Nataliya Naymark

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Nataliya Naymark ("NN") 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?

NN : While I was at school I had attended excursion courses for different Moscow museums, such as the Pushkin State Museum of Fine arts, The State Tretyakov Gallery, Armoury Chamber, National Museum of art of peoples of the East and many others. So during profession test in school I got higher mark in arts than in math. I attended math class and won several awards in math and physics. So it wasn't obvious for my teachers and parents. So in the end I got recommendation for architectural program. The problem here was I didn't draw, at all. I was good at technical drawing, as it was obligatory for 8 year in school. Anyway I ended up in economy bachelor and digital marketing master degree. I did love working in creative company as UX strategist. I love usability and finding peoples needs and dreams. We did several outstanding marketing campaigns for Unilever and different car companies. However after turning 30 I understood I still dream about architectural job. But getting older also helps to understand your advantages and disadvantages. It drives me crazy if thing has mistakes in measures, and I feel that architecture would be a challenge. So i decided to become a furniture designer. To get in university in Moscow you need to draw composition, head, human body , column and landscape. I started learning to draw and still try my best. I couldn't go to university as I have to pass school exams and it was too much of a work. I ended up having several courses such as Kibardin Creative Synergy and Furniture Design for Beginners Online Short Course by Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London. I also a professional user of online platforms with courses. I did several programs in edX. My favourite one is Fundamentals of Manufacturing Processes by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.I also attended courses by Coursera, like Modern Art & Ideas by The Museum of Modern Art. And some Russian courses from openedu, my favourite one is History of design by HSE University. I suppose I took more than 20 different courses since 2019. I still love and learn about History of design . I also tried to do some practice work. I did several interior projects and furniture for each of them. To learn about light I did Practice with Women in Lighting and worked in different museums for different exhibitions. I started applying for different competitions last year. I won open call for The Vaults Centre for Artistic Production. In sketches and technical drawings I have more than 30 collections of furniture and light, more than 30 separate items and more than 30 tiles. To present my graphic abilities for tiles and carpets I did New years postcards for the last two years. Each of them present one of my carpet and tile.

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

NN : It is something I can't stop doing. Even if I don't have options to produce my design, I will stay paper product designer.

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

NN : It was a very hard but my decision. I was a well-known UX strategist, and it is still something I do from time to time. However I understood I will regret the whole my life if I don’t try. Now I am studying for four years already, and even though I have hard times thinking I haven’t seen my products in real life, I know I can't stop.

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

NN : I try to listen to different lectures about history of design, last half a year I had been listening to marvellous lectures by Artem Dezhurko. All in all I made around 40 sketches of new objects. So for the next half a year I will be structuring them and thinking about measures and ergonomics. My favourite designer changes from time to time. When I first started I was in love with Bauhaus and thought it will be the only way I will be designing in the future. However as soon as I learned about Vkhutems I started to love works of Melnikov, Rodchenko, Bykov, Tatlin and many others. More than a year ago I came across article about Sottsass and it was total love, I did several things in Memphis style. Right now I am learning again about Modernism. I love works of Aalto, and Pierre Jeanneret. I think that Aalto inspire me with his minimal design and unique feel for materials. As for Pierre Jeanneret there are care for folk crafts and French conciseness and lightness. I also really want to learn more about Charlotte Perriand, I haven't done anything yet inspired by her works, but I really want to dive into them in near future. I want to continue explore history of design and redesign old works. However there will be always mathematical beauty and precision in my works. This is something that never changes.

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

NN : Design is something you will be learning the whole life, b ready for it. There is no end to this process. Develop Research and watchfulness

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

NN : I am afraid marketing aspects. I fell that great designers understand what they do and why better. Sometimes good designers invent great design but somehow they can't communicate it clearly, and it get lots in all other things they do.

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

NN : There are several people whose opinion matters to me, and I can understand whether my design is good, just by seeing their faces. They shouldn’t say anything, I just see question in their eyes and it means, I have't thought something out. As for works of others, I think right now my watchfulness on one hand works out, and technical understanding on the other hand. I try to think about TA and potential interior, and if I can think about several of them, it is great. It means that it is something worth spending time.

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

NN : I think the best way to talk about value of good design is to think about Vkhutemas and the way designer was presented there. So they taught in art workshops future artist constructors. it means that result of their work is both construction and art. And this is how I see value of design. It is a melting pot of watchfulness, elaboration of experience and accuracy of physics, math and usability. As soon as everything works you have an unforgettable beauty that will improve living of human beings. It is something Rodchenko said about things we own, they are not just things, they are friends we take care of and try to prolong their working cycle. IT is something we see everyday and we want to see more, use more, touch more.

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

NN : I have time to design whatever I want. So right now In am designing for people who care about comfort, beauty and like good story behind project.

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

NN : Me dream design project is to make analogue of cafe Pittoresk , made by Rodchenko, Yakulov and Tatlin, where everything will be done by me, starting from tiles ending with pictures on the walls. Real festival of Russian Avantgard.

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

NN : Ergonomics. We are wasting nature and destroying ecology so it should be something we can use and feel good about. If it was waste of materials it doesn't worth producing.

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

NN : As I said before. My favourite designer changes from time to time. When I first started I was in love with Bauhaus and thought it will be the only way I will be designing in the future. However as soon as I learned about Vkhutems I started to love works of Melnikov, Rodchenko, Bykov, Tatlin and many others. More than a year ago I came across article about Sottsass and it was total love, I did several things in Memphis style. Right now I am learning again about Modernism. I love works of Aalto, and Pierre Jeanneret. I think that Aalto inspire me with his minimal design and unique feel for materials. As for Pierre Jeanneret there are care for folk crafts and French conciseness and lightness. I also really want to learn more about Charlotte Perriand, I haven't done anything yet inspired by her works, but I really want to dive into them in near future.

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

NN : Vitra Uten. Silo. I do really like the way all the geometrical objects are compositioned. Narrow Ceramic Pendant | MOEBE - I like mix of well known materials and functionality . And of course the feel of materials is marvellous. Paul Smith Anglepoise Type 75 Desk Lamp - I think it is design for old times, very functional and I like how Paul Smith gave it new vibrant colors. THE INVISIBLE AVANT-GARDE CONSTRUCTION KIT by 52factory - the best way to think about prototypes

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

NN : It has minimal lines and colors, that can suit any interior. I also tried to use latest technical novelties so that it is maximised use of the item. Every millimetre of the thing is thought through so it is comfortable to do it.

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

NN : Use lean canvas, filling them helps to answer on many questions you might be asked in the future, and help shaping your idea. Research and watchfulness

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

NN : As I did before I was designer. UX strategist of digital products for design company .

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

NN : I think the best way to talk about design is to think about Vkhutemas and the way designer was presented there. So they taught in art workshops future artist constructors. it means that result of their work is both construction and art. And this is how I see design. It is a melting pot of watchfulness, elaboration of experience and accuracy of physics, math and usability. As soon as everything works you have an unforgettable beauty that will improve living of human beings. Nowadays we also have to think about sustainability. It is something Rodchenko said about things we own, they are not just things, they are friends we take care of and try to prolong their working cycle .

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

NN : My art teacher. Juliya Talalova. And great designer Vadim Kibardin. - from learing point of veiw My kids and husband - from emotional point of view. I love when kids say I am product designer to people.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

NN : My art teacher. Juliya Talalova. And great designer Vadim Kibardin.

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

NN : Learning on my own. Finding right courses to take. Make schedule about my studying , being sure I didn't forget to learn something. Searching for the right teachers.

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

NN : It should clear message, TA and purpose.

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

NN : My project of the curtains , fingers crossed it will work out . I designed them to reduce hit during summer, and reduce usage of electricity for light during winter. I also made a special edition for 3d countries, with minimal cost of production, so it can improve living conditions , in my portfolio it is the only project with such impact right now, but I really want to have more of them.

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

NN : To improve people's life. To talk about ASD, shaming of mothers, and other problems through products I design.

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

NN : To be crazy and flighty.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

NN : Sometimes it is awareness we raise while our design is discussed. It is message we care about while we define purpose and targets of our design .

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

NN : My project of the curtains , fingers crossed it will work out . I designed them to reduce hit during summer, and reduce usage of electricity for light during winter. I also made a special edition for 3d countries, with minimal cost of production, so it can improve living conditions , in my portfolio it is the only project with such impact right now, but I really want to have more of them.

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

NN : I am very fond of a fireplace bench Aalto. as it was the only product I saw in real life. It was designed for individual house. It could be used in bedroom as a bed bench and make the room cosy with artificial fire. It also can be used as shoe rack and entrance table in a hallway, or a room divider between kitchen and living room. A fireplace-bench has bar table, so that it can have additional space in bars in case someone wants to use it there. However for the project I did it , this object was used just as a bench for bedroom.

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

NN : From my point of view younger generation is too much into sustainability and cause of it their design sometimes lacks interestingness. On the other hand older designers are just into the look of the object and use of well known materials . I believe it will get mixed up at some point and we will see absolutely new things. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist now, it just will be on new level.

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

NN : As I said before it is new more sustainable materials, and design that suits new way of living and new forms.

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

NN : Depending whether projects is fully done by me, than two years, If I have production company -one year.

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

NN : For me in creative process the most important is to make research, to go through inspiring things, and check history of the object. Sometimes it is about going to museum, or visiting inspiring place. And than I walk. Perfect if I can do 6-7 km, but 30 minutes also not bad.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

NN : Coffee, sharpened pencils , favourite rulers, gouache, tempera, Roubloff brush, technical drawing paper and Silence.

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

NN : Most of information about trends I get from magazines, such as World of interiors, Design anthology, Apartemento, Frame, Openhouse. I also work with instagram, as you can teach it want interests you and get great recommendations about what is trending right now. And sometime it influences parts of my work. However it is more just to monitor what is happening, and be happy if something you created is in trends, but most important is to be timeless, so your item makes person happy whatever trend is popular now. And i this cased design should set the trend.

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

NN : It makes it more innovative , ads multifunctional use, and males design more minimalistic.

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

NN : Autocad, Pencils and paper .

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

NN : I live to explore new material, for instance I have a chair in cork but recently I did recycle pine in small fraction, and even though it looks like a cork it has a more interesting vibe, as for me. I also really want to come up with material as clay, but that can be lighter and used for big objects. in the end it is more important how the surface feels under the fingertips, than material itself. The furniture is something we constantly touching, and I want material to suit the purpose of touch . Colour is actually important to suit interior. It is something that should be thinking through for different interior projects. The more interiors you can some up with the better. it could suitable for all colour schemes, or makes projects outstanding and piece de resistance. As for role of ambient in design it mergers from UX, technology and sustainability .

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

NN : Where to buy it? Actually it is something I get asked quite often.

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

NN : I need to some up with the same idea. And it might drive me crazy for months, till idea is on paper. Right now it is Jean Prouvé Bergère, lecture-hall chair, 1951

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

NN : I do like working with lots of people, organising processes and love finding solution in cases when it looks like it is not going to work out. Due to my love to numbers are like taking care of different hypotheses and checking them. I do really think that finding out something doesn’t work, makes our research fuller and makes team explore more. I am very time responsible I have my own approach to work, that i kept for last 10 years, and do really think it helps me always be on time.Design partners I would love to have, engineers , technical support , material professional .

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

NN : History of design professor Artem Dezhurko . My art teacher. Juliya Talalova. And great designer Vadim Kibardin.

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

NN : Collection of art history books. Magazines, such as World of interiors, Design anthology, Apartemento, Frame, Openhouse. Love MacGaffin magazine

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

NN : I draw everyday.

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

NN : Kandinsky, Klee, Goncharova, Melnikov, Rodchenko, Bykov, Tatlin, Sottsass, Aalto, and Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand. Eames both. Saarinen, Mies vad der Rohe, Klimt, Breuer, Gropius, Friedl Dicker-Brandeis.

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

NN : Right now I don't feel famous at all. But as soon as I be, I will tell you.

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

NN : Color: blue. Place: London. Food: shrimp. Season: Mikhail Fedorovich Larionov - Spring. From the cycle "The Seasons", 1912, Thing: family. Brans Artek and Vitra.

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

NN : I got Certificate in Furniture Design for Beginners Online Short Course by Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London. And next day friends called me and congratulated me on becoming real designer.

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

NN : I don't have option not to. It is my super topic and I can't stop doing it. My great day is in the future when I get job offer and sign contract, when I sell my design and see it in shops

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

NN : No. Everyone thought I will be connected to mathematical work .

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

NN : Nothing I think most of things were discussed.