| 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 Denis Elianovsky |
Home > Designer Interviews > Denis Elianovsky |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Denis Elianovsky (DE) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Denis Elianovsky 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?
DE: My Father passed away when I was quite young, which necessitated that I find work earlier than most. Having tried my hand in laborious positions, serendipitous circumstance landed me in a design position, at which, somewhat to my surprise, I naturally excelled and felt most comfortable.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
DE: I am the founder of opium.pro software company. We work at the intersection of software design and engineering, creating sophisticated IT solutions for some of the largest companies in Eastern Europe
FS: What is "design" for you?
DE: Design is an extension, and satisfactory realization of a desire.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
DE: I really love the projects on which failed many of the previous attempts. It's always satisfying to finally get the things done. Especially when it comes to something complex.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
DE: We are improving all the time. Although we are proud of every project, the newest one is always the opportunity for improvement. Our latest baby is a design for our own startup — 3+5
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
DE: A business card. It was 14 years ago. Just of curiosity I called the customer recently and it turned out that they are still using my design for their business cards.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
DE: All my colleagues eventually find out how to use do not disturb mode on their phones because I send a lot of messages at 4am, the most productive time.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
DE: I start at the end and work backwards. Meaning I have identified what’s missing, and strive to make it manifest.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
DE: I can't say I feel anything. Actually I barely can feel the time itself during designing. You have just started and boom, it's 4am
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
DE: I start noticing what we have missed in it and what we might have done better. I suppose this is a feeling of frustration.
FS: What makes a design successful?
DE: To quote Futurama, If you do things right, no one will be certain you did anything at all. Good design becomes an innate part of every life, providing an invaluable convenience.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
DE: The objective. You can be a talented designer and make functional work, but if your objective is simply it’s completion, you have missed the point. Quality products enamor the user to return, for the seamless experience of using the service.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
DE: Convenience purely for more consumption is the antithesis of a healthy society. I think convenience so as to facilitate greater personal control and time management are a fulfilling consequence of good design.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
DE: There is so much focus on AI and it’s inevitability. Not without some nervousness. However, the hand of the maker will never be exempt. Further I hope the reasons why we work, not just how we work, will also change to better reflect a healthy society.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
DE: Don't force yourself to do anything, just relax and listen to the silence till it speaks back to you. If it says something about deadlines, then you are inspired enough and it's time to do stuff.
FS: How do you work with companies?
DE: It's probably a good thing to find the right person inside the company, the one who is really interested in changing something and has the resources and power for that. And when we have found them, we just work with these people, respect and mind their priorities.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
DE: There is no way choose the best one for you without working with them. So just start with something small and look carefully at their attitude. The attitude stays the same regardless if the project is small or it is big.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
DE: Immerse yourself in projects that you care about. Build a project around something you love. Be it a tv show, a sports team, whatever. Just get started and from there your passion projects will grow, and you will treat every assignment with the same personal attention to detail.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
DE: The old maxims are true. Success is a mixture of hard work and luck. The latter is in the lap of the Gods, but you must do your part. If you are unsure of your abilities, say goodbye to that version of yourself and fake it until you make it. It can feel dubious at first, but better that than inaction.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
DE: It’s important to be true to yourself. Imitation, however flattering it might be, is a fine starting point, but it is a shallow end point. Few things are more refreshing than designers who can march to the beat of their own drum.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
DE: For now we make use of the Figma app. But honestly we just as often simply use pen paper. Making the process tactile and familiar, this encourages a sort of personal value and association.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
DE: Designing is also a really pleasurable task, the time is not a problem.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
DE: Usually it takes at least 3 months. But sometimes it can take a year or more. The emphasis is on delivering quality. Designing for failure disrespects both the customer and provider alike.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
DE: Why does it cost so much?
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
DE: Big things on the horizon. We are launching our own financial startup in EU. http://3p5.app
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
DE: A team. The name is opium.pro
FS: How can people contact you?
DE: ilove@opium.pro
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 Denis Elianovsky.
| SOCIAL |
| + Add to Likes / Favorites | Send to My Email | Comment | Testimonials |
