Maxim Kashin

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Maxim Kashin ("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 been working as an architect for twelve years since graduating from the Architectural Institute of the State Cademia in Moscow. I studied at the Faculty of Industrial Buildings and Structures, but during my studies I realized that I was more interested in residential architecture and received a master of Architecture in residential and public buildings. Since 2017, I joined the Union of Architects of Russia after winning a state competition.

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

MK : Since childhood, I have been fond of creative activities, I was very fond of drawing at school and tregynometry in high school. In addition to the general education school, I graduated from an art school, after which I decided to enter the architectural institute.

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

MK : I made the decision myself and chose a creative path.

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

MK : I enjoy designing display spaces and art installations most of all, but I also enjoy working on creative private residential interiors.

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

MK : First of all, I would like to advise you to always treat any tasks with a creative approach, even those that seem boring and not interesting at first. I also wanted to advise you to always go towards your goal, and understand that this path will not be easy, but it will always justify itself.

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

MK : A good designer strives to be on trend, a great designer creates his own trends.

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

MK : First of all, I evaluate the idea that the author wanted to convey in the design, then I evaluate the selected color combinations and the materials used.

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

MK : Design for me is primarily creativity, design is a mirror of society. I also really appreciate ideology in design. Design helps to fill people's lives with meaning and create interesting spaces that will give emotions to ordinary people.

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

MK : When I have the opportunity, I will definitely design. and I am implementing the project of the Museum of Modern Art.

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

MK : I want to design and implement a contemporary art museum. To create both the architecture of the building and the internal space based on the ideology of the avant-garde - Surematism.

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

MK : The style of interior design in which I work belongs to functional minimalism, in my last works I promote the ideology of new Suprematism. This ideology fills the interior space with pure geometry. I am not creating a box with a set of furniture and decor items, but a space where the walls are an interior item, and where every kink and turn is due to a geometric reading of the space. Most of all I pay attention to the general ideology and theory. I also pay great attention to the perception of the architecture of space by a person. In particular, the influence of space geometry on its perception from different points of view interests me most when designing.

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

MK : I like the direction of the avant-garde of the beginning of the last century, in particular - Siprematism. The work of Kazemir Malevich gives me food for creation.

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

MK : I also like the architecture and design of a Japanese architect - TADAO ANDO and the architecture of a Spanish architect - Santiago Calatrava.

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

MK : The biggest project I had to work on was a project for building a neighborhood for 25,000 people from a well-known developer. It was a tender competitive project, the project from our team was in the spirit of Le Corbusier's ideology of modernism and linear cities.

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

MK : I would offer them my view on the design.

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

MK : I would become a sculptor.

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

MK : Design for me is primarily creativity, design is a mirror of society. I also really appreciate ideology in design. Design helps to fill people's lives with meaning and create interesting spaces that will give emotions to ordinary people.

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

MK : I like the direction of the avant-garde of the beginning of the last century, in particular - Siprematism. The work of Kazemir Malevich gives me food for creation. I also like the architecture and design of a Japanese architect - TADAO ANDO and the architecture of a Spanish architect - Santiago Calatrava.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MK : Experience and study of art history.

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

MK : The main obstacle that was there was a lack of confidence due to lack of experience.

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

MK : In any creative work, it is important, in addition to the idea itself, also the ability to show it to society. Therefore, designers should look for the most advantageous angles of their ideas, just like in a photo shoot.

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

MK : We are currently working on a very interesting interior project for private apartments with an area of about 200 square meters, this interior is an ideological continuation of our experiments with a new vision of Suprematism in the interior.

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

MK : I want to design and implement a contemporary art museum. To create both the architecture of the building and the internal space based on the ideology of the avant-garde - Surematism.

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

MK : Own ideology in design.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MK : A designer is first and foremost a person who turns his ideas and ideas into reality. I believe that in the work of a designer, as well as in the work of an architect, the task is always to combine the visual aspect and the functional one. I believe that the interior designer is first and foremost the link between art and the common man. And the skill of the designer is to fit the design into the environment.

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

MK : We are currently working on a very interesting interior project for private apartments with an area of about 200 square meters, this interior is an ideological continuation of our experiments with a new vision of Suprematism in the interior.

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

MK : Palácio do Congresso Nacional by Oscar Niemeyer. The shapes of two high-rise buildings symbolize two people striving for connection, communication and unity. The passage in the middle of the building is the heart. The bridge on the roof is a symbol of reason.

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

MK : I would like the design to receive more investment for its development in society around the world.

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

MK : Now in modern design there is a search for something new through the prism of the past. It seems to me that now we are on the verge of the emergence of a new ideology in art and design.

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

MK : The design time depends on the area of the object, and on communication with the Customer. On average from 3-5 months.

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

MK : From the analysis.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MK : Design for the sake of an idea.

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

MK : I always read foreign magazines about architecture and interior design, watch reviews of exhibitions from different countries, I try to attend the most significant and large events. The study and accumulation of experience is one of the important aspects for the development of oneself as a person. The path of each architect or designer goes through the analysis of the works of his predecessors, first you accumulate experience and knowledge, then you can give your vision and interpretation, and then do something of your own. I believe that the main thing that is valued in society is its own vision of the world and in particular architecture and trends in design, so the author's design always remains relevant.

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

MK : Technology always plays an important role and helps to realize the most daring ideas.

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

MK : Basically our main tool is 3d modeling. First I draw sketches by hand, I make diagrams of the idea, and then we start building this idea in 3D to see this idea in volume. The link in which we work is AutoCAD+3dsMax, Revit+Lumion.

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

MK : In interior design, my favorite materials are metal and natural stone. These materials allow you to make the interior more architectural.

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

MK : Where else can I see the work of this author?

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

MK : Imagination and the power of the human mind has no limits.

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

MK : It seems to me like-minded people and a team play a significant role in the work of any designer and if a business partner is your like-minded person, then this is the key to success.

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

MK : I got the most important experience in the first years after the institute, when I came as an intern in a large interior design and private architecture bureau. There, for 3 years of work, I gained tremendous experience and formed as a specialist.

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

MK : Architects' Data (German: Bauentwurfslehre), also simply known as the Neufert, Alvar Aalto. Das Gesamtwerk. Complete Work. Vol. 1-3, Malevich, Kazimir. The Non-Objective World, Chicago: Theobald, 1959.

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

MK : Analysis of art history and modern design literature.

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

MK : Malevich Kazimir. Discuss the ideology of suprematism.

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

MK : The awards received in various international competitions motivate me and show me that I am on the right path as a professional in my field.

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

MK : My favorite color is purple, the place is normandy, the food is pasta, the season is autumn, the thing is a car, the stone island brand.

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

MK : A funny case was when I came for a week to the author's supervision of a penthouse in Tbilisi, and stayed there for 3 months due to the complexity of the object.

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

MK : I always motivate myself with the success of other designers and architects.

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

MK : As a child, I had the ability to draw, which then led me to architecture and design.

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

MK : Design is like art, before something new is born, they always return to the past. Now in modern design there is a search for something new through the prism of the past. It seems to me that now we are on the verge of the emergence of a new ideology in art and design.

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

MK : The style of interior design in which I work belongs to functional minimalism, in my last works I promote the ideology of new Suprematism. This ideology fills the interior space with pure geometry. I am not creating a box with a set of furniture and decor items, but a space where the walls are an interior item, and where every kink and turn is due to a geometric reading of the space.