Interviews with Nadezhda Kiseleva

My priority was the aesthetic appeal of the module and its visual versatility, which would allow it to fit seamlessly into almost any interior. Ease of assembly and maintenance was also an important factor.

First of all, to make a prototype and try it out on my cats. Then, I will look for a long-term collaboration with producers of pet products so that I can start production and sales and make the module available to as many people as possible.

In total, there were 4 months of work, at a slow pace. Three months of it involved the development of the concept itself and one month of preparation for direct participation in the competition.

There were several concepts during the development process, as usually happens. Specifically, this one was chosen because of its round shape. Firstly, a circle is an ideal, complete shape, and secondly, few people use this shape for such purposes - as a hanging house for a cat.
Initially, I did not have the goal of creating a concept that would be put into production, even though all the details, materials, and designs were thought through. However, after the work was done I received a lot of positive feedback from cat owners, which led me to think that it was worth trying to make it happen.

At the moment, this design is not used by other companies. Ideally, I would like to rent out the production rights or even sell them. In case that does not happen, I will produce it by myself.

I have always liked to develop individual interior details such as furniture or lamps, but my main forté is interior design. So the development of the cat module was a way of implementing it in a related area.

Before I started, I looked at photos of existing products in the field of pet products to get a clear idea of what already exists, for inspiration, and to avoid accidental repetition. I particularly liked the curved shelf, which was attached to the wall and had a changeable scratching mat.

Cat owners. Especially owners of multiple cats

Shape and variability of use. The customer can create a composition for his or her own needs and change it later with minimum effort

“Polkota” in Russian is a play on words: polka (shelf)+ kot (cat) also means “half of a cat”,
which hints at the half-circle form of the module of cats complex.

Sketching, firstly, and then software for drawings and 3D-visualization.

Variability of possible compositions and ease of usage.

I was collaborating with my friend Ivan Logutov. He is an engineer and helped a lot by developing a hanging detail.

First of all, these are modern and eco-friendly materials, without whose existence this design would not have been possible.

I have conducted online surveys and interviews with several cat owners I know, including face-to-face interviews, observing the cats, so to speak, in their natural habitat.

There were technical challenges, such as creating the most user-friendly attachment to the wall and attaching the curved part to the base.

I had a long-lasting desire to participate in an international competition and had a project that could theoretically win. So I just decided to give it a try.

I have definitely expanded my knowledge of the pet products market and I already have new developments for another design in the same area.

I've always loved drawing, ever since I was a child. Back in school, I started designing various furniture items, lighting fixtures. We even had a special subject - "Art and technical design", which had a great influence on my choice of future profession.
Design is something that comes from within me, the desire to make people's lives comfortable and beautiful.

It was my conscious choice when I was 15 years old. I don't think anyone could get me to go where I didn't want to go. I've always been pretty stubborn.

I do interior design. That's what I really love with all my heart. I'd like to try my hand at furniture design. I already have some experience that I want to expand.

It is important to follow the market of modern materials, to visit exhibitions regularly, not to be afraid to participate in competitions and to communicate with other designers. And, of course, constant practice.

In my opinion, this is fame and a test of time. A good designer occupies a certain small niche, while a great one can be known all over the world and remain relevant even after his death.

Good design catches you at first sight. You want to admire it, consider every detail, there are no noticeable flaws in it. I usually evaluate by form, composition, color scheme and functionality - how comfortable it will be in this interior if interior design is being evaluated, or how convenient it will be to use this thing when it comes to industrial design.

A good design is, besides the obvious visual aspect, also comfort, convenience, and safety. Eco-friendly materials that have no harmful effect on your health, an ergonomic shape that does not overload your muscles, or a "triangle rule" that reduces the number of steps required during cooking to a minimum - these are all signs of good design. Of course, you invest not only in the appearance of the design that will make you aesthetically pleasing but also in your health.

If we talk about volunteering, as a person who cares about animals, it would be interesting for me to design a shelter for cats and dogs. The ones I have seen in my life are quite saddening in terms of design, even if the animals there are provided with everything they need and all the sanitary standards are respected. Unfortunately, shelters often don't have the money for any improvements - everything is spent on keeping the animals.

I've had a dream for a long time to design one of the subway stations. Moscow Metro has a very interesting history and many beautiful stations. I would like to be able to contribute to it. Apart from the Moscow Metro, I am very inspired by the Stockholm Metro and its cave-like stations.

Perseverance and perfectionism. The first helps not to give up, even if something goes wrong, the second - to bring it to the end and do the best possible.

I don't have any list of designers who inspire me, I am usually inspired by results and there are countless of them. Every day I see something really interesting and it doesn't surprise anyone in today's world, with its huge opportunities to access information.

I admire Philippe Starck's Ghost chair. It is laconic, durable despite its apparent fragility, universal, combines past and present, plus it contains a certain amount of irony.

In my opinion, one of my best projects is a rock bar called Hell's Angels. At the time, I had the task of creating a space for heavy music lovers, which led to Hunter Stockton Thompson's book "Hell's Angels", which describes the life of American bikers-outlaw. Some of the details of the bikes were used in the design - wheels for bar stools, exhaust pipes, and headlights for the bar. And in general, the atmosphere of the bar was created by bringing a lot of details familiar to every biker and heavy music lover - rivets, leather, skulls, etc. This project was created 13 years ago, but it is still relevant, so I can say that it has passed the test of time, even if it is not very big.

In my profession, as in many others, it is very important not to relax and keep up with the times - to study new software, modern finishing materials, new trends in design. Progress does not stand still, it is always accelerating and you need to keep up with its rhythm. At one time I had to move from hand drawing to 3D-modelling, now BIM-technologies is being promoted and I am interested in them.

At one time I chose between the profession of designer and the profession of a psychologist because I like to study people's motives and behavior. So if I hadn't become a designer I would have become a psychologist in family or adolescent psychology.

For me, "design" is always about people. It’s about their convenience and comfort, including psychological. Design objects, be it furniture, interior or various tools should not only please the eye, but also be functional and ergonomic, and the task of the designer - to combine these items.

There were several people who believed in me but first of all, it is my spouse who is always on my side and supports me.

Perseverance, perfectionism, the desire to make a good design, and, of course, the support of close people.

In the beginning, I had a great desire to work, but lacked some of the skills and knowledge required in the labor market. I had to master the basics of 3D modeling myself in order to get my first job. Later on, the process of continuous learning fit into my life. Also, practical work was of great importance. Building quite quickly reveals all the weaknesses of training and helps to get the missing knowledge.

The methods of the presentation can be different, it is important to remember that the main purpose of the presentation is to deliver to the client the idea of the designer. Sometimes plans and sketches are enough, sometimes you need 3d-visualizations with explanations.

My next project is the interiors of a dormitory in Dubna.

I have no ultimate goal. Design is a life-long process. But, of course, I want to get better known and make my name a brand.

People come to me most often on the recommendation of their acquaintances, my former clients, so they are already aware of my style and quality of work.

Design improves the quality of life, makes it comfortable and safer.

They were HoReCa projects. Working in this field gives more opportunities for the implementation of bold ideas and solutions.

It depends on the size of the object and the tasks to be performed, but on average it is from two months to one year.

I start by setting goals and objectives, then study existing equivalents. The latter is useful in two cases: it protects against accidentally copying someone else's idea and gives inspiration.

Contribute to each project to its full potential.

I would say that trends provide new opportunities for design, but they do not define it. Great design can exist outside the time frame.

The role of technology is very important. For today's process of designing, on the one hand, has simplified and has accelerated - it is not necessary to remake manually drawn pictures and blueprints from the scratch, it is enough to correct in the program. On the other hand, the requirements of clients became higher too.

3dsMax+Corona, AutoCad, Photoshop.

All these are tools to achieve your design goals. Color has a huge impact on the human psyche and it should always be kept in mind when designing something. The material is selected based on the required qualities - environmental friendliness, durability, tactile sensations, and so on. And last but not least. Designers design something on the basis of demand. The final design product must fit into the ambient.

Admiration. I always take the time to study more closely and carefully what has impressed me.

I find collaborations a great way to work. Each party involved brings their own ideas and draws attention to shortcomings that can be corrected.

Constant practice, the urge to learn something new, and to study all the time.

I'm afraid if I start listing everyone, it'll be too long. If you take the professional field, I wish I could talk to Isamu Noguchi.

Favorite color - black, favorite place - fountain-river in Cologne, favorite food - cheese, season - spring, brand - Xiaomi.

While working on one of my past projects, one of the contractors who monitored my work at 3dsMax wondered how long it would take to learn this program. I replied that it was essentially an endless process because something new was constantly coming along. "Okay. How long have you been studying it?" he asked. "About 10 years now," I said. His surprised face was worth seeing: "I thought you weren't older than 22 years." I was 30 years old at the time.

I like to imagine the end result and the reaction of the people who will use my design

It wasn't obvious. At the time, the very notion of "design" was non-existent in my country. I was very fond of drawing, but I could not even imagine that this hobby would eventually become my profession.

For me, "design" is always about people. It’s about their convenience and comfort, including psychological. Design objects, be it furniture, interior or various tools should not only please the eye, but also be functional and ergonomic, and the task of the designer - to combine these items.

Most of all I like to design bars and cafes. In this field of activity, in my opinion, a designer is given more freedom and opportunity to realize some ideas that are not suitable for residences.

I admire Philippe Starck's Ghost chair. It is laconic, durable despite its apparent fragility, universal, combines past and present, plus it contains a certain amount of irony.

I started my professional career in a company specializing in residential decoration, so my first task was to design a classic style apartment.

My favorite material is wood. It's warm, environmentally friendly, and universal.

Usually, this happens after a holiday spent in another country. The unfamiliar environment and the abundance of new experiences give the brain the opportunity to overload itself and start looking at life from a different angle. A well-rested person is always full of productive energy.

Usually, I focus on all kinds of technical details: fasteners, carpentry construction, electric supply, and compliance with ergonomic and other standards. When designing, you always keep in mind the question: "How it will be realized?"

I feel like Alice in Wonderland. For me, the realized interior is always a kind of miracle: here it is, printed on sheets of paper, but here it is for real, which you can touch and smell.

Functionality, convenience, aesthetic appeal. There is another important criterion - the test of time. The LC4 Chaise Longue by Le Corbusier has not lost its relevance, as well as the Noguchi Style Table.

First of all, I look at the composition, then the combination of colors, and then I pay attention to the small details. If the design is good, it is perceived holistically, regardless of whether the person looking at it has an artistic taste or not.

The designer is always responsible for creating a quality product, be it the appearance and usability, or the materials used. Unfortunately, environmentally friendly materials are not always cheap, but you should strive to make the most of their capabilities. I do not think that mankind can completely abandon plastic, but already now there is plastic that can be recycled, I heard about the development of bioplastics - it gives hope.

Design has always been linked to industry, so as long as the industry is alive and design is alive, they are interconnected and develop together. New materials are emerging, and so are new opportunities for their use in design.

Every creative person needs a refill from the outside. For me, the most important resource of this kind is foreign travel. Immersion in a foreign culture has the most beneficial effect on creativity. You can always see something new and then use it in your work. In addition to trips, the sources are also exhibitions, viewing the works of other designers, and sometimes the most unexpected things like a pattern on the bark of a tree or a napkin in a café.

I don't have one style of work, I prefer to work in different styles, but my favorites are modern, loft, and fusion. I like functionality, conciseness, perhaps even asceticism. Recently, I started to like to use bright colors in my work.

I have no universal answer to that question. Each company will choose a designer for its specific goals. If the goals are the same, the designer will be good for the company.

There are a few of them: to keep an eye on the technical part of the project and the possibility of its implementation, to participate in competitions and not be afraid to announce themselves.

The plus is satisfaction with the process and results of the work. The downside is an irregular working day. It is impossible to just take and disconnect from the process, it will be present in the subconscious all the time. It is difficult for me, for example, to be in a cafe and enjoy food if I do not like the interior or there are serious shortcomings. This is the professional trait of designers.

Contribute to each project to its full potential.

A sense of good taste, a sense of composition, and color.

It helps to understand intuitively how long it takes to complete a task. Of course, where it is necessary to use inspiration, it is quite difficult to set exact dates, but it helps to add a few days just in case.

It depends on the size of the object and the tasks to be performed, but on average it is from two months to one year.

Nothing unexpected here: it is a question of price and terms.

It was participation in a reconstruction project of the Diocesan House of the Russian Orthodox Church. We practically lived on the construction site, reworked the project several times due to changing requirements, and at the same time solved problems arising during the construction process.

My favorite thing is to develop concepts. Usually, there are several ideas and you try them on for the project, leave something behind, and clean up something that needs it. This is the most creative part of the designer's work, in my opinion.

I will continue to work on current projects, I will definitely participate in competitions. I really want to work with clients from other countries.

For me, both types of work are good and experience is both. Working in a team, there are always colleagues at hand with whom you can consult and emphasize ideas. Independent work teaches you to count on only yourself, but also gives you the opportunity to implement your ideas.

The easiest way is to send me an email at 3ddd.nk@gmail.com or via direct Instagram: @nk._design