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Interview with Larisa Zolotova |
Home > Designer Interviews > Larisa Zolotova |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Larisa Zolotova (LZ) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Larisa Zolotova 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?
LZ: I was into a design since my childhood. It started at the elementary school as a hobby of creating clothes and jewelry. Later, I had been designing furniture and interiors professionally for 7 years. The love to a creating and a designing slowly transformed to a very strong and unique passion for making jewelry. I decided to pursue the art of jewelry and made it a new career in 2014. I developed my technical skills and knowledge for working with precious metals and gems at the School of Jewelry Arts in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In 2016, I was graduated from Graduate Gemologist and Jewelry Design and Technology at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California, USA.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
LZ: Our company focuses on CAD jewelry design, custom jewelry design and 3d modeling of paintings of famous artists in conection with projects for blind and visually impaired people
FS: What is "design" for you?
LZ: Each Jewelry has to have a story. The design is about adding value, making difference, and creating moments of happiness.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
LZ: I like to experiment with all types of shapes and natural forms like flowers, birds, animals, and people. My vision is to create dynamic, intriguing, complex and unique jewelry. My signature is a jewelry with elements of sculpture.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
LZ: Russian ballet and my affection for Saint-Petersburg inspired me to create this piece of jewelry. For me, this city, Russian theatre and Russian ballet represent an integral whole. And I am so happy that Europe noticed my Ballerina ring and dully appreciated it. When creating the design, I did not want to use the traditionalmodes of bezel setting to secure the big stone and tried to find a morespectacular and unusual way. This is how the bezel in the form of a floating ballerina was born. Out-of-the-box thinking is an important quality for a designer. So, I am trying to translate it into each of my work. In addition to the ring and the pendant, I am planning to create a classical style collection dedicated to Russian ballet.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
LZ: It was silver bracelet The Sun of Khakasia. The whole bracelet was braided by hands with a big center stone surrounded by fire flames like flower petals.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
LZ: My favorite material is gold, and it is not only my lрast name means «gold» but also for its beauty and unique properties. My favorite CAD program is Matrix and organic modeling tools Clayoo and T-Spline.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
LZ: I like to create at the moment of silence, especially in front of a big window in a brightly lighted room or during the night when all family sleep. At this moments I am free of worries and able to focus on a single task.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
LZ: I focus on different aspects during the designing process. For instance, criteria for designing custom piece is different from mass-produced jewelry. Thereby, I adjust my criteria according to a specific project. However, it is always important to me, as a designer in a jewelry field, to consider color, form, target relevance, and emotional value in design. Other very important criteria for evaluating jewelry design is usability, functionality, ease of production, and uniqueness.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
LZ: I feel deep enjoyment during the process of making or designing jewelry. And this enjoyment always connects with a specific motion. I always get my inspiration from emotions when I design. It could be happiness, curiosity, sadness, wonder, amazement, frustration, or other emotions.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
LZ: After my design has been realized and a piece of jewelry has been finished, I feel pleasure and a great satisfaction when I see the happy eyes of my customers.
FS: What makes a design successful?
LZ: The universal criteria for successful design are originality and one of a kind appeal. However, a designer always has to consider the purpose of a creating a design. If this design is for a client then your design should meet client’s criteria. If design creates for a competition, he/she has to check the evaluation criteria of the competition. If it is for his/her own brand, then it should be considered your own target audience and characteristics of the final product.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
LZ: I evaluate my designs according to different criteria. They may vary depending on a project. For instance, if it is a custom piece or mass-produced jewelry. However, it is always important to me as a designer in a jewelry field to consider color, form, target relevance, and emotional value in design. Other very important criteria for evaluating jewelry design is usability, functionality, ease of production, and uniqueness. If a design that I created meets all criteria, I consider it as a good design and begin to produce the piece.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
LZ: Designers are problem solvers who are responsible for society and environment over the choices how to change society and environment. New products and new processes implemented by designers contribute to social well-being. Their professional contribution plays a huge role in economic development, livelihood, and environment.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
LZ: In my opinion, designers with cross-disciplinary experience and knowledge will become more important and integrative approach to designing will dominatein the future. And the reason is that the best innovative designs have been created by the team of people from different disciplines.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
LZ: My last exhibition was in Fallbrook, CA, USA. If we speak about the USA, I would like to hold my next exhibition in New York.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
LZ: I get my inspiration as a jewelry designer through traveling, nature and the utilization of bright colors.
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?
LZ: I consider the design style of my jewelry as contemporary classic where elegant classical elements merge with decorative contemporary details.
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?
LZ: I am originally from Russia, but I currently live in the United States. I consider myself cross-cultural. I have been traveled a lot around the world and I like to study a different culture and implement this knowledge and experience into my design. I like to observe people and study environment.
FS: How do you work with companies?
LZ: The majority of my projects I do by myself, beginning from the stage of designing and finishing a buffing stage. However, I can outsource part of my work, such as casting, molding, printing wax, or produce certain types of setting, for example, invisible setting.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
LZ: First of all, companies should have the idea of the final result. Second of all, a good designer will ask you question and will try to understand your need.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
LZ: First, I try to define what kind of object I create and for whom design will be done. Second, I do research if necessary and specify requirements. Then I create a "mood board" and create different variations of the project.After that, I choose the best solutions and develop them deeply. Later time to coordinate with a client. Finlay, I build a prototype of a new design, test, and create a final model.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
LZ: It is difficult to allocate five favorite. Everything that I buy or create tends to be multifunctioning. I like different products with different functionality and the ability to transform. For example, jewels that could be used as pendants or brooches or clothes that could be transformed and worn differently.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
LZ: I start my day with a cup of coffee, reading design news, and reviewing my plans for the day. This morning ritual makes me happy and helps to focus on what's important for today. My every day is different and I can not call them boring.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
LZ: My advice to emerging designers is not to be scared of breaking new ground. No matter what you did before you started getting into jewelry business and how old you are. Passion for your job and hard work will make you achieve any goals. I wish everybody good luck and excellence in jewelry art. Develop your contacts and share your experience.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
LZ: From the day when I choose to change my career to become a jewelry designer, I see only positive sides. Starting with the creation process and ending with presenting finished products to clients.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
LZ: One of the more important rules in design for me is to keep in mind the question “who am I designing for?” Every design has an intended audience, the people that will be viewing the design and receiving the communication.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
LZ: The most important skills for any designer are out of the box thinking, time management, problem solving and communication skills. These are the main characteristics that will lead a designer to the success.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
LZ: I often use Pinterest for creating my mood board, plain paper with a pencil for drawing sketches, also traveling and nature for inspiration.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
LZ: First, I try to reduce random interruptions such as email checking or doing small tasks. In addition, I schedule my meetings and my design time. Finally, I manage my time for researching and exploration because they are usually time-consuming.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
LZ: It depends on a project. Some projects last only one month, others could last couple years.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
LZ: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
LZ: I had a great experience working at the Laboratory of Science Restoration of Precious Metal at The Hermitage. The name of the project was “Invisible Paintings” I created a 3D model of Self-portrait with shaded eyes by Rembrandt for blind and visually impaired people. That was the first painting that helped blind people to explore Art. The project was connected with an exhibition of Dutch masterpieces from The Leiden Collection founded by American collectors Thomas S. Kaplan and Daphne Recanati.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
LZ: 2017, Economic online strategy "Age of Clones", Dragon Ring, SAINT MARTIN/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC2017, PavLove Jewelry, Skull Collection, TEL AVIV/ISRAEL. 2018, Research in the field of restoration sculpture and jewelry using 3D modeling together with The State Hermitage Museum, CAD Designer, ST.PETERSBURG/RUSSIA
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
LZ: CAD Modeling is what I enjoy the most. It gives you the freedom to realize almost any idea for your jewelry project.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
LZ: I plan to realize my dream of releasing a fine jeweled egg every year as Faberge did avoiding coping him and implementing new technology and contemporary design trends.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
LZ: I usually work alone and develop my designs by myself.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
LZ: I am currently working on Ballerina Jewelry Line.
FS: How can people contact you?
LZ: The best way to contact me by email. lzolotova@outlook.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
LZ: NA
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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