Quark Studio Architects

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Quark Studio Architects ("QSA") 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?

QSA : Founded by three architects of different cultural backgrounds united by the common passion for architectural and interior design, we aim to deliver something more than a traditional design company.

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

QSA : It wasn't a choice it was more of a natural turn of events leading all of us in this way. As you may as well know, most of the important turn of events are happening naturally.

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

QSA : All of us have chosen to become designers. We would like to be able to respond at least some of the challenges we all face.

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

QSA : We mostly design residential buildings. However, we would like to design more institutional buildings, such as hospitals where specialized data and knowledge are very important.

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

QSA : Observe and implement. Most of all, to create something you should be brave and let yourself free so that you can make the best use of your inspiration.

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

QSA : Some small things. Details and sustainability.

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

QSA : The depth of detail, the devil is in the detail when it comes to design.

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

QSA : Design optimises everything, life quality, budgets, long term costs, wellbeing. Optimization is the key to our world of today.

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

QSA : An airport for a big city. That's kind of an ultimate goal for many designers.

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

QSA : An airport. We are working our way to it, however.

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

QSA : Its observation and trying to be intuitive. Of course, we should always keep in mind the initial starting ground of the design. Why this design was needed and why am I here. Our response to the initial challenge should be bold.

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

QSA : SOM, UNstudio, 3XN, BIG.

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

QSA : We like all the innovative designs and designers. We like people who design not only for today, but also for tomorrow's.

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

QSA : Iasos Villas, the generous nature there helped us a lot to make everything functional and beautiful. Plus, it is really nice to see how it is blended into nature itself.

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

QSA : Observe, observe, and observe again. There are so many answers lying around us, we just need to locate and implement them.

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

QSA : IT business.

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

QSA : It's thinking practice where you think for others, their wellbeing, and the optimisation of their daily lives.

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

QSA : Some of our clients. Most of the times the clients and the works themselves are helping the designerto achieve better.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

QSA : Failures. Failures are a great means for learning.

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

QSA : Customer relations. In design business making a name for yourself is a steep process. The only helpers are determination and perseverance.

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

QSA : With a good portfolio where the imagery and textual content is well balanced.

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

QSA : A hospital and multiple residential projects.

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

QSA : To design an airport.

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

QSA : Perfect designs. Funny to say there is probably not such a thing like "the perfect design". There is always room for betterment and improvement.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

QSA : Humans are affected by their entourage, if you put them in a clean and organised setting they tend to be cleaner and organised. We think this example is showing the math and the idea behind this question quite clearly.

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

QSA : A Hospital extension project in Burgas, Bulgaria.

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

QSA : The interior design of the Lux Hotels and Resorts project in Bodrum )which has changed the name as Le Meridien nowadays, it was a big projects with many superposed aspects.

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

QSA : The information management system. Most of the employees are lost in the flow of daily data. This is a challenge all the design companies should face and solve in order to be efficient.

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

QSA : BIM, a better information management system.

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

QSA : Depending on the size, some months or some years. Also the client's behavior and how clear he or she is expressing his goals matter a lot.

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

QSA : Brainstorming. First, we sit and think about what is the challenge and how we can respond to it in the most sustainable way.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

QSA : Work like hell. Anyway, it is not going to be enough.

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

QSA : Probably both of them are happening. It's a interweaved situation this one.

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

QSA : We put great importance on technology, especially on visualization and information management. One is for the sake of the end product and the second is for the sake of being able to stay without being lost in all that information flow during the design process.

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

QSA : BIM, 3D models, CAD drawings, digital and hand-drawn sketches.

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

QSA : They are main factors affecting the psychology of people so they have a key role.

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

QSA : The inspiration and the challenges faced. We believe those are the key identifiers for any project.

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

QSA : Why we couldn't think of it? Any, of course, trying to be inspired the next time we face a similar challenge.

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

QSA : Someone who shares a common passion but a different background. Diversity is always adding value to projects which in fact are responses. Everybody has its own kind of response and the better is always achieved by mixing ideas.

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

QSA : Some clients. It is always the clients and the work you are doing which influence and mature you in this industry.

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

QSA : Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari.

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

QSA : Practice and making mistakes. Mistakes, when observed with an analyzing point of view, can be great sources of learning.

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

QSA : Ben van Berkel.

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

QSA : It is always very nice to have positive feedback about what you are doing. However, we believe in that stoic view that the motivation shouldn't be affected by any external stimulants wince you can never guarantee that they are there always.

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

QSA : Black, Moscow, salads, autumn, lighter, Aman Resorts.

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

QSA : It was when we founded our company for the first time. All of us were from different countries and we were really having a hard time effectively communicate in daily matters, however strangely enough since we shared a common passion and language towards design, we never encountered these issues in our works.

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

QSA : Trying to stay in the current flow without thinking about the outcome, neither future. We try to stay in the moment and enjoy the process which we believe is the only truth.

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

QSA : No. Actually this question is better asked to some other great people who were around me and were busy raising me.

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

QSA : Multiplanetary civilizations probably.

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

QSA : No comment.