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Interview with Grigorii Gorkovenko |
Home > Designer Interviews > Grigorii Gorkovenko |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Grigorii Gorkovenko (GG) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Grigorii Gorkovenko 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?
GG: I was born in a family of architects and from a young age dreamed of implementing my ideas and fantasies tied to architecture, design and forms. I had this desire to influence people and the world around me by using space, shapes, textures and dimensions. To create contextually relevant atmosphere (make it warmer where it's needed, and make it cooler where it's too warm). No, I didn't always want to be a designer, I'm an architect and I always dreamed of being an architect. But the more I delve into creativity, the more I realize that design, architecture and object design are one and the same.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
GG: I founded the architecture and design company RIM in 2012 as a student. After 6 years, I opened a line of object design and production of furniture, décor, and lighting. The combination of the two fields of object and interior design makes it possible to create the best conceptual and unique interiors. And makes the journey from the most fantastic idea to its implementation as short as possible.
FS: What is "design" for you?
GG: Design for me represents air, freedom and honesty about myself and the world I live in.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
GG: What I enjoy most is designing large spaces, where we create huge installations and tiny objects both, and together they affect the space.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
GG: One of the products most dear to our hearts is SHURA, a reinterpreted image of the Russian matryoshka doll. It has virtually become the signature of each of our projects.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
GG: It was an office space. At the time, I had been inspired by Zaha Hadid. And the space came together in a very futuristic style.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
GG: My favorite material is ceramic. It allows you to realize majority of the most complex forms. While maintaining its lightness and smoothness. And being visually expensive at an affordable price.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
GG: When I am trusted. When I am trusted to design large spaces, I feel like a composer writing a symphony to create the right mood.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
GG: I am convinced that functionality is not the first priority in design. Emotion always comes first, functionality follows after. "You are unlikely to smile when you sit in a comfortable chair or put flowers in a handy vase. But you will certainly smile when you see and touch a quaint and bright object."
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
GG: I feel a sense of responsibility and genuineness.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
GG: I feel like I'm on the right track. And that it's time to set higher goals, riskier challenges.
FS: What makes a design successful?
GG: Successful design to me means the energy that flows from the creator to the user.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
GG: There is no good and bad design, no right and wrong. There are different views of different people about different things. They either align. Or they don't.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
GG: Design is an echo of the problems of the earth.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
GG: The design drifts into simplicity, into a simpler image, but with more meaning and implications.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
GG: The last exhibition was held in Vladivostok at Vladivostok Design Week. We plan to have exhibitions in Moscow, Milan and Miami. We love cities starting with the letter M :)
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
GG: I draw inspiration from greatest names in design, music and art in general.
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?
GG: Here it's about Serious fun.
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?
GG: I live in the Far East of Russia, in the city of Khabarovsk. Of course, my style was influenced by the country's heritage. This can be seen in my products. I reinterpret and modernize traditional Slavic imagery in my design.
FS: How do you work with companies?
GG: With respect for their goals and objectives, but with the understanding that those goals and objectives will go through my design filter.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
GG: Rely on his history and knowledge, his experience, his imagination, and his willingness to take risks. His ability to listen to others and himself and to negotiate with himself.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
GG: The design process is always chaotic, consisting of endless sketches, spontaneous meetings to discuss a new idea and its immediate implementation before it evaporates or gets used by someone else.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
GG: — Moooi monster chair — wall cover by Jaime Hayon — Richard Repper's coffee maker — First SHURA made by GORKOVENKO design — Mom's rarity vintage samovar
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
GG: Each of my days consists of: Sketching Visiting production shops Brainstorming with the team Zoom conferences with clients, solving current problems Sports Meditation
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
GG: Dream Fall and rise, dream again, and make your dreams come true
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
GG: Pros - you can create the world around you, be in tune with yourself, be ahead of time, constantly fantasize and work with interesting people and projects. Cons - design consumes all your time, you fall asleep and wake up thinking about your work, and always have to be prepared that you won't be listened to.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
GG: My golden rule is that design should be surprising and make you smile and motivate you to think.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
GG: Developing your own style Goal setting Discipline and moderate dedication
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
GG: Computer software (3D max, Adobe Photoshop) I always have a sketchbook with me I draw inspiration from honest art in all its manifestations
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
GG: For me it's regulated chaos, sometimes I feel like I'm juggling a lot of tasks and goals. Amidst this chaos, it's important to make time for what you truly enjoy, to keep surprising yourself.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
GG: Design is like a flash, so as soon as you feel it, you try to start the process from sketching to implementation as quickly as possible. Of course, it all depends on the scale, materials and technological uniqueness. The fastest process took a month from sketching to making the first prototype.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
GG: Don't laugh, but more often than not I get asked what I smoke/use to come up with these designs.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
GG: There was one very complicated challenge when we needed to create a series of 18 meter sculptures for a shopping mall. We had to solve a number of issues related to the size and weight of the sculptures, their height of 16 meters and a very short time frame for implementation.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
GG: Our client is a sophisticated person, a collector. He is in search of an unusual design and wants new emotions. We work both with private interiors and huge commercial spaces, and our style is evident in both cases.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
GG: I like to create big projects where I can construct my own world and design everything from small details to huge installations; that's when I can achieve my goal and have the necessary impact on people's emotions and feelings.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
GG: My future plans are to go global, my goal is to participate in the world's largest design-related events. To create projects and spaces for big brands.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
GG: We have a team of professionals, led by studio leader Grigory Gorkovenko, which is why we can produce such different objects and such different products.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
GG: Of course a lot of projects are in the works, but we'll wait for the final result before talking about them.
FS: How can people contact you?
GG: https://gorko-venko.com/, https://www.instagram.com/gorkovenko_design/, zakaz@gorko-venko.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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