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Interview with Pytailo Viacheslav |
Home > Designer Interviews > Pytailo Viacheslav |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Pytailo Viacheslav (PV) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Pytailo Viacheslav 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?
PV: Historically, all my business activity is related to real estate in some or other way. As a matter of fact, I became a designer without any theoretical skills, because this area is directly related to both construction and repairs. This has turned into a hobby and passion from practice for 15 years of perforce.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
PV: My SKS design studio was formed as a response to a request from customers, friends and acquaintances. They needed a turnkey high-quality repair, taking into account all the wishes for the layout design and rationalization. When there are a lot of projects, being different in terms of constructiveness, footage, layout and design, you cannot do without a professional team. Our team consists of professionals enjoying their work. A new project is a challenge for each of us to make it better and more beautiful than last time. Our pride is that SKS customers trust us in the design and planning solutions' selection choice entirely. And, of course, all their preferences are taken into account.
FS: What is "design" for you?
PV: This is creativity, the creation of a masterpiece, a real challenge, passion, hours of days and nights of thoughts, during which I imagine how it will be better, more beautiful, constantly improving the project. My objective is the owner’s apartment to be a pure reflection of his character.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
PV: I used to enjoy the loft in its various manifestations a couple of years ago, but nowadays modern classic has become my favorite. We are trying to combine design with the art of both artists and sculptors almost everywhere. Therefore, each of our projects is a mix of different art types. Sculptures and paintings are in almost all the interiors created by SKS. Grunge never leaves me indifferent. I enjoy riding around the world and visiting colorful places for inspiration — this is an inexhaustible source of new ideas. Each nation and country has its own design specificity and flavor, which we use in our work with gusto.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
PV: I like the process of creating an idea the most, and only then - materialization. That's fantastic, when we or customers ring in the new non-standard solutions, for example, furniture creating manually or right at the object.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
PV: The first embodied design was in 2005 - our goal was to design a health complex of 350 square meters and zoning the space using different stylistic solutions.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
PV: I prefer natural materials when creating: stone, wood, as well as metal and glass.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
PV: When dealing with an unusual object (for example, a two-level penthouse or a small area of 40 squares).
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
PV: Much attention is paid to planning decisions, since the design can be changed in the process, but it will be much more difficult to make architectural replanning after the repair is completed.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
PV: Delight, drive, passion.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
PV: I apply force every time in order to make the embodied object more lovely than on visualization/paper. Often dual emotions overwhelm me: on the one hand, both joy and pride of the completed project and the fact it is better and “more alive” than on paper, and on the other hand, I always criticize myself for discovering moments that could be made even better than it turned out, and that we did not take them into account before. Whether or no, and for any result, I feel a kind of self-criticism.
FS: What makes a design successful?
PV: A design can only be successful if the customer enjoys it. It is of fundamental importance to remember the opinion about the result is often subjective. If the customer clearly knows what he wants, the design does not have to be the best for everyone, as this is the customer’s preference. The project success is when a great deal of various elements and details create a single image, when a room is cozy, and the design is light, when it is still in trend after a few years and its owner is still pleased with design.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
PV: First and foremost is a planning decision, as far as it is logical, effective and rational. Next is design. Here the initial impression is the major aspect. You should feel comfortable. And, sure enough, it is important how different elements of both design and decor are duly chosen and correlated with each other.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
PV: Sure thing, these are emotions the created design "transmit" to everyone who sees it. It should be positive: joy and happiness, pleasure and comfort, as well as coziness. Designers, architects and the entire team must consider the usage of exclusively environmentally friendly materials. Moreover, it is important to follow this at all stages — from concept development to full implementation.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
PV: Design is changing as fast as world at large, so its objective is to be flexible. Nowadays there are no prohibitions and boundaries in design. Everything is mixed: classic with a loft, grunge with fusion. I am sure the design is cyclical, and the emergence of new directions with smooth rolling lines inherent in existing styles or the corners' absence does not mean the departure of the trends being currently relevant.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
PV: The last exhibition, “The armory show”, which I managed to visit (before quarantine — ed.), was held in New York from March 5 to 8. I was impressed with contemporary art and paintings. This is the very case when you are creating an interior design for one picture, but not hanging a painting finally after the repair, as part of the interior. I look forward to the Isaloni and Art Basel opening — these exhibitions are inspiring ever. I advise visiting MOMO in New York to everyone, as this is a boundless source of inspiration.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
PV: As I have already said, I am always impressed by exhibitions, respecting designers and architects being inspired by their work (this is a rare business segment where designers and architects are not a competitive environment, but a kind of community where everyone inspires and makes a challenge). Such a fact, in turn, leads to creating masterpieces in both design and architecture. The process of sculptors', painters', forgers', craftsmen working with wood also inspires every new object in our sphere perfectly well. This is a real professional rapture when observing the process of creating a masterpiece by human hands without any robotization and conveyors.
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?
PV: Until recently, the role of the main direction was played by a light loft mix with a modern style. At the very moment, our studio is working on apartments, a penthouse and an office. I would call their style as a Luxury Art deco one. The distinctive features of this style include: the combination of green sofas with gold chandeliers, the use of bright accents, a lot of heterogeneous marble, mirrors in gold frames, sculptures, glass partitions, forged elements as decorative wall partitions, the usage of copper in the cabinets' manufacture, as well as decorative elements.
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?
PV: I am a man of the world, having managed to live in a great deal of various countries and cities. Australia, USA, New Zealand, Peru, Canada, Bali, Hong Kong and almost all of Europe are among them. Sure thing, both culture and design features of each country leave an imprint on the style of work. Utterly everything inspires me. Modern design has long become global being not tied to a particular country. I saw the Scandinavian style in the apartments of my friends in Austria, a two-story industrial loft in the center of Paris and an expensive classics in a Bali house. There are no boundaries for design.
FS: How do you work with companies?
PV: We are open for cooperation with all the companies and suppliers. It is of fundamental importance for them to be professionals in their sphere. Ofttimes useful contacts can be found at exhibitions.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
PV: If considering dealing with a company, then a good designer is one both hearing and feeling the customer (if the company is large, sometimes this could be a project manager, anyway I am an adherent the designer communicates with the customer in any case). Sure thing, he must be a professional in his sphere being a practicing specialist. This means that you need not only to draw a design gracefully, but to link all the details, taking into account all the wishes so that it is convenient, comfortable and beautiful. Besides, it is very essential — taking into account dealing with the customer — the drawn design should correspond with the declared budget, not being higher.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
PV: Any process starts with acquaintance with the customer, communication, clarification of his preferences. It is of fundamental importance to make adjustments to both customer nature and values (since the design is a reflection of the owner's nature in my deep belief). Next planning decisions' clarification, determining the project purpose. Here, there are at least a dozen factors: for yourself, for renting, for an office, who are the company's customers, a household analysis, animals, how many cars are in the family, is there any security, what kind of lifestyle do household members have, and much more. The following work stage is the concept development. Here preliminary designs are made and, in parallel, planning decisions, after which we agree on the result with the customer. In the design project, we use materials, furniture and decoration in such a way the result suits the customer both in design and in budget. As soon as we finally agree on the planning decision and design, as well as the list of finishing materials and furniture, our company starts working. First, dismantling, “wiring” electricians, plumbing and other utilities, then installation, roughing, finishing, and after that — furniture. SKS performs designer's service at all stages.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
PV: Finishing with veneer walls, sculptures, paintings, furniture, chandeliers, marble.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
PV: Getting up at 7 am, training, having breakfast at 8: 30-9: 00, then updating all the information (nowadays there is a great deal of communication means of that time passes as you check them all), checking if I have not forgotten to answer an important letter or question. From 9 to 19:00 or even later (depending on workload) — work: meeting with customers, suppliers, partners, field supervision at the facilities. As both studio head and owner, I need to deal not only with design, but also with a number of other organizational issues. At the same time, I delve into the details of each project, taking a first-part part in it. Our objects are located in different cities and countries, so transferring often takes a good deal of time.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
PV: My guidance to beginning designers is to never give up, always looking up for new inspiration sources. Find your way and manner. It is also important to help environment with your design, transmitting only positive emotions through it.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
PV: You can be born a designer, or you can become one. Anyway, this must be reached. I can’t imagine how you can be a designer out of need, because this is a vocation, passion and pleasure, and if not, then it is not yours. Do not forget being a designer is very responsible, as people or companies trust you to solve their problems. The designer's aim is not just not failing the customers, but doing it at the level, even two levels higher than their anticipations.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
PV: Design is a creative process, so there are no boundaries or rules. However, if considering dealing with a customer, there is a “golden rule” in design — being both practicing and professional specialist. Namely: the implementation must be better and more beautiful than the picture, budget, quality and deadlines should be certainly met.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
PV: Creativity and creation. Artificial intelligence never substitutes a person in such a situation. This is what will “drive” not only design, but the entire planet in the 21st century.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
PV: We try not to dwell on one thing in season and out of season. We both test and introduce everything new appearing on the market.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
PV: Design is a creative process. It happens that a decision comes in a minute, but sometimes it takes weeks looking for it.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
PV: We give a guarantee for turnkey repair terms in SKS– 100 square meters in 3 months. The Customer moves to his apartment after 3 months. Guaranteed for sure.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
PV: Luckily, most SKS customers trust us, and all the issues are covered by 15 years of experience and a portfolio of specialists, consisting of more than 300 turnkey projects. Anyway, each question is unique, being associated with a specific project.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
PV: It was a real challenge from one customer - completing 15 turnkey apartments in 4 months. It was a challenge, and we dealt with it ahead of schedule.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
PV: All SKS customers are self-sufficient people being aware of their mind. The vast majority value time, striving for the best.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
PV: My team and I are a practicing company. This means that we are not only doing a design project, but are implementing everything on a turn-key basis. This is a great process, and I enjoy it entirely. Communication with customers, dealing with a team, creating and implementing the next masterpiece — I'm pleased to do so.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
PV: We are interested in working in different countries. The SKS team has ambitious plans and plenty of orders. It is extremely important and interesting for me to bring both art and sculpture closer to people artistically. Therefore, we have planned a lot of design and engineering work in collaboration with artists and sculptors.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
PV: In any event, we use teamwork. You also need to do a great deal of other work related to quality control, communication with customers and suppliers besides both design and engineering.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
PV: Nowadays the most entertaining work is a two-level penthouse with an area of 170 meters. There are many nuances in design you need to consider: a wood-burning fireplace and a personal elevator, engineering a second floor, etc. And, of course, it will be turnkey work. Leading Italian and Dutch factories are picking up both furniture and lighting for this object at the very moment. I will be pleased to share this work with Adesign, subscribers and the jury next year.
FS: How can people contact you?
PV: Our head office is located in the Kyiv city, Ukraine, at the following address: Holosiivskyi Avenue, 60. Phone number: +38 (066/097/063) 458 43 43. Avenue Vip www.sks.ua info.sksdesign@gmail.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
PV: I'd like to thank Adesignaward for such a great opportunity to take part in the contest and for your tremendous work acquainting the whole world with design, its trends and peculiarities!
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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