Interview with Grigorii Gorkovenko
I believe that my work can make people smile and becomes more inspirational and kinder, while retaining the full depth of understanding and design.
Interview about Bubble Chair Design Interview
Designer Interview
19 May 2021
I was born in a family of architects and from a young age dreamed of implementing my ideas and
fantasies tied to architecture, design and forms.
I had this desire to influence people and the world around me by using space, shapes, textures
and dimensions. To create contextually relevant atmosphere (make it warmer where it's needed,
and make it cooler where it's too warm).
No, I didn't always want to be a designer, I'm an architect and I always dreamed of being an
architect. But the more I delve into creativity, the more I realize that design, architecture and object
design are one and the same.
fantasies tied to architecture, design and forms.
I had this desire to influence people and the world around me by using space, shapes, textures
and dimensions. To create contextually relevant atmosphere (make it warmer where it's needed,
and make it cooler where it's too warm).
No, I didn't always want to be a designer, I'm an architect and I always dreamed of being an
architect. But the more I delve into creativity, the more I realize that design, architecture and object
design are one and the same.
I founded the architecture and design company RIM in 2012 as a student. After 6 years, I opened a
line of object design and production of furniture, décor, and lighting.
The combination of the two fields of object and interior design makes it possible to create the best
conceptual and unique interiors. And makes the journey from the most fantastic idea to its
implementation as short as possible.
line of object design and production of furniture, décor, and lighting.
The combination of the two fields of object and interior design makes it possible to create the best
conceptual and unique interiors. And makes the journey from the most fantastic idea to its
implementation as short as possible.
Design for me represents air, freedom and honesty about myself and the world I live in.
What I enjoy most is designing large spaces, where we create huge installations and tiny objects
both, and together they affect the space.
both, and together they affect the space.
One of the products most dear to our hearts is SHURA, a reinterpreted image of the Russian
matryoshka doll. It has virtually become the signature of each of our projects.
matryoshka doll. It has virtually become the signature of each of our projects.
It was an office space. At the time, I had been inspired by Zaha Hadid. And the space came
together in a very futuristic style.
together in a very futuristic style.
My favorite material is ceramic. It allows you to realize majority of the most complex forms. While
maintaining its lightness and smoothness. And being visually expensive at an affordable price.
maintaining its lightness and smoothness. And being visually expensive at an affordable price.
When I am trusted. When I am trusted to design large spaces, I feel like a composer writing a
symphony to create the right mood.
symphony to create the right mood.
I am convinced that functionality is not the first priority in design. Emotion always comes first,
functionality follows after.
"You are unlikely to smile when you sit in a comfortable chair or put flowers in a handy vase. But
you will certainly smile when you see and touch a quaint and bright object."
functionality follows after.
"You are unlikely to smile when you sit in a comfortable chair or put flowers in a handy vase. But
you will certainly smile when you see and touch a quaint and bright object."
I feel a sense of responsibility and genuineness.
I feel like I'm on the right track. And that it's time to set higher goals, riskier challenges.
Successful design to me means the energy that flows from the creator to the user.
There is no good and bad design, no right and wrong. There are different views of different people
about different things. They either align. Or they don't.
about different things. They either align. Or they don't.
Design is an echo of the problems of the earth.
The design drifts into simplicity, into a simpler image, but with more meaning and implications.
The last exhibition was held in Vladivostok at Vladivostok Design Week. We plan to have
exhibitions in Moscow, Milan and Miami. We love cities starting with the letter M :)
exhibitions in Moscow, Milan and Miami. We love cities starting with the letter M :)
I draw inspiration from greatest names in design, music and art in general.
Here it's about Serious fun.
I live in the Far East of Russia, in the city of Khabarovsk. Of course, my style was influenced by the
country's heritage. This can be seen in my products. I reinterpret and modernize traditional Slavic
imagery in my design.
country's heritage. This can be seen in my products. I reinterpret and modernize traditional Slavic
imagery in my design.
With respect for their goals and objectives, but with the understanding that those goals and
objectives will go through my design filter.
objectives will go through my design filter.
Rely on his history and knowledge, his experience, his imagination, and his willingness to take
risks. His ability to listen to others and himself and to negotiate with himself.
risks. His ability to listen to others and himself and to negotiate with himself.
The design process is always chaotic, consisting of endless sketches, spontaneous meetings to
discuss a new idea and its immediate implementation before it evaporates or gets used by
someone else.
discuss a new idea and its immediate implementation before it evaporates or gets used by
someone else.
— Moooi monster chair
— wall cover by Jaime Hayon
— Richard Repper's coffee maker
— First SHURA made by GORKOVENKO design
— Mom's rarity vintage samovar
— wall cover by Jaime Hayon
— Richard Repper's coffee maker
— First SHURA made by GORKOVENKO design
— Mom's rarity vintage samovar
Each of my days consists of:
Sketching
Visiting production shops
Brainstorming with the team
Zoom conferences with clients, solving current problems
Sports
Meditation
Sketching
Visiting production shops
Brainstorming with the team
Zoom conferences with clients, solving current problems
Sports
Meditation
Dream
Fall and rise, dream again, and make your dreams come true
Fall and rise, dream again, and make your dreams come true
Pros - you can create the world around you, be in tune with yourself, be ahead of time, constantly
fantasize and work with interesting people and projects.
Cons - design consumes all your time, you fall asleep and wake up thinking about your work, and
always have to be prepared that you won't be listened to.
fantasize and work with interesting people and projects.
Cons - design consumes all your time, you fall asleep and wake up thinking about your work, and
always have to be prepared that you won't be listened to.
My golden rule is that design should be surprising and make you smile and motivate you to think.
Developing your own style
Goal setting
Discipline and moderate dedication
Goal setting
Discipline and moderate dedication
Computer software (3D max, Adobe Photoshop)
I always have a sketchbook with me
I draw inspiration from honest art in all its manifestations
I always have a sketchbook with me
I draw inspiration from honest art in all its manifestations
For me it's regulated chaos, sometimes I feel like I'm juggling a lot of tasks and goals.
Amidst this chaos, it's important to make time for what you truly enjoy, to keep surprising yourself.
Amidst this chaos, it's important to make time for what you truly enjoy, to keep surprising yourself.
Design is like a flash, so as soon as you feel it, you try to start the process from sketching to
implementation as quickly as possible.
Of course, it all depends on the scale, materials and technological uniqueness. The fastest process
took a month from sketching to making the first prototype.
implementation as quickly as possible.
Of course, it all depends on the scale, materials and technological uniqueness. The fastest process
took a month from sketching to making the first prototype.
Don't laugh, but more often than not I get asked what I smoke/use to come up with these designs.
There was one very complicated challenge when we needed to create a series of 18 meter
sculptures for a shopping mall. We had to solve a number of issues related to the size and weight
of the sculptures, their height of 16 meters and a very short time frame for implementation.
sculptures for a shopping mall. We had to solve a number of issues related to the size and weight
of the sculptures, their height of 16 meters and a very short time frame for implementation.
Our client is a sophisticated person, a collector. He is in search of an unusual design and wants
new emotions.
We work both with private interiors and huge commercial spaces, and our style is evident in both
cases.
new emotions.
We work both with private interiors and huge commercial spaces, and our style is evident in both
cases.
I like to create big projects where I can construct my own world and design everything from small
details to huge installations; that's when I can achieve my goal and have the necessary impact on
people's emotions and feelings.
details to huge installations; that's when I can achieve my goal and have the necessary impact on
people's emotions and feelings.
My future plans are to go global, my goal is to participate in the world's largest design-related
events.
To create projects and spaces for big brands.
events.
To create projects and spaces for big brands.
We have a team of professionals, led by studio leader Grigory Gorkovenko, which is why we can
produce such different objects and such different products.
produce such different objects and such different products.
Of course a lot of projects are in the works, but we'll wait for the final result before talking about
them.
them.
https://gorko-venko.com/, https://www.instagram.com/gorkovenko_design/, zakaz@gorko-venko.com