Interview with Sergei Savateev

I was interested in creation and creativity since childhood. I was permanently doing something by my hands. I painted scenes, I drew. I used to make furniture and had completely changed the feel of my room at my parents’ home during adolescence. But my choice of university has been done with the help of my parents and due to the circumstances. So I had came away from creativity for eight long years. But it could not last for a long time. And I have changed my life rapidly and dramatically, so that makes me proud of myself and non-regretting even for a minute.

I was talking out of being a designer for many years. But I have always known what is my true vocation. Though as soon as I have got a possibility I have begun my career in my favorite as young lad profession.

The heart of my work is interior design of luxurious living spaces. But also I’m keen on architecture, private houses and public buildings design.

Yes, I hear this question more and more frequently. I have only one secret of the success - it is about every day practicing. The key word is “every”, without days-off and holidays. This is the only way to accumulate the unique experience and the number of beautiful things, which have been added into that world. So, the quantity of given will be turned into the quantity of taken. And after that if that is your vocation you won’t look at it as at work, it’ll become your life.

To cut a long story short and to neglect evident things like designer should mix practicality and creativity, I would like to point out three main things: 1. The ability to combine everything with everything; 2. The ability to do it easily; 3. Create something new from that combination, something that has never seen before by anyone.

The main goal of design is creating harmonious fully artistic environment which fits for humans’ life. That means that pretty good design should aim not only for abstract objects or basis creating, but for the satisfaction of the key needs of the user, such as: -safety; -functional utility; -the compliance of the environment to the personal status; -environmental friendliness; -esthetics. If these points are realized successfully, that means that the design is really good.

As K. Marks said, existence influences the consciousness. High style interior design is mainly for those, who are really requesting to themselves firstly. If a person has a good eye and exquisite taste, it makes possible to have insights in many things. But not so many places are good for living. High style interior design makes it possible to combine maximal comfort, enjoy the achievement of technological progress and gives the aesthetic pleasure from visual and sensitive giving shape. In other words, the high level design interior is like a painting from expensive art auction оn, that is very convenient for living.

I have so many ideas, plans - and it would be interesting for me to realize it. Everything that involves the embodiment of author’s style ideas, applying the most up-to-date inventions, all from these are of great interest of mine. I would like to create an interior for the rock-star or to make a historical building reconstruction somewhere in Europe.

If we want to outline something in particular, let it be super-Villa projecting. I want to make it from scratch, to project an architectural overview and inner designs, and to build it in the exciting place with the sea-view. I want to start my idea from the general villa-formation, than think over small forms and about details in the required materials, and, finally, it should be like a fiercest incarnation of designer’s thoughts. To realize everything in such way that it would be fair to say looking at that villa that the collaboration of the architecture and design is a real art. And, a little spoiler, I find some free time to make several architectural design concept developments for this would-be beginning little by little. If the faith will make me acquaintanced with the decent of such project person, I have something to propose him.

Yes, I think that every designer has his or her own method, his or her unique approach. I can share with you mine. My recipe is that. While creating even the most complicated design I try to exclude unnecessary things. I suppose that it’s the hardest part. And it seems to be a sign of the premium-class. I mean the ability to see what should be left and what should be removed. In other words, the ability to determine the golden ratio and having a strong sense of proportion (what does it mean “enough”?) are “must-have” things.. 14. I think that I can’t highlight a certain one project, which was created by me. The thing is that I’m grateful to each created project, to each client, for whom I was working for. And I try to do my further projects better and better! In comparison with previous one. So that means for me that each new project is a kind of the challenge to myself. I hope that the project which I will name as “the great” is ahead.

I think that I can’t highlight a certain one project, which was created by me. The thing is that I’m grateful to each created project, to each client, for whom I was working for. And I try to do my further projects better and better! In comparison with previous one. So that means for me that each new project is a kind of the challenge to myself. I hope that the project which I will name as “the great” is ahead.

Every designer is one-of-a-kind, everyone has his or her own vision and author’s style. But, as for me, I think that the more could-do person has the better it is. And one more important thing - it’s exactly necessary to try to widen your own outlook, to make new hobbies and get new knowledge.

I even can’t imagine the profession that is not related with creativity for myself. If I wouldn’t become an interior designer, I would have been a painter. Although now I’m painting.

As for me personally, design is an exceptional way to do good for that world, for people and meanwhile realize my internal mission. That means that while I’m doing design-related processes, I feel the harmony of my inner world with my outer-world.

Speaking about higher results, I thank myself primarily. I say «thank you» to my consciousness, which gives me single-minded faith into myself and my talent. Nevertheless, the support of the nearest and dearest is very important too, because I trust them and appreciate their opinion. Sincere personal support can maintain you in significant way, it doubles your energy and helps to overrun difficult situations. It works especially, if you feel the sense of love to these people.

However, professional support and approval are also meaningful in the equal degree. I’m very grateful to my university teacher at the university of design, her words are forever in my mind. I have won an official design award competition in my city at the second year of my practicing because of her help and attitude. The judges were very strict and highly-qualified. It was very important and severe professional competition, and when I have known that I’m a winner, it has put away all doubts about my choice of profession. Further victories and nominations just approved that feeling.

It is said, the one, who makes no mistakes, makes nothing. Of course, there were a lot of tricky situations early in my career. Well, these were related to the technical mistakes, and with the lack of communication skills and with the lack of experience in having negotiations with the developers. 12 years of practicing have taught me to treat to any abnormal situations in another way, and to perceive them as the part of working process, as the tasks, which should be solved.

The progress does not stand still. The speed of information exchange is increasing too, and data become more available. And design as it is well - known is an engine of the progress. That’s why I think that the designer, who aims to succeed in that profession, should choose the most prospective and progressive ways to give the information to the customer.

I manage 3-5 projects simultaneously. To date, my team and me are preparing for the delivery 4 projects, these are 3 flats and 1 fancy private house. I’m overlooking design phase of the one interesting private home.

I’m following the pathway to the status of internationally recognized designer for 12 years. I have numerous number of ideas, including very bold and prospective ideas. I’m sure that I will accomplish my purpose.

All my clients want to get a pretty - looking, stylish, fashionable interior, that has been created for them specially. And I have several ideas, responding to their expectations. More than that, I can listen and hear my clients. And only after meeting and communicating with person his personal idea is being created.

Nowadays several definitions of the «design» exist. One of them is: «Design is a specific sphere of activity, that is related with object design, which builds an environment of the person. The main goal of design is developing a coherent, full-fledged environment, that is mostly adapted for human activity.» Designers literally define and specify how will our world look like tomorrow. How will we interact with our environment. Will we be in the harmony with our nature or not.

Well, these days I’m watching with the rapt interest how the world is changing. It’s very interesting to know will there be customer interest’s replacing or not, and if it will, I would like to know in which direction they will lean. Generally speaking, I have always been having orders as a top-designer, and I hope that the situation won’t be changed. These orders, which are in the process now, can prove it, at least.

I am encouraged by the projects, where customers are ready for the bright solutions. Thanks God, that I have had a lot of such wonderful clients and I hope it’ll be continued.

I would like to have more projects, where the maverick style could be realized. These one, which have more artistic merit.

Things change in the world every minute. The field of interior design is not an exception. From what I observe, I can conclude that a major part of the services of that design type, which belongs to the low and middle price segment will move to online, while the amount of designers will grow, and the bulk of these services would have a typical format, till the designing complete automatization with the usage of AI (artificial intellect). The high-level design will still remain luxury individual service. The requirements to the real luxury design will be at the high-level, and neither AI nor online-services won’t manage to substitute that, at least in the nearest future.

The exclusive decoration projects of interiors are quite complex in the technical meaning and I’m making high demands to its’ realization. Talking about the terms, we can analyze 2 projects. The fist one is a flat in the apartment building with 140 square meters area to design and the second one is a private house with the square 340 m.It’ll take 2,5 months to make the concept of the design, the package of 3D visualizations and the set of technical drawings for the flat and house packs require 4,5 months. It’ll take 10-12 months in the «all-included» format with the authors’ control to realize the project of the flat and house designing and transforming into the reality needs 20 months in the same conditions.

When I’m starting a new project, the first very important point for me is personal meeting with the client, the discussion of his/her preferences and requirements, acquaintance. I tell my client about the main key aspects of further work and listen to him. From the dialogue I try to build a synchronization, to feel his/her mood, to imagine the atmosphere of the interior, which he/she wants to get. If I manage with synchronization building, we can hear and listen each other, we feel mutual trust and respect, in such case my team and me are beginning to work.

My credo in the sphere of working processes is rather simple. Trust your intuition.

As about trends - I would say so - truly good design makes tendencies, the rest design follows that.

Modern technologies are required for application for designing and design pitching processes. The use of new developments maximizes the quality of project developing in times and allows to find the solutions about important technical things during making 3D designation and avoid many possible problems in the period of renovation works

My team and me are using various apps, frameworks and electronic equipment for the creation of digital project. I mean programs for sketch pitching, for collage mounting, for drawing production, for three-dimensional model creation, for generation and for processing of the pictures.

Interior design should create an artistic visual representation of the placement. The harmony of the image is reached by the author’s color variations set compilation, by the choice of materials with different visual and physical properties, by the conscious texture, invoice and environment compilation.

I put miscellaneous global forms and images, which I realize in small forms mixes, in textures and colors combinations into my projects. Probably, the client, who will be doing the review of the outcome, won’t see or won’t understand completely all these aspects from the first sight. I’m very pleased, when the client guesses, that, for example, I had encrypted the first letter of his name in some forms and asks me, if that true or not. And if the client isn’t asking me, so, I am telling necessarily, which ideas or images does particular design project have.

I’m looking for quite a lot of information in the internet and social networks. And I see the images of a real masterpieces from time to time. I can notice that in profoundly different spheres of design or creativity. It takes my breath away in such moments. Such moments give me the extra lift of emotions. For sure, I would save that image and probably I would subscribe to that author, if we are speaking about the social networks. You know, I always eager to communicate or to get to know the person, who has made this work.

Idea generator and the author of the concept in the field of design interior should be one and the same person. That is my profound conviction. But I could entirely admit partial task delegation to the assistants. Sometimes the process of the team and head-designer work is resembling me the association with the orchestra and its’ leader interaction.

If we look backward, considering, who had the most influence on my design style, I would say that my university teacher influenced it stronger than all, of course. She has shored up my design foundation. And then I drew the attention to 2 factors, which can influence me. The first one is internet. Yes, while I practice internet-spaces expanse surfing, I’m absorbing more and more visual content and my brain generates totally unique and unusual solutions. The second are my clients. Their fantasies, ideas make me choosing an increasing number of design process challenges.

While you are not only well-credential specialist, but also the team Chief, you need to have and develop leader skills also. I was coming to leadership skills acquirement gradually. At first, I was a member of the team in a company. And I had been watching and training there. Than I had become a freelancer. I had to learn how to manage myself. After that I had begun to invite people one by one to become the members of my team. Eventually I experienced all the stages from one team member till 30-40, as it is right now. And I don’t stop at this point and continue developing still.

If I’d a possibility to move on through the surfaces and times, I might have visited Egypt during the reign of pharaohs, Rome in the heyday era, would have seen Leonardo da Vinci for myself and also would have been in my student time, it would be marvelous.

Although I had got many different awards from various design competitions, I don’t consider myself as a famous person. May be, it’s because I work a lot and I don’t have time to draw my attention to it. Perhaps, it also could be so because I would like to receive the awards of a higher level and haven’t achieved my goal. But, when other designers recognize me at the streets of my city, it’s very pleasing, certainly.

My favorite color is dark purple like blueberry, my favorite place is at the top of the mountain in sunny weather, my favorite cuisine is Italian, my favorite season is summer, my favorite thing is my car and my favorite brand is Ferrari.

I spend quite a long a time at the development stages of my projects. I know a lot about house repairement and development, and quite often I’m managing development processes by myself. And it’s very funny, when some contractors from outsourced companies take me as a foreman or construction foreman and begin to discuss design and designer, who has created that project, with me!

It makes me excited, when my projects are coming to the final and I begin to see all the good looks, that were existing at the paper only before, for real.

I was totally serious, when I had realized that I like to develop spaces in my childhood when I was nearly 10 years old. My children’ rooms were my first projects! I had never doubted, that my my specialty is to create, to change and to enhance something in that world over the years. I mean to create beauty.

If we try to foresee the future, for example in 1000 years, so my suggestion about what it holds in the store will look like that. The technological way of development of our current civilization will lead us to the deepest understanding of that world, of that universe and of the reasons for being.

Design is a fate.

I showed a high interest to the creation and creativity from an early age. I was constantly doing something with my hands. I drew the pictures, painted. I did the furniture on my own in adolescence. But when I had to choose the University, I gave In to circumstances and my parents’ opinion. That’s why I moved out from creativity for the long 8 years. But it couldn’t last for the long time. And I had changed my life quickly and decisively; obviously I’m proud of that fact and don’t regret about it even for a moment.
I have stopped doing engineering and have started doing individual interior design as a freelancer, in fact I began cooperating with architectural and development companies since autumn 2008. I had sent an application form to the prestigious design competition Neuhaus and had won the-first degree diploma in December 2009. Then I made a decision to found my own design - studio - it happened after 2 years of independent leading projects. So, I have founded my studio and recruited first employees in the autumn of 2010. We have done a number of design projects together, accumulated the experience; whereas the permanent staff has been formed. The studio was renamed as SAVATEEV.DESIGN in 2014. I have been uniting a team of high-qualified professionals over the years. Designers, 3d-visualizers, engineer, architect, draughtsman, project managers and experienced construction team work under my guidance. I manage the role of top-designer in all my projects. The Experience and professionalism allow us to bring ideas into the life. Our projects are implemented in Russia and abroad: in Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Sochi, Ufa, USA, Germany, Finland and Israel.

In reality, «design» for me is my input into the world’s beauty, the possibility to lose my track at this planet, to help people to live in precisely individual environment with the high art level. Design is a mission and vocation for me.

My core activity is interior design of the luxury living apartments. Probably, each designer has his or her favorite working style. I do my projects in my author’s style, as I name it. I create a complex blend from the technologies, forms, materials, light and subjects.

I think that I can’t highlight a certain one project, which was created by me. The thing is that I’m grateful to each created project, to each client, for whom I was working for. And I try to do my further projects better and better! In comparison with previous one. So that means for me that each new project is a kind of the challenge to myself. I hope that the project which I will name as “the great” is ahead.

I have created my first interior design, when I was working as a freelancer. It was a unique work. The client asked me to create interior design, which could have something common with the style of the «Star Gate» series. He, his wife and his child would be living with that design style. I mean it should be a cozy family apartment, that is stylized with the space thematics. And I have managed with it! I had got so many gratitudes. Even the mother of my client said thanks. It was my first implemented project and my first project, that was published in the national interior design magazine.

Different types of materials are used in the interiors. Its’ unique properties and quality are very meaningful for me.

Finding new creative thoughts and inspiration is very big and important process. It is needed to get new visual information for inspiration, and that’s why I adore travelings.

I am projecting the placement of furniture and the walls primarily. This the basement or fundament of the functional design. After everything was planned in the ergonomic and logical manner, I am imagining the global view, a super idea. And only after that I am sorting tiny details, color scheme and finally I am picking up interior subjects.

The moment of creativity, creating something new catches me, fulfills me with the energy, it is very exciting period of time. As psychologists say, I feel the sense of flow.

It makes me excited, when my projects are coming to the final and I begin to see all the good looks, that were existing at the paper only before, for real.

Yes, I think that every designer has his or her own method, his or her unique approach. I can share with you mine. My recipe is that. While creating even the most complicated design I try to exclude unnecessary things. I suppose that it’s the hardest part. And it seems to be a sign of the premium-class. I mean the ability to see what should be left and what should be removed. In other words, the ability to determine the golden ratio and having a strong sense of proportion (what does it mean “enough”?) are “must-have” things.. 14. I think that I can’t highlight a certain one project, which was created by me. The thing is that I’m grateful to each created project, to each client, for whom I was working for. And I try to do my further projects better and better! In comparison with previous one. So that means for me that each new project is a kind of the challenge to myself. I hope that the project which I will name as “the great” is ahead.

The main goal of design is creating harmonious fully artistic environment which fits for humans’ life. That means that pretty good design should aim not only for abstract objects or basis creating, but for the satisfaction of the key needs of the user, such as: -safety; -functional utility; -the compliance of the environment to the personal status; -environmental friendliness; -esthetics. If these points are realized successfully, that means that the design is really good.

Design is the engine of progress. Designers set the trends, make manufacturers creating new materials and technologies. Also designers’ ideas can get manufacturers to interfere some changes in production technologies, to take ecological factors and its impact on the environment into account. These are designers, who can form new and progressive ideas. But trends and opinions could be turned to the damaging for ecology side by professional designer community. I hope that it will never happen, but designer should always think about it.

Things change in the world every minute. The field of interior design is not an exception. From what I observe, I can conclude that a major part of the services of that design type, which belongs to the low and middle price segment will move to online, while the amount of designers will grow, and the bulk of these services would have a typical format, till the designing complete automatization with the usage of AI (artificial intellect). The high-level design will still remain luxury individual service. The requirements to the real luxury design will be at the high-level, and neither AI nor online-services won’t manage to substitute that, at least in the nearest future.

My inspiration is about answers of my conscious to my questions. The more I ask questions or ask to show me the solution, the more new different images I need to see. That’s why the first thing, that I need to do for my inspiration, is to see, to observe, to be interested in everything around me and to communicate with different people as much as possible. Sometimes it requires to drive to a new location or to the trip. And there is one more source of inspiration for me - it’s music.

I don’t work in the only one style. In addition to design, I’m drawing pictures, as you know and in both of these spheres I also try to create authors’ images. Time to time it could be similar with famous historical styles and sometimes it doesn’t look like something else. There are so many world-recognized designers, who are working at particular genres and they are really good at it. I have chosen the way of creating something new.

I was born and live currently in one of the most beautiful cities of our planet, in my opinion it is Saint-Petersburg, Russia. This city has unique and diverse historical architecture. Without any doubts it had left a trace on my taste and ideas of the perfect things. Also it taught me to respect the masterpieces of the past. I’m sure that it could be very hard to realize what they did nowadays. While you are living in such city, surrounded by such cultural heritage, it’s actually very hard not to become a creative person. Saint-Petersburg is known as a cultural capital of Russia for good reason, as I think.

I’m cooperating with a lot of companies - real estate agencies, development companies, various materials manufacturers, furniture and interior accessories wholesalers. Same way I’m interested in them, they are interested in my services. Our cooperation increases the quality of the service for the clients, they get an integrated approach and that’s very convenient, in my opinion.

When I’m starting a new project, the first very important point for me is personal meeting with the client, the discussion of his/her preferences and requirements, acquaintance. I tell my client about the main key aspects of further work and listen to him. From the dialogue I try to build a synchronization, to feel his/her mood, to imagine the atmosphere of the interior, which he/she wants to get. If I manage with synchronization building, we can hear and listen each other, we feel mutual trust and respect, in such case my team and me are beginning to work.

If I should outline only 5 favorite types of design items - I would mention pendant lamps, flooring, wall coverings, bathroom equipment and textile.

My each of the days starts from working moments. I try to have all the work done since morning till 14-15 p.m. That’s coming up to 12 years. I practice interior design and everything related with these thematics every day. The second part of the day is usually spent for hobby or for new business directions development or for taking a rest.

Every designer is one-of-a-kind, everyone has his or her own vision and author’s style. But, as for me, I think that the more could-do person has the better it is. And one more important thing - it’s exactly necessary to try to widen your own outlook, to make new hobbies and get new knowledge. My credo in the sphere of working processes is rather simple. Trust your intuition.

When you are doing your really loved activity, you can’t consider it as work. You are not tired from that activity, otherwise, you are charging your inner batteries. But that profession has one nuance - especially it’s significant when you manage your own design bureau - it is permanent upper-level mental activity. That’s why if you would like to keep your conscious clear and prevent it from losing ideas in the extra thoughts, privacy, meditation and traveling are required.

In short, «golden rule» can be concentrated in «trust your intuition, remove everything that is not important».

Firstly, interior designer should have really extensive experience of real practicing in interior creating and shouldn’t be afraid of fails at the beginning.There is a good proverb - the one who does not work is not mistaken. Surely, I have had a lot of various situations. 12 years of unstoppable practicing have taught me to look at any extraordinary situations in another way, to take them as a part of working process, and consider them just as tasks, which should be resolved. Secondly, leadership skills should be well - developed, because the designer only knows what exactly and how precisely it should be done to realize his idea for 100%, and that means that he or she should be able to communicate and explain, and even insist on something. And above all, the designer should have an open mind, because it is quite important not to miss out the main thing - it is the creative spirit.

My team and me use a lot of various programs, frameworks and different technical equipment for creating a project. It includes programs for sketches and collages creating, for design drawings making, three-dimensional modeling software and applications for photo processing.

Time is a very important resource. And I exactly couldn’t succeed in everything without my assistants. I spend a lot of time for not doing everything by myself, but making accurate tasks for my team. It’s quite important, if you want to be on time everywhere.

The exclusive decoration projects of interiors are quite complex in the technical meaning and I’m making high demands to its’ realization. Talking about the terms, we can analyze 2 projects. The fist one is a flat in the apartment building with 140 square meters area to design and the second one is a private house with the square 340 m.It’ll take 2,5 months to make the concept of the design, the package of 3D visualizations and the set of technical drawings for the flat and house packs require 4,5 months. It’ll take 10-12 months in the «all-included» format with the authors’ control to realize the project of the flat and house designing and transforming into the reality needs 20 months in the same conditions.

I guess, that the most frequently asked question, which I usually listen to as an interior designer, is «help us to start working in collaboration with you, what should we do firstly?» And «can you conduct process organization?»

I think that my most important experience is a complex of everything that I had passed through and what I had done in the design field during 12 years of practicing. It’s priceless. And if we would outline something in particular - in that case I think it was making the project of private apartments from the scratch till the complete finishing during 6-month period. It was very interesting, creative project with the complicated inner architecture. Also it was technically complex.

Usually, my clients are top-managers, entrepreneurs, show-runners, famous people and people from the high society.

I am encouraged by the projects, where customers are ready for the bright solutions. Thanks God, that I have had a lot of such wonderful clients and I hope it’ll be continued.

I manage 3-5 projects simultaneously. To date, my team and me are preparing for the delivery 4 projects, these are 3 flats and 1 fancy private house. I’m overlooking design phase of the one interesting private home.

My team, headed by me, is working on the projects. I’m a founder, leader and chief - designer of Savateev.Design.

I’m always available by Skype, WhatsApp and Telegram. My number is +79119221600. My nickname at Skype is @Sergio-design. My e-mail is: info@savateev.design. If you would like to call me, please, use the number of my assistant Angelina +7988 1581174. It’s also registered at WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram. Angelina can speak English.

I would like to say thank you to all the organizers and jury of Award Design Competition. You are doing a great deal! We are transforming the world to the better together!