Valeriia Ilicheva and Antoine Questel

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Valeriia Ilicheva and Antoine Questel ("VIAAQ") 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?

VIAAQ : Valeriia: I studied architecture and urban planning, first at ENSA Strasbourg and later at Sorbonne Université. I've always been drawn to public space and how design can shape people’s everyday experiences. Becoming a designer was a natural evolution — I wanted to move from buildings to meaningful, user-centric objects within the urban landscape. Antoine: I come from an engineering and digital product background (INSA Rouen), but I’ve always been passionate about physical design and systems thinking. I transitioned into product management with a strong focus on user experience and environmental impact.

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

VIAAQ : We’re both motivated by the idea of making complex things feel simple and intuitive. We didn’t grow up dreaming of “being designers,” but we both naturally gravitated toward design because it let us combine function, emotion, and systems thinking.

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

VIAAQ : We definitely chose it — even if the path wasn’t linear. It felt like the right way to bring our ideas into the world in a concrete, meaningful way.

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

VIAAQ : We design EV charging stations and their full experience — from physical structure to user flow. We'd love to explore more urban-scale infrastructures that mix utility and hospitality.

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

VIAAQ : Observe everything. Stay humble, stay curious, and iterate more than you present. Legends aren’t loud — they’re consistent.

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

VIAAQ : A good designer solves the brief. A great designer solves it simply, beautifully, and makes it look like it was always meant to be that way.

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

VIAAQ : It’s intuitive, elegant, and memorable — without shouting. If it needs to be explained, it’s probably not quite there yet.

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

VIAAQ : Because good design builds trust, clarity, and joy. People may not always notice it, but they remember how it made them feel.

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

VIAAQ : Something that could, in a simple way, change the everyday life of people — forever, and for the better. We don’t know exactly what it is yet.

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

VIAAQ : Maybe it’s not even a project — maybe it’s a question we haven’t asked yet. Something that doesn’t start with a roadmap or a pitch deck, but with a feeling, a tension, a “what if?” A project with no constraints, no category, and no client — just the freedom to build something strangely useful, beautifully silent, and somehow essential. One day, maybe we’ll recognize it when we see it.

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

VIAAQ : Collaboration. Also: iteration, clarity, and knowing when to stop.

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

VIAAQ : MVRDV, for their bold, unapologetic approach to architecture and urban form. Jony Ive, for turning minimalism into emotion. BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), for their playful yet radically functional vision of space and scale. And many more — those who design with intention, rethink norms, and remind us that creativity and clarity can absolutely coexist.

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

VIAAQ : Valeriia: I’d say the Tesla Model Y is one of my favorites — not just as a car, but as a design object. It’s incredibly intuitive to use, minimal, and powerful without being overwhelming. Everything feels considered, and it reflects how design can enhance everyday life without shouting. Also, the iPhone 15 Pro Max — for similar reasons. It’s beautifully built, simple to use, and emotionally balanced. Antoine: One object I really love is the Seletti Monkey Lamp. It’s a bit absurd and totally unexpected, but that’s what makes it special. It brings personality into a space — and that, to me, is a form of bold design. Then there’s my Hermès Arceau watch — it’s timeless, precise, and full of subtle details. It doesn’t try too hard. It just exists beautifully. And finally, the Samsung The Frame — I love how it transforms a TV into something that blends with your interior. It’s smart, elegant, and solves a real visual problem in everyday life.

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

VIAAQ : Electraline — because it’s deployed, used, and constantly evolving. It’s modular, sustainable, and designed to feel warm and human.

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

VIAAQ : Listen more. Build your eye. Ask “why” constantly. And don’t fall in love with your first idea.

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

VIAAQ : Valeriia: I would’ve probably become a business woman, haha. I’ve always loved building things, pitching ideas, and making things happen — just as much as designing them. Antoine: I think I would’ve gone full-on developer, then eventually started my own company. The goal would’ve been to become my own boss one day — build my own product, my own vision.

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

VIAAQ : Design is the interface between ideas and people. It’s how something becomes usable, lovable, and real.

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

VIAAQ : Within our team, we really support each other — that’s a big part of how we move forward. But we also owe a lot to the people around us: our colleagues, who challenge and elevate our ideas, our friends, who keep us grounded, and our families, who’ve always believed in us — even when they had no idea what we were working on.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

VIAAQ : Time, trust, and being thrown into real projects with real consequences early on. That’s where you grow fastest.

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

VIAAQ : Balancing vision and constraints. Learning how to align multiple teams around the same idea. It’s never just about the object.

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

VIAAQ : Through storytelling and context. Not just “what it is,” but “why it matters” and “how it works.”

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

VIAAQ : Rolling out ElectraLine across Europe — and some new formats that are still confidential… for now.

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

VIAAQ : To create spaces and systems that feel so right, people stop noticing the design — and just enjoy the experience.

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

VIAAQ : Clarity. A strong point of view. And the ability to make things beautiful and real.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

VIAAQ : By making essential things accessible, inclusive, and dignified. That’s where good design matters most.

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

VIAAQ : Continuing to evolve Electraline based on feedback — and imagining what charging stations could become next.

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

VIAAQ : Electraline — because it’s not a prototype. It’s out there. People use it. And we’re still learning from it.

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

VIAAQ : Less focus on aesthetics alone. More emphasis on systems, responsibility, and inclusivity.

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

VIAAQ : Toward hybrid systems, where physical, digital, and environmental design all merge into seamless experiences.

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

VIAAQ : From months to never — we often ship, learn, and refine. “Final” doesn’t really exist.

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

VIAAQ : With the user. Then the constraints. Then the context. Only after that — the form.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

VIAAQ : If it’s not clear, it’s not done.

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

VIAAQ : The best design doesn’t follow trends — it creates long-term relevance.

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

VIAAQ : It’s a tool — not the core. We use it to enable better experiences, not define them.

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

VIAAQ : AutoCAD, SketchUp, Twinmotion, Artlantis, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, along with physical mood boards and design books for inspiration.

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

VIAAQ : They shape the atmosphere. They can make something feel warm, cold, welcoming, or sterile — without saying a word.

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

VIAAQ : We wish people would ask: “What did you want people to feel?” Because behind every detail, there’s an intention — not just to make something functional, but to create a moment, a sensation, an experience that stays.

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

VIAAQ : Usually: “Damn. That’s so simple. Why didn’t we think of that?”

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

VIAAQ : We’re each other’s ideal design partner — and yes, we deeply believe in co-design. It sharpens everything.

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

VIAAQ : Everyone we work with at Electra. Real collaboration shapes real design.

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

VIAAQ : "Yes is More" by BIG. It’s bold, visual, and unapologetically ambitious — just like their projects. It reminds us that design is also about narrative, energy, and daring to rethink the rules.

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

VIAAQ : By doing. A lot. Failing, iterating, and surrounding ourselves with sharp people.

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

VIAAQ : Valeriia: We didn’t live in the same era, but I would’ve loved to meet Frida Kahlo. She never stopped creating — no matter the pain or the limitations life threw at her. She had an extraordinary character and such a unique, personal way of seeing the world around her. I think a conversation with her would be intense, honest, and full of emotion. Antoine: I think I’d really like to meet Ricky Gervais. Of course, he’s incredibly funny, but what draws me in is the depth behind his humor. He touches on big, existential topics — life, death, kindness, belief — in a way that’s both honest and accessible. I feel like it would be a conversation that’s surprisingly meaningful, with a lot of laughter in between.

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

VIAAQ : Recognition is great — but the real reward is seeing people use what you built. That’s the real win.

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

VIAAQ : Valeriia: Color: Pink Place: Maldives Food: Sushi Season: Summer Thing: Honestly… hard to pick just one. My engagement ring is definitely up there — but I also have a few objects at home that hold a lot of meaning. Brand: Same here — I’d say Apple, but I love other brands too, depending on the mood and context. Antoine: Color: Navy blue Place: Paris or Normandy (my home turf) Season: Winter because everything’s prettier with snow and christmas ornaments Thing : my grand father’s ring that I wear today Brand I would say Disney, because working to bring out the child in each of us is no easy task—and it’s a meaningful mission in my opinion.

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

VIAAQ : One of the features we integrated into ElectraLine — the interactive LED screens — actually had a code name during development: “Wall Street.” It started as an internal joke, but the name stuck for months. Between mockups and team calls, we kept saying things like “Have you updated Wall Street?” or “Wall Street needs to be brighter.” For a while, it really felt like we were launching a tech startup inside a charging station.

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

VIAAQ : Progress — even a small step forward. And good coffee.

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

VIAAQ : Not really. But we were both drawing, building, and curious about how things worked. So maybe yes, in retrospect.

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

VIAAQ : Hopefully: more empathy, better cities, and design that adapts to people, not the other way around.

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

VIAAQ : That we’re just getting started — and the best designs often come from teams, not egos. Thank you!