| THE AWARD |
| CATEGORIES |
| REGISTRATION |
| SUBMIT YOUR WORK |
| ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS |
| TERMS & CONDITIONS |
| PUBLICATIONS |
| DATES & FEES |
| METHODOLOGY |
| CONTACT |
| WINNERS |
| PRESS ROOM |
| GET INVOLVED |
| DESIGN PRIZE |
| DESIGN STORE |
| THE AWARD | JURY | CATEGORIES | REGISTRATION | PRESS | WINNERS | PUBLICATIONS | ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS |
Interview with Ekaterina Malakhova |
Home > Designer Interviews > Ekaterina Malakhova |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Ekaterina Malakhova (EM) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Ekaterina Malakhova 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?
EM: I have been working as a graphic designer more than 15 years. Yet I have always practiced painting and drawings since my school years. I can’t remember when I was not drawing, so it was natural choice. According to my basic education I am an artist. When I entered the academy I chosen graphic design faculty because I was interested in bringing together pictures and words and make them into powerful images and stories.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
EM: My design studio are people who I work with. We do not go to office, but we are always in touch. They are illustrators, photographers, fonts designers and industrial specialists.
FS: What is "design" for you?
EM: In general design is something natural: ideas come and go, and sometimes they are so bright that I need to share them. Also I consider design as a way to make our life better: more convenient, more individual and emotional. It is the way to build a personal environment or companies image. Graphic design, to me particularly, is bringing together pictures and words and make them into powerful images and stories, which might help my clients to tell about them.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
EM: Most of all I like designing stories: like calendars or catalogues. It allows to show the development of story. Kind of scenario.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
EM: I admire Rick Owens, Zaha Hadid and Givenchy. I would be happy if I had the opportunity to collaborate with.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
EM: That was corporate magazine for ship developing company.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
EM: I like the stainless steal, plastic, Adobe and Cinema 4D.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
EM: In the mornings.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
EM: It depends on the current task. When I work for a client, I do my best to achieve their goals. When I design my own projects, it might be research of the materials or experiment.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
EM: The journey from the idea to the design sometimes might be compared to groping in the dark, yet sometimes it is like a flash: you suddenly might be enlightened and you might imagine the whole thing as complete in entirety. Certainly, I guess, it’s a common notion as designers might describe their mental process, in my case - it goes like that.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
EM: It is a great pleasure to see your project in the flesh. Also I love to see my satisfied clients.
FS: What makes a design successful?
EM: Good design strikes a balance between aesthetic, convenience and some emotion. When we take away one of constituents it falls apart.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
EM: I consider more than one aspect, usually it is a composition of emotion and usability.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
EM: There is a perfect quotation which is appropriate for design: being determines consciousness. I am sure that design is responsible for our being in general, and consequently, for how we feel and define ouselfes.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
EM: I believe, in a very soon time design field will occupy more aspects of our life. We will might be even not noticing that, and it is already happening. It becomes more usual and more natural, just soaking into our veins.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
EM: I work both ways: art and design. The last art exhibition I took part was on February 2018. The last design exhibition was on November 2017. The next one I am planning to participate on October 2018.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
EM: The best source of inspiration is time alone, listening the music or walking with my dog.
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?
EM: My approach is "relevancy to the aim".
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?
EM: I think, today cultural heritage in the design is not the defining notion. Design today is wider issue. Also, I think, we are limited in terms of technology, it might affect design in our country.
FS: How do you work with companies?
EM: Working with companies is great, it requires some regulations and papers, but it is a part of designers work and I have all the things done with the professional consultants.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
EM: The best way is try and see. The company might choose one or another designer based on his portfolio, and it is the first step. Yet every new project is unique, and every design commission is collaboration. So: listen each other and make some trials. And you might elaborate something excellent.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
EM: Idea/impuls - sketch - discussing - designing - production.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
EM: Wall torches in the hall, ceiling lighting, glass walls, mirror in corridor, bed.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
EM: Wake up at 7, walk the dog, breakfast/reading, working, sport, walk the dog again around 16-17, working again, family time.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
EM: My suggestion would be: try as much as possible. The only practice allows to understand your way.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
EM: Working with the most interesting and most demanding clients. That is what I love in my work and that is the challenge. The true negative thing is when the project goes beyond the planned time, but becoming more experienced, the designer learn to manage it.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
EM: It is the balance between beauty, convenience and emotion. When the design embraces all these notions, it has "wow-effect" and lives forever.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
EM: Impartiality, awarenes, communicability
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
EM: In terms of software it is: Adobe Apps. The inspiration might come from anything: sunlight, reflections on the road after the rain or the brunch of tree.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
EM: It is similar to pendulum. The thinking process is ceaseless you just need to implement the ideas. So I work quite fast.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
EM: It might take a few hours, also, when the project is big enough, sometimes it might take one or two month.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
EM: How you make it up? How you can think that way?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
EM: I appreciate every experience. Yet the most important case I would like to share is not about designing but about communication. That was the lesson I have learned from my husband. The other day I had an issue with a small project (that was a corporate calendar), I made many designs, and they were good, but the client was not satisfied. And my husband told me then: whatever specification form a client you get it is never the path, you make your own to yourself. That was unpleasant, almost hurtful. I was rebellious at that moment, beacause, you know, the designers need to be appreciated. But I understood, that I must be ON the client’s side. It never means I become an instrument as a pen or a computer. It means I am an expert, and bring my client in a professional field, looking for a great design together. Since that moment I make no more than 2-3 designs, and one of them is always going to process.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
EM: My clients are top managers and business owners. Everyone is very interesting person.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
EM: I enjoy all types of my work, yet the most exciting part is when the right idea comes to my mind and I share it and it meets the requirements.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
EM: I am thinking on the city design object, which people would be interested to interact.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
EM: I develop designs on my own, also when the project is big enough, I work with a team accordingly.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
EM: I am currently working on the corporate style of Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University. I consider it asw an achievement. In a very soon time I will publish it.
FS: How can people contact you?
EM: People can contact me easily. Phone, e-mail or FB.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
EM: I am very happy in my work, and it is the great acknowledge to be among the winners of A'Design Awards.
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.
Press Members: Register and login to request a custom interview with Ekaterina Malakhova.
| SOCIAL |
| + Add to Likes / Favorites | Send to My Email | Comment | Testimonials |
