Alsu Biryukova

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Alsu Biryukova ("AB") 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?

AB : My design is always connected with what I am experiencing inside. I do not take any story in its purest form. I rethink it and tell it in my own language.

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

AB : I just like to decorate or change everything around for the better, if it is in my power.

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

AB : The fact that I became a designer is fate, and I am very glad about that.

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

AB : I design garments, sometimes do home decor and product design. But fashion design interests me more.

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

AB : Young designers should not be afraid to be unique and different from others, even if others do not understand them. They must find their own style.

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

AB : A great designer always thinks about people first.

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

AB : For me, a really good design is always convenient and harmonious. Nothing should interfere with enjoying the thing.

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

AB : A good design always solves problems of an individual person or humanity as a whole.

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

AB : I would like to create clothes and turbans for Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and the Duchess of Cambridge. I also dream of working with large fashion houses that create couture clothing.

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

AB : I dream to create a fashion house Bloombia

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

AB : There is no secret. You need to do what you love and love what you do.

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

AB : I try to be inspired not by the works of design masters, but by nature, impressions, books, music.

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

AB : If we talk about fashion design, I admire the work of Valentino fashion house and Ulyana Sergienko fashion house. If we talk about interior design, I admire the work of Jean Louis Deniot

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

AB : I think my best design is yet to come.

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

AB : I think that you need to create a design that people need, draw a lot.

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

AB : If I did not become a designer, I would continue to create for my family.

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

AB : Design, in my opinion, always tells a story, makes sense and it does not go unnoticed.

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

AB : My biggest supporters are my family.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

AB : Belief in myself helped me, as well as the faith of my loved ones

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

AB : A lot of time was spent studying economics at the academy and working at a bank

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

AB : designers need to tell about their design.

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

AB : I came up with several technologies for textile processing and I want to create a collection of clothes in the new technique.

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

AB : I would like to influence the fashion world

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

AB : it expect new collections, new inventions from me

DL: How does design help create a better society?

AB : Good design, like art, fosters harmony in man

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

AB : Now I am working on a new collection of clothes.

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

AB : The greatest pleasure to me was the design of headdresses

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

AB : I would like people to consume less and care more about the environment

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

AB : Design is heading towards smart consumption.

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

AB : Implementation of a design project can take from one week to one year.

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

AB : Any design I start with sketching

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

AB : A designer must love and respect people.

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

AB : If the design is very bright, then the design creates a trend.

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

AB : Very often technologies are born when you solve a problem or answer a question. For example, one day I received an order. It was supposed to be a special scarf for theatrical performances in the museum. In addition to the artistic idea, it was supposed to be very comfortable, lightweight, flexible, breathable, made of certain material and similar to the scales of reptiles. When I combined these conditions, I came up with a new fabric processing technology.

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

AB : Sometimes in design I use a computer

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

AB : The role of these things is huge.

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

AB : I like to talk about my design. I love different questions about my design.

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

AB : When I see a great design, I silently contemplate and admire. You can also contemplate sakura blossoms.

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

AB : I had no experience in collaborative design. But I know examples of successful joint projects.

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

AB : The greatest influence on my design is made by clients. They do not interfere in my work, but at the same time pose complex creative tasks for me. The harder the task, the more unique the design.

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

AB : There are a lot of these books. I like to view well-illustrated books. But at the same time, I love the lack of illustrations. This greatly develops the imagination.

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

AB : A very important quality for development is responsibility, first of all to oneself.

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

AB : I would like to meet with Bakst, Chanel, Erte, Audrey Hepburn, Lagerfeld, the Duchess of Cambridge, Grace Kelly, Solomon, Nefertiti, Moses.

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

AB : I don’t know yet when I will become famous, I can answer this question.

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

AB : My favorite color is turquoise, I love mountains, forests, deserts, my house by the lake. I love simple food, sandwiches, soups, vegetables, fruits, berries, what I cook myself. Favorite time of year is spring. Favorite thing is a beautiful dress.

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

AB : I can’t recall the funny situations.

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

AB : What motivates me most is goals. I like to keep a diary, to paint in it affairs and goals, and then rejoice at their fulfillment.

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

AB : From early childhood, I created something. These have always been high quality items. My dolls were provided with the most necessary things handmade.

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

AB : I think that in a thousand years people will learn to value and protect nature, will produce less unnecessary products and consume less. Or maybe they will live like ancient people. This is an optimistic forecast. A pessimistic forecast is, perhaps, there will be more robots and fewer people in the world. But robots will never be able to create and invent something.

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

AB : Many say that my works carry incredible energy and there is a feeling that they are alive. To understand my work, they need to be seen and touched.