Evgeny Arinin

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Evgeny Arinin ("EA") 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?

EA : Graduated as Bachelor in a field of Industrial Design at University of Heartfordshire (2014). The design is always around even if we do not mention it. So do I, I always was obsessed with design and art in different manner and types as drawing, photography, mockups making. Its used to call it hobby and everything changes as soon as you begin to call it profession.

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

EA : 3 years of design practises made me make design to work by my own so I could be able to reflect my private vision and perspective of life to the mass. I believe there are no borders in life neither are borders in studio, that’s why the studio do any projects which seems impossible in a first sight to solve the challenge and state that everything could be realised as soon as it could be imagined.

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

EA : The design is a life. Its first of all an working organism as humans are. As everything in our life its a complex object which consist from enormous amount of aspects, particles, and so on. Continuing the analogy of the life, the design could and reflects the bad and good things. It has its own and private functions, formulas, principles and depends on enormous amount of factors. The design is a permanent movement. There is no specific way or aim, in fact, its just an interpretation of something which is already existing but has never been presented to peoples eyes.

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

EA : There is no opportunity to differ ones from others while every project and work is absolutely one and only in its realisation, meaning, timing, function providing, etc. Of course, its better to make the creation of something new which always depends on problem solving. These problems in prodects are great challenge which make you to grow-up professionally.

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

EA : First of all it has to be a simple honest dream forced by natural ideas, not material ones as earning, etc. The best practise, not only for designers, but for the life itself is to do that you want to do. Sounds easy, but kind of tricky for the life processes. As soon as you find yours way it becomes strong, long and straight.

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

EA : In fact, all the difference is irrational and subjective. Its impossible to to be favourite for all the people in the world, but at the same time there are a lot of things which could easily detect you as a professional. Aesthetics, function, price for production and many other aspects which could reflect yours professional status.

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

EA : I prefer to think and state that design is not an art but a complex formula which is possible to solve, like puzzle or even mathematics. Every project has its numerous ways of realisation and as soon as the answer is right you have a good design as a result.

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

EA : Design as a main part of whole our life makes it much more comfortable, simple, aesthetically pleased. In other words, the good designs makes the life good.

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

EA : There are no borders for design. Neither for me. I used to do any kind of projects, not depending on its scale or category.

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

EA : Every project for me is a kind of dream and the funny thing is that Im always trying not to complete them till 100% because as soon as I do so, I start to have my work. While we have a dream, there is a point of movement and sense.

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

EA : I mostly trying to combine to recipes at the same time. The first one — is my private sense of beauty, the other is the formula I always modernise which includes so many aspects depending on the project. Sometimes you even do not have an opportunity to choose the shape, material type, size of colour because you just want it. There is always has to be the meaning other it.

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

EA : I believe I have one and its name is Dieter Rams. Its simplicity of vision makes me love nearly every product he created, especially in a contrast of the complex life.

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

EA : There are no such. Every good product could be my favourite while being well produced and manufactured. Every design which is simple in a first sight but complex in a background is the reason for obsession. Apple, Vertu, Bang Olufsen, Bowers Wilkins, Mercedes Benz, etc.

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

EA : The greatest design is my son. It reflects the idea of complexity and simplicity.

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

EA : The everyday work. Every great designer, every great product has its history and background. The life itself is changing dramatically fast, so designers have to improve themselves everyday.

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

EA : I always pretended to be a Director and the design do not changed my ambitions.

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

EA : Everything, in fact, is design. The way we talk, the way we operate, the way we live. So for me the design is a synonym of the life itself.

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

EA : I am trying not to ask somebody for the suggestion while would like to understand and believe that the final result is one hundred percent is mine. So, I have to appreciate my family for the supporting in my growth.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

EA : The dream of spreading my own vision on the life. The dream to share the way I see the world. The dream to be helpful for the people through the paradigm of design solutions.

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

EA : Its impossible to be favourite for all the world and all the people. So the main barrier is too continue the work even if somebody do not accept you and yours vision.

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

EA : The presentation is a ritual which reflects the design itself. I believe that great product has to have the great presentation too.

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

EA : I work so much on furniture design and many lighting products. Many of them would be available for the purchase at the end of 2019.

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

EA : The goal for a designer is a good result, good salary and good feedback from the client.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

EA : While design itself is a life and society is a part of the life, the design has the direct act on it.

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

EA : I currently work on many graphic design projects and I so excited that its result will be used by millions of people. It makes the work on the project so motivated.

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

EA : The most satisfaction is to be valuable and helpful for the society. The more people are engaged with the product I have done means more satisfaction.

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

EA : The design becomes much more simple and its opens new horizons for further development.

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

EA : It always depends on the project. I prefer to find the optimum between quick and long work. So I able to understand that the work I have done is meaning-full and I have still forces for being engaging with it.

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

EA : Everything starts from the point.

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

EA : Design and trends are always the same things which operate together as a partners.

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

EA : The role of technology is huge. It allows you to understand if yours project is possible to produce or its a concept. The point is that even concept is possible to produce, but it takes more time.

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

EA : Adobe CC, Rhinoceros, Keyshot and many other trivial programmes or plug-ins which are able to make the life easier.

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

EA : The light for the photographer is a key of success. The same works for the design. Even the ideal shape and form could be dramatically damaged by wrong color and material use or their combinations.

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

EA : The best thing is to create such work so people have to ask if it was allowed to do. It means that the great ideas are always simple but its always difficult to find the way.

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

EA : I smile and become much more happy. The great design is as a sunshine. Its always enlights yours life.

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

EA : I do not believe in co-design while the design is always the reflections of yours thinking. Co-design is not a golden ration, but compromises which is not good.

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

EA : The skills developing depends on the understanding of yours possibilities. As soon as you realise that there are no borders, you find the way to growth faster and more productive.

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

EA : It is. But it makes you feel the real purpose of yours life.

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

EA : Black. Paris. Pasta with tomatoes. Spring. Dior.

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

EA : The reason to be a great father motivates me every second of my life.

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

EA : For sure it was not. I even could never think that I could become a designer.

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

EA : Everything would be the same but in different manner. The life is always a cycle and interpretation of an obvious things.