Ilana Seleznev

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ilana Seleznev ("IS") 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?

IS : A bit about my design education: 2009, Industrial design, DA, Avni Design Center, Tel-Aviv/Israel 2013, Marketing, MBA, The Open University, Ra'anana/Israel 2016, SIT, Course, IDC, Herzeliya/Israel 2016 - 2018 Master 2020 - New inspiration class open by me

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

IS : My profession is basically everything - anything that has a three dimensional. I want to change the world with products that can help people even on a daily level and health stature.

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

IS : I choose to become a designer.

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

IS : I love my work and a lot of topics but mostly enjoyed working on projects that help or solve some kind of problems and make people live in a more convenient way.

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

IS : Work really hard and believe in themselves in difficult times without budgets :)

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

IS : In my opinion, is the perseverance and the desire to leave something new to this world + Consider the small details.

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

IS : Smart product with meaning + research + combine emotions whit function.

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

IS : Good design remains forever compared to bad design that more expensive and disappears

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

IS : I would be happy to design more products for people with disabilities, some categories that I like are: Products for the environment, Medical products, Merchandise - Smart Gifts.

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

IS : I have many dreams :)

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

IS : Thinking inside the box - a combination of mathematics and design. For me, successful design is FFF (form, fit, function) combined with human and design emotions.

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

IS : Some other design masters: Dor Carmon - Israeli designer Zaha Hadid Haim Hayon

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

IS : Each of them with a unique style... I like too many designs and things, not something specific.

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

IS : For me, a good design it means that: smart design, a design that has a function and an existential need, a product that solves a problem in the world and does not answer only an individual taste. successful design is FFF (form, fit, function) combined with human and design emotions.

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

IS : To be a good designer you have to know how to learn and listen to others. For me, I had to develop a set of systematic. working. tools. I'm develop a new methodology for the world and for designers, something that we all can work with. A tool for the world called "Mathematics of Design Thinking inside the box.

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

IS : I was going to study psychology, and become one :) and then I would go to study design

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

IS : For me, Design is everything that has three dimensions. In my case design have one dimension that includes research and thinking inside the box process.

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

IS : MOM and my man :)

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

IS : Support and human capital (good people)

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

IS : I think there are many more obstacles ahead of me and they never finish in any profession and certainly not in design. But so far I have encountered mostly in: the customers, budget problems, lack of materials and unclear and work methods.

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

IS : At first, I think that designers need to understand their methods and ways of work, and then we can talk about the presentation of the things.

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

IS : Unfortunately, at the moment I can not talk about them. I'll be happy to do so in the future.

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

IS : The ultimate goal is that the whole world will work according to my method and the designers will design new and innovative and creative products :)

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

IS : Quality and reason for everything

DL: How does design help create a better society?

IS : Good design creates an easier and comfortable life, it is timeless!

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

IS : My new exhibition that related to my methodology

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

IS : The design projects that give me the most satisfaction was a belt for a pregnant woman, where I started my research on the project I find out my closed world and from there I came to develop my entire methodology

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

IS : I would like to see the Minimalism style change.

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

IS : I think that the design field is moving fast, the adoption of new technologies, new and smart materials, 4 dimensions (not 3) and a new visual style "Maximalism" - the modern Art Nevo.

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

IS : It is a very complex question, it is depending on the project itself and the nature of the work, everything is very different. The duration of the process changes by the complexity of the project.

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

IS : In a new design project, I start from the project's research (the closed world) and then proceed to form and then function. I believe in systematic and innovative thinking. That means that I have developed a different process that starts from form to the function, "Thinking Inside The Box", Method of triangles that are lean on mind templates (scientifically proven). Through all this entire process that every designer familiar with that includes handmade sketches, 3d modeling, prototypes and so on, I stick to "Thinking Inside The Box" and separate my intuition from it.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

IS : My life motto is - Think Inside The Box

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

IS : Good taste helps but it's not really important, it's something very individual..

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

IS : I have no rules, I am in favor of adopting them, and everything depends on the project itself, as long as it supports the idea.

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

IS : During my design, I use the method "The Math Of Design - Thinking Inside The Box" as the thinking method. I also read mostly about creative thinking, listen to TED and other podcasts. For software, I use Adobe sweat and 3D programs. For modeling, I use our 3D printers and other materials.

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

IS : The role is that everything must support the idea and have the same saturation, I have no limit whit the quantity or the color... In my opinion, everything is in the secret of saturation :)

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

IS : What inspired me and how I design it... That's I can explain my method more :)

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

IS : Hmmm... why I did not think about it myself?! Well done to the designers :)

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

IS : My ideal design partner is the music but I definitely believe in sharing ideas from the moment that the things are clearer as a concept (the main thing is that there is no fixation in thought thinking)

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

IS : The most influential businessmen and companies for me are: IBM Steve Jobs Bill Gates Zaza Hadid Google

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

IS : I read mostly about creative thinking

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

IS : I develope my skills whit hard work and lots of reading and perseverance.

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

IS : Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

IS : It still does not recognize (in my head) that I have won ( I am a few steps before the famous recognation xaxa)

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

IS : I dont have one thing I love, I love a lot of things, I need variety :) For example: I love blue and very brown. I like Italian and French cuisine

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

IS : I look young and sometimes do not get into big meetings because they think I was wrong.. I laugh on one side and of course on the other hand I take it as an advantage :)

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

IS : Positive feedback from a client or a student's success

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

IS : Obvious probably not (even now I am not a great one... there is always more to learn) I prefer that people teal things like this about me :)

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

IS : I think that a thousand years from now the Artific Thinking & Age of machines waiting for us.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

IS : I like to drive sports cars and racing for a hobby:)