Interviews with Kamelia Terzieva

I wanted to challenge myself and focus on a product design still fitting within the architectural space. I'm happy that NMC Belgium, a company with more than 70 year history, appreciated my design's qualities and decided to produce it as part of their prestigious product range.

The tile is under production with NMC Belgium and I hope that it will grace many companies' spaces and people's homes.

From first idea through experimentation phase to concept finalization took about 12 weeks. The technical teams of the production company took a few more months to bring the tile to life in the right materials.

I followed my inspiration

The tile is in production by NMC Belgium.

The interior design trend, which is looking for a constant reinvention of wall surfaces.

From architects and design studios, all the way to end customers

Combining the tiles freely, clients can create a huge variety of abstract geometric forms which give different textures suitable for office and public spaces, or home interiors.

I was inspired by the versatility of the design and the countless combinations which were possible to create just using that tile, like a puzzle that has many variations. That's why I chose to name it Puzzle.

Sketching, drawing, SketchUp, LayOut etc

The versatility and combinability of the design are its most unique feature. With just one style of tile, the Puzzle, it's possible to create almost unlimited compositions on the wall.

I worked alone during the whole design concept phase. In regards to materials and production dimensions, I worked in collaboration with NMC's technical teams.

Technology plays an important part in the design process - from finetuning the conceptualization via digital tools, to ensuring the best production quality during the manufacturing phase.

A fun part of research was trying to calculate how many different combinations can be made with a few Puzzle tiles only. Since every tile can be placed in 4 different ways, there's more different compositions possible than anyone can ever use!

Actually the realization was not complicated due to the technical support of the production company.

As I have participated already in other international design contests and received a prize for interior design, I decided to face the challenge in a product design competition. Entering the prestigious A'Design Awards competition was then a natural step.

I learned a lot about materials, which can be used and further technological details about the production process.

My attraction to beautiful spaces, objects and lifestyles.

My choice to become a designer was driven by my interest in interior spaces.

I like changing between product design, interior and graphic design. I like the different challenges they offer to me.

Young designers have to study a lot and follow their creativity without setting limits.

Passion. Feeling that you are doing not just a job, but creating something unique.

When the design fulfils its purpose in the best way possible.

Functionality and aesthetics, that's why good design is a long term investment.

May be a concert or other stage design.

Dream project for me is always the next one.

Joy and curiosity

Karim Rashid, Fabio Novembre, Patricia Urquiola and many others.

I would not list them because there are many, but all of them delight the senses, bring harmony and pleasure to our life and make it easier.

I do like all my designs and they have different aspects which make them really good, but I think versatility, meaning multiple possibilities for the users, is the most important aspect. My design product Puzzle Arstyl is a very good example of that.

To become better people, to expanding their knowledge, to open senses and focus on real life and challenges.

Actually I am a civil engineer as well, so I have done many projects as a specialized design engineer.

Beauty, function, supporting people, improving people's life

My family and especially my daughter, who is an artist.

Being always curious to learn and try new things, opportunities as much as possible. Focusing on new challenges and extending my skillsets.

Proper communication with clients is very important and sometimes challenging.

Depending on the audience - more detailed or concise with a focus on the most important elements.

That's a secret, but stay tuned!

To create a unique living space or product that will make the user happy and satisfied with final result.

Professionalism and expertise

Using sustainable materials, teaching people to be responsible with the environment, creating aesthetic norms, etc

Several interior projects I'm working on.

Even small projects when I've done my best.

Leave more space for the designers they work with to think outside the box. This will allow designers to deliver more innovative solutions for the company's and clients' needs.

We are going toward less specialization and more cross-disciplinary design, which opens up brilliant possibilities.

It depends on the complexity of the product and/or a project - from days to months.

I like first to sketch my ideas. Drawing helps me with the first approach to the matter. For the next stages I work with various programs, mostly with SketchUp, and develop the project.

Same as in medicine - serve the client and do no harm.

Rather, design creates trends, they evolve, and new ideas and design trends emerge from there.

It helps to shorten timelines and to clarify the main goals as soon as the beginning of the process.

I work with various programs such as 3ds Max, SketchUp and others.

Color has a significant impact on people, materials have an impact on sensory perception, so we have to be very careful choosing colors and materials in spaces, focusing on the user.

Actually I want my design to be so clear that it answers itself to any question.

Admiration

I work as a stand-alone freelancer in the fields of interior, product and graphic design, but I have collaborated with architects and designers in several interior projects. Yes, I believe in co-design.

My colleagues designers and architects.

Professional ones for sure, but not only. Museum reproductions and catalogues extend imagination and inspiration.

Persistence and learning from the best design examples in the field.

I participated in unforgettable "Sofa Talks with PJ Natuzzi and Karim Rashid" during Milano Design Week this year. It was a really inspiring experience and I am grateful for it.

I am satisfied. I don't feel famous.

Orange is my favorite color, I have many loved places in my country and in abroad. I like fruits and cheeses and prefer spring and summer in comparison with autumn and winter.

I have fun during the design process but I take design itself very seriously.

I set very high standards for my work. I feel satisfied when I have achieved them.

Not at all. When I was a child I was attracted to the universe and wanted to become an astronomer.

I believe in the power of human reason, which will preserve the achievements of civilization and develop them for the benefit of society. Technology will reach heights that even science fiction writers cannot imagine.

I love pure and elegant forms and spaces. I start with modernity first and even when I take inspiration from some more classical styles, I aim to transform their distinctive features to contemporary reality.

I work as a stand-alone freelancer in the fields of interior, product and graphic design

Beauty, function, supporting people, improving people's life

I don't have favorites, I love a new challenge!

The next one!

Exhibition space for an international fair.

I like working with sustainable materials and ready-made design objects.

Inspiration comes to me at any time.

Multifunctionality and aesthetics.

Joy and curiosity.

Happiness and pride for contributing beauty in people's lives.

When it fulfils its purpose in the best way possible.

Again, functionality and aesthetics.

Contribute to a better, more efficient and more pleasant environment. To help educate the public's taste and help preserve the environment.

There is no limit for design evolving. We are going to less specialization and more cross-disciplinary design, which opens up brilliant possibilities.

A public monument projects exhibition in September 2021 (Bulgaria), A'Design Award Winners exhibition in Museo del Design in June 2021 (Como, Italy)

It's coming from nature, urban spaces, travelling, reading etc

My style is focused on pure and elegant forms and spaces. I start with modernity first and even when I take inspiration from some more classical styles, I aim to transform their distinctive features to contemporary reality.

In Sofia, Bulgaria. Bulgaria has deep historical and cultural heritage reflected in its architecture and environment. Living in a diverse, sometimes eclectic environment is a good inspiration for innovative designs.

I feel extra responsibility when I work with companies and not just individual clients - I realize that the result of my design will reflect on a lot of people.

Leave more space for the designers they work with to think outside the box. This will allow designers to deliver more innovative solutions for the company's needs.

I begin with an idea, which I first visualize in my imagination. If I'm satisfied, I continue with drawing, the next stage is approving (or neglecting) of the idea and working on it further.

A piano, library and armchairs in Art Nouveau style, antique silver brooch, timeless design scissors.

Very busy!

To widen their skillset, be always curious to learn and try new things as much as possible.

There are many positives like in all creative professions, about the negatives let's keep silent!

Same as in medicine - serve the client and do no harm.

Expanding their knowledge, listening to the client etc.

I like first to sketch my ideas. Drawing helps me for the first approach to the matter. For next stages I work with various programs such as 3ds Max, SketchUp and others.

I am luckily well organized.

It depends on the complexity of the product and/or a project - from days to months.

What's your inspiration?

Working early on as a civil engineer. It taught me tremendous technical knowledge, attention to detail and finding the right balance between function and form.

Companies such as NMC - Belgium and individuals

I like changing between product design, interior and graphic design. I like the different challenges they offer to me.

Several interior projects I'm working on.

I work alone.

That's a secret, but stay tuned!

I'm available for inquiries at dimitrovakami1@gmail.com

My goal for each design is that it is aesthetically valuable, highly useful to the consumer and triggers their imagination - probabilities and the possibility to combine Puzzle in multiple ways is an opportunity for every client to exercise their creative impulse.

The strict functionality which is a characteristic feature of civil engineering helps me in my work as a designer, to focus not only on the product and interior's look & feel, but to lay as a foundation from the start a harmonic and cohesive marriage of function and vision.

There are almost countless ways to combine Puzzle into very diverse compositions, so that allows designers and architects to really express their own - or their clients' - unique style. I anticipate that every professional will take advantage of all those opportunities that the design offers and I'm certain that I'll be pleasantly surprised by many creative solutions.

I did research on available solutions on the market. Since the design was meant for wall decoration purposes, I aligned its dimensions to the most frequently applied interior spaces height, while the relief surface achieved a play of lights and shadows enriching the space.

My knowledge of the manufacturing company's production processes and raw materials guided my choice of material to best suit Puzzle's design. Polyurethane is a material that is light, durable and at the same time greatly serves the geometric shapes forming Puzzle.

The idea of versatility was embedded from the beginning and served as foundation for the rest of the development. That made the road from inspiration to the final design fairly smooth. At the same time it was endlessly interesting to explore throughout the creative process how that versatility could be best expressed and offer the largest range of possibilities for the customer.

The ability to color Puzzle's surface is of big importance, as applying a different palette enriches the whole interior vision and offers much more diverse opportunities / diverse solutions than a fixed-finish surface products.

The process of adapting the initial design to the final one ready for manufacturing was actually relatively easy and not too time-consuming, since the parameters were already close to the manufacturing capabilities of the factory that I was already familiar with, which meant only minor changes were necessary.

Applying Puzzle breaks up any notion of a 'boring' space and offers so many possibilities to create your own distinctive interior style, which is a more and more essential requirement and trend in design.