for permission or a perfect opportunity. He built his skills, found a project aligned with his values, and created work worth noticing. That’s really all any of us can do.
You can explore more of Louis Lee’s portfolio and follow his journey on Instagram and X under the handle byloulee. If you haven’t watched a Know Thyself trailer yet, start there. You’ll see immediately why this collaboration works.
