Dmitry Pozarenko

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Dmitry Pozarenko ("DP") 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?

DP : After serving in the army, I entered the USUAA (Ural State University of Architecture and Art). My choice was influenced by two reasons. The first reason was that I drew well and wanted to use this advantage, and for admission to the university it was necessary to pass an exam in drawing. The second one was that the army formed new priorities for me - I firmly decided to get higher education.

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

DP : Designing is the job that I do best. And we love to do what we can do. In turn, a huge number of hours of work reinforces this skill. This vicious circle is the main motivator.

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

DP : Rather, my choice to become a designer was independent. As a child, I myself came to draw in a children's art school, and then I myself chose the University and the Department of Design.

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

DP : Today I design a lot of shops and at the same time one private residence. I would love to take on the design of a couple more residences.

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

DP : Young designers will have to work hard. “To learn to row, you need to row” is a very accurate expression. Quantity always goes into quality.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

DP : Great designers create objects that become the standard of excellence of thought and embodiment. It is these images that form the concept of a new subject world among contemporaries.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

DP : It’s easier for me to answer this question with an example of architecture. Frank Gehry's famous building in Bilbao created a new image for this town. A tourist flow has formed there. People go to see the building. Now imagine that there are several such objects in the city. Even one building changed the cultural environment in a small city, several - are able to completely change its life. Good design can create a special cultural environment and can certainly affect your life. How? through your thinking. Every day and hour, good design shows your brain how complex our world is. In addition, good design creates a good environment for the consumer, being a special marketing tool. Without design, you will not get a storm of positive emotions from the consumer, and this will lead to the fact that you lose the consumer.

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

DP : I am very attentive to the nodes of structures and to the textures.

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

DP : Piero Lissoni, Rodolfo Dordoni, Antonio Citterio… If you rise to the level of these designers, I will become your fan.

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

DP : Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Rovinj, Croatia, by Piero Lissoni. This is a very sensual minimalism, in which the master freely operates with a synthesis of space and texture.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

DP : The best project is ahead.

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

DP : I improve myself only through work.

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

DP : My secret love is architecture.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

DP : I always wanted to impress. Fortunately, my profession is the most peaceful way to satisfy this desire.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

DP : Until you are a recognized designer, you are not entrusted with the execution of large projects.

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

DP : The presentation of the work should be similar to participating in a design and architecture competition with accompanying texts and images of very high quality 3ds Max.

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

DP : Now I am designing a private residence. I hope it turns out beautifully.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

DP : That each subsequent work will surpass the previous one.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

DP : Design creates a better environment, and the environment affects every member of society. The environment is able to carry the ideas of humanism, enlightenment and innovation - so we get better!

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

DP : The project “Sense of the Forest” is good because you can look at it for a long time and find new details, like on a canvas of a fascinating picture.

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

DP : We are waiting for an era of new design, when programs will do most of the work. And then, specialized artificial intelligence will do all the design work in full. What role will be assigned to a person is a big question.

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

DP : Depending on the scale of the project - from four months to a year.

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

DP : I start designing with a plan.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

DP : Architecture is 25 thousand compromises that are supposed to create a thing of beauty.

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

DP : Design sets trends based on technology and ideological models, which it builds by itself to create a new image.

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

DP : Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Revit

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

DP : It often happens that in the interior the material and its color are the design, and the space does the rest.

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

DP : A great project like a great book makes you think by demonstrating thousands of solved tasks.

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

DP : Clients. They are the ones who, in their desires, can push you to wonderful decisions.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

DP : Designers and architects in Russia are people who are not spoiled by public attention. Awards help customers to believe in your competence.

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

DP : I love the color of the sea. Rather, an infinite number of colors of the sea. The place is the headwaters of the Vizhay River in the Ural mountain taiga depths. I love Ziggy Chen's clothes.

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

DP : When I go to work, I tell myself that today I will finish the plan, and as a result a new facility will be launched, or I will design equipment for a new department or brand. I keep summing up little things… It helps me.

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

DP : When I was a kid, I was incredibly upsetting my father with my lack of organization and unwillingness to obey. He couldn’t believe in me for a long time, thinking my head is always in the clouds. And then I gave him Lexus.

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

DP : The human brain has very modest capabilities. Artificial intelligence has no limitations. After 1000 years of the development of artificial intelligence, I can’t imagine why he would need us.