Marta Klachuk

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Marta Klachuk ("MK") 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?

MK : I have received my education in the Academy of Arts in Ukraine, in the sphere of textile design. But I wanted to work with computer graphics, so, I had to study it on my own.

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

MK : We have our own world, where we live. It is beautiful and amazing. But if you are a designer (an artist), you can create quite different world or flesh out the existing one. And it is wonderful, as people will see your world, it will make you emotionally connected to them, because creative work definitely influences all of us.

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

MK : It was my own choice for sure. I have chosen design, design has chosen me. :)

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

MK : I draw graphics for video and mobile games, create concept designs, illustrations and design of characters. I really want to participate, as an artist, in making of feature-length animated film.

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

MK : “A design legend” is a bit too much. I can say that young designers should be very patient and hard-working. At the beginning of their career a lot of them think that it is very easy. And when they face first difficulties, they get frustrated and quit. That is why I advise you to work hard, develop your skills, analyse, be curious about many things, don’t give up when you face a failure, believe in yourself and everything will be all right.

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

MK : A good designer just draws the picture, but a great designer solves the problem, elaborates the idea, advises how to make it better, draws and creates emotional connection with a person.

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

MK : I would like to create an animated film. Many of us were brought up by different cartoons and in our childhood they teach us something, sometimes they lead us and influence us, they form understanding of the good and bad and in such a way they help us take the right side and foster our better features. That is why an animated film creation is a big responsibility and I would like to do it with a team of like-minded fellows.

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

MK : Ongoing development of my skills.

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

MK : To be always observant and curious, to try to see more that other people can see in everything that surrounds you.

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

MK : Design is something that makes our life brighter.

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

MK : My parents and my friends, they have always believed in me.

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

MK : I don’t have any ultimate goal. I don’t understand how people can have one. For example, you have achieved your ultimate goal and what’s next? I think that you need to have goals always, but no goal can be your ultimate one, because the life will be boring then.

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

MK : I have no exact answer, it depends on the project large scale and the tasks.

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

MK : Everything starts with a general discussion of the project. I deal with different technical details, then I work on the idea, concept, sketches, trace drawing, then I hand in the final design and everybody is happy. :)

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MK : To create something extraordinary, always keep a bit of a child in you.

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

MK : The role of technology is really big. In modern world technology is an inseparable part of design and vice versa. It is the technology that helps design develop, it shortens time limits and helps to make design better in general.

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

MK : Adobe software

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

MK : Colors, materials and ambient are the factors due to which design and idea are born! They have emotional and material influence on designers, and as a result, they create amazing things.

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

MK : You have to equal to the best ones only, you should work hard, analyse, be able to recognize your mistakes and correct them, be engaged in your work.

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

MK : Awards and recognitions are the confirmationthat you follow the right way, they give you bigger confidence in yourself, motivation to go forward and develop further. But it is a big responsibility as well, because you cannot degrade, you have no right for this.

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

MK : My favourite color is green, especially the green when at the beginning of spring young leaves appear, they are of a very pleasant warm green color. My favourite place is the Carpathian mountains in Ukraine. They inspire me, I like to spend time with my friends there, as it is a perfect place for me to recharge batteries and start drawing with fresh energy. In Ukraine autumn and spring are very cold, and I like warmth and sun very much, that is why my favourite seasons are spring and summer, during this period I enjoy every day. Moreover, my favourite food is all kinds of berries, which grow only in summer.

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

MK : I don’t know whether it was obvious, but it was clear for my parents that I liked drawing and it was necessary to develop my creative potential.

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

MK : I think that in the future technology will achieve its peak, most of things will automatized and robotized, and a good designer-artist will be especially appreciated.