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Interview with Natalie Musorina |
Home > Designer Interviews > Natalie Musorina |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Natalie Musorina (NM) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Natalie Musorina by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
NM: I have degree in math and have worked in IT area during 10 years. Nothing common with design at first sight. But only at first, because most part of these years I have been working as IT-architect and helping to transform abstract requirements to the software systems and connections between them to create products that people can use. It is design per se and I always tried to create some kind of abstract beauty in it. But physical objects and their aesthetics were also very attractive for me since I remember myself. After time this attractiveness has brought me to getting education in design area. However, my first math education and years of working in IT area gives me deep sight on things as attempt to understand the essence of their beauty.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
NM: Therefore, I create designs for manufacturers but also work on my own projects, like the chair Torsion.
FS: What is "design" for you?
NM: For me design is emotions. Not just a pleasure to see some objects, but emotions from full-circle interaction process, from idea, production, buying, using and finally to reclaiming.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
NM: I like complicated problems, their solutions are always more interesting. So, talking about furniture, chairs are my favorite type because interactions with it should include not just static use cases, but also a lot of dynamics. Furthermore it is an object with strongest connections with human body and it is interesting by itself.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
NM: It was hookah. Actually the most interesting design area for me is a furniture design, so it was pretty unusual and challenging task.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
NM: By now it is plywood. It is wonderful material with a lot of possibilities.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
NM: I suppose functionality of object is the most important. However, it is not enough; there should be some idea in my works, combination of different aspects.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
NM: It can be the wide range of emotions - from frustration to satisfaction and excitement.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
NM: It is an interesting feeling, I cannot really describe it. Something close to delight, but deeper like you are one-step closer to the essence of things.
FS: What makes a design successful?
NM: I suppose it is a combination of different factors - functionality, aesthetic, associations, creating method, context and so on.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
NM: Bad, as I have a lot to learn and use possibilities to do it.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
NM: Design of surrounding things and space, both material and virtual, partially defines people's behavior. So it is designer's responsibility to think about this influence. But it is also useful to remember that there are a lot of other factors to divide liability. It is really hard topic to discuss, so my motto in it - do your duty, come what may.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
NM: My chair "Torsion" is taking part in IF Design Award exhibition in Hamburg, Germany this spring.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
NM: It really depends. Sometimes it is a problem I came across, sometimes it is a piece of nature/art/design I would like to interpret as another object, sometimes it is a feature of material I am working with. It can be really everything, even the word or gesture.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
NM: I like to work on an interface of art and design and create things that look like sculptures or at least objects that interesting to consider. However, in contrast to art, design is not just how a thing look and emotions it provokes, but how it works. So I always keep in mind functional requirements to create not just something is pleasant to see, but something is pleasant to use.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
NM: I am living in Moscow, Russia. Design is a sporadically occurrence here in Russia and it is an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. Disadvantage because environment in general does not form aesthetical principles in people, because during decades there was limited attention to this area, design in general was a second value thing. Advantage because there are a lot of possibilities for young designers. In addition, plywood is cheap here :). Talking about influence, I think everybody is a product of society and surroundings in some way and of course, cultural heritage as a part of it affects me, but I do not think it has a direct impact. Besides now, in the age of the internet, all world’s past and present cultural values are available from every part of the Earth with Wi-Fi access point.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
NM: I do not think I can translate it into words, even with my ability to systematize information and the big experience in developing activity diagrams :). There is always something different, every process is unique like an object I am creating.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
NM: I do not think I wise enough to teach someone. However, from my point of view, design is a cross-functional area so it is always good to broaden horizons and learn something new every day.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
NM: Usually I try to create prototypes for my objects by myself, if I can, and sometimes it is quite hard work. It is the single disadvantage I can say. But I am not the best person to ask such question, I did not choose that job according its pros and cons, but just I could not do otherwise.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
NM: Everything should be appropriate.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
NM: Ability for creating something new.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
NM: It depends on object. From couple of days to years.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
NM: My IT-expirience is very important; despite it is not product design area by itself, at least not directly.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
NM: I really like all parts of design works, from initial idea to prototyping; there is something very exciting to see how design is changing during that process and how that process leads gradually to a beautiful new object.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
NM: I would like to create a set of objects inspired by Naum Gabo's works, like my Torsion rocking chair. Now I am working on coffee tables, but according my plans it will also include another chair, a headboard and some pieces of lighting.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
NM: I develope my designs myself.
FS: How can people contact you?
NM: By e-mail: nmusorina@gmail.com
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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