Polin Kuyumciyan

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Polin Kuyumciyan ("PK") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

PK : I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2011, with a BFA in Graphic Design. After a few years in agencies and corporate life, I founded my own studio and stationery brand. Since then, I've been juggling between these two.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

PK : I had a college professor who once said 'When you are photographer, you are a fine artist. When you become a designer, you're not fine anymore.' I love that and I love the contraints that come with being a designer.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

PK : I chose to become a designer. My other option would have been acting.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

PK : I would like to design books and more artist catalogues. I have a tendency to divide things into categories and manage cabinets of informations. A multiple paged design work attracts me in that sense.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

PK : A good sense of what works visually and great communication skills. You have to understand people in order to design for them.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

PK : When both you and the customer agree on the same thing and you completely fall in love with the end result. Of course it's also very crucial that the audience understands your message and you design translates correctly.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

PK : I would design more stationery related products. I like working with paper and thinking of different ways to adapt stationery for the needs of modern society.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

PK : I want to work on a massive personal project to help me grow as a person and as a designer.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

PK : I am a very fast worker. And my speed usually works for my advantage. I guess I can say it's my secret ingredient.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

PK : Stefan Sagmeister and Jessica Walsh. I love their approach to design and how they know to manage work and personal projects both at the same time.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

PK : I'm always drawn to big, bold, fun, colorful, geometric designs. These visual elements keep popping up in my designs as well. I cannot create a 'quiet' design, it usually ends up being loud. A few examples: in fashion, Dice Kayek designs are simply magnificent; in jewellery, I really like Contour Studio's geometric designs; in graphic design, Alan Fletcher, Phil Cleaver, Jessica Walsh, Stefan Sagmeister and Leta Sobierajski are some of the mega talents.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

PK : Stick to deadline, be organized, don't overdo.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

PK : I had two passions growing up: drawing and acting. If not a designer, I would have definitely become an actress.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

PK : Design is everything we see, touch and feel. Design dictates the modern society and shapes the way we live. Design is the reason why we choose the way we live.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

PK : My family was and is always my biggest supporter. Apart from them, during my college education, one of my professors, Hammett Nurosi has been a great mentor to me.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

PK : I cannot see myself as a great designer but an evolving one. Hard work, persistence, time management, research and networking are some of the few things that I work on every day.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

PK : In my opinion every phase of every work should be presented with great attention to detail. A sloppy presentation of a great design devalues the design whereas a carefully worked presentation of a mediocre design polishes the design and makes it stand out. Presentation is always a key factor in success.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

PK : I want to work on a massive personal project because I believe it will help me widen my perspective and grow as a designer. And I always have stationery project in line, waiting to be realized.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

PK : To be as versatile as possible and to have many personal projects.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

PK : Society depends on design and design shapes the future of society. How and where the society lives, which products it purchases, what kind of decisions it makes, how it moves and evolves all depend on design.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

PK : I have a couple of exciting projects: logo design, website design and more stationery projects for my brand PK Design. I think the best part of being a freelancer is that you can multitask and work on different projects at the same time.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

PK : I love working on books, catalogues and stationery products. Print works are my favourite. Deciding the size, quality of paper and print techniques is a very satisfactory process.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

PK : In terms of graphic design, I think we will see motion graphics a lot more in the future and the future is graphic design will grow largely in digital platforms. Most graphic designers will also become UX/UI designers. It won't be an extra skill to learn, UX will be a natural part of graphic design.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

PK : It depends on the needs of the customer and the size of the project really. But in overall, it usually takes around a month to finalize everything.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

PK : I start with a mix of research and sketching. Sometimes, although very rarely, I can come up with the answer right away.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

PK : In order to succeed in designing, you have to master communicating.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

PK : I think it is a matter of chicken and egg. It is a two way street.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

PK : As almost every graphic designer, I am very attached to my computer. However I'm not super program savvy. I know enough to help myself deliver my ideas on canvas.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

PK : I mostly use the Adobe products such as Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver and Premiere Pro. I always use a sketchbook initially and then move on to the software. Books, both design related and unrelated, can also be part of my design process. I do a lot of research on shutterstock, pinterest and font sources. And I always save inspiring ideas or images/things I come across for later use.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

PK : As a graphic designer, color plays a huge role in the design process and end result. Each color triggers and emotion and especially branding design requires a lot of research and attention for color. Materials are important if the work will be printed. The size of a book or the cover properties, printing techniques and paper choice are all very important in order to create a mood and convey the proper message.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

PK : It's always hearts coming out of my eyes. At least that is my first reaction. And then I go on about studying it.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

PK : I like working alone and frankly think I work better that way. But if I had a partner, I would prefer someone who is not a designer but a marketing specialist. Designing and marketing go hand in hand and while I work on the designing bit, it would be nice for someone to handle the marketing side.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

PK : I have a group of friends and family members from different backgrounds and professions whom I email or show my process and design. I always ask for criticism and feedback. I think it's important to see what your design resonates in the minds of others, especially non-designer people.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

PK : I met one

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

PK : I'd love to meet pirates! I would listen to their stories and turn them into a children's book that I write, design and illustrate. It would be fascinating.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

PK : Blue, home, steak, summer, mirror, Nuuna. There are many more brands but Nuuna is one my favourite stationery brands.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

PK : I met one of my biggest clients while sitting at another client's stationery fair booth. I was going to have a quick meeting with my client and I was waiting for my turn. So I sat down at one of the tables in the booth (it was a huge booth) and started playing Candy Crush. That's when two men asked my permission to sit at my table. They were also waiting for a quick meeting so while waiting for our turns, we started chatting. They asked me what I did for a living and it turned out that they were looking for a freelance graphic designer. My client vouched for me at the spot and I was hired the next week!

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

PK : I have many beautiful mugs for lots of coffee and tea during the day. That's the number one must I require for motivation. A great chair and a big desk full of my notebooks and to do lists are also my other motivational objects.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

PK : I always was very interested in arts, especially in drawing and acting. In the end I became a freelance graphic designer, where I mix and match both those skills and apply to my work.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

PK : It might be just wishful thinking but I don't the human race will survive for that long. Or maybe a superior species will evolve, one that doesn't harm nature as much.