Interview with Vitali Zahharov
Born and raised in Estonia, Vitali is an award-winning digital designer whose artistic journey has traversed continents, from Singapore to Spain and presently in Los Angeles, CA.
Designer Interview
23 May 2024
Hi all. My name is Vitali Zahharov. I'm a visual designer and storyteller with development background and passion to travel currently working as a freelancer. Always trying to create modern experiences for big or small brands with purpose. I am an objective personality - Create an awesome product, help sell it, achieve client's goals. My passion to design started in 2005 when I firstly opened Photoshop, but I can't call my old works as part of the design, it's more like child playing with toy, and doesn't know that toy can speak.
Currently I work as freelance full-time designer for YML. Also, I'm creating my own design studio, but it's too early to talk about.
It's literally everything. It's lifestyle.
I like visual design, conceptual design when you have a freedom, also I'm fan of animation.
My favorite - Netflix. I'm in love how did they do. I'm absolutely thrilling with Netflix's interface.
First thing - banners.
Figma + Principle.
Usually at night.
I'm caring about people who will use this product afterwards.
Joy. Honestly, it's Joy.
If final results looks the same as I designed it - I'm happiest person ever.
There too many aspects, starting from colors and interface ending with date of publishing.
How easy I can use this design/product.
Unfortunately I didn't' had any exhibitions.
Everyday I scrolling through Pinterest, Behance and Dribble for inspirations.
Elegant, Modern, Stylish and Easy-to-Use.
I work in team usually as a team player, so every team member is matter when you doing the big projects in the company.
There are no right decisions about it. Every company can fail with the hiring new employee, even big and famous one. It's mostly depends on good hiring process and people around. I'm happy to work in such great company because people around me always can help me with some problems, and I can fully trust them in any aspects of the life.
I'm visual design, and for me very important to see the beautiful picture. So, my design process is easy one, I'm drawing what I'm feeling currently and how I see the things at the moment. so my design is pretty emotional, and can be very different depends on my mood. There are no special technique - every designer is unique I think and has it's own rules to design.
Chair, Table, Macbook, mouse & my phone.
First thing I'm doing at the morning - checking emails, social media and answering the emails to the client. Then I have my free time during that time - I'm usually shopping or go to gym. Starting from 3pm I work and usually my workday is ending at the midnight.
For young and creative people I can say only one thing - "Don't give up, just work, work and work!"
Positive - you are always in trend, you are always following the best designers and designs and know who did that design or who did another, that's pretty cool. Negative thing, I don't see any. Maybe, you are working and sometimes you literally don't have time for you personal life.
For me, 'golden rule' in the design is finding balance between lifestyle and work.
I think designer should be friendly, helpful, positive, attention to the details and loyal.
I'm fan of Figma, but widely using Sketch, Adobe Suite, Principle and some other online stuff such as Zeplin, Invision, Abstract, Slack.
I'm always trying to find the right time for every task. I should always know how much hours or days, or even weeks I can spend on the project or task. It's very important for me, because sometimes I have three or four projects at once, and I just need to find the perfect balance between them all.
Depends on the project for sure. Usually, let's say two weeks is enough.
'How much is your hourly rate?'
I think when I was Art-Director in Singapore. I learned so much, I worked with different people with all around the world, and also I had experience live and work in different country from 10000 miles away from my home. That's was very cool, I'm always recall that time.
UFC, Royal Caribbean, TaxAct, dosist, Naumi Hotels, Legrand, Singapore Government, Universal Music Group, SteelCase.
I'm enjoying designing apps. I love when I have limited resources, for example in apps I have screen with some size which should be filled in with information, and how it should be up to me. Even a small information on the screen could be a headache and could take a few hours to place in the right corner.
My ideal plan is - open design agency in US.
Only as a team. I'm a team player.
Currently I'm working on my own brand. Can't tell much.
It's easy. Using my primary email - hello@vitali.work, Or they can reach me using my website - www.vitali.work too.
I want to say thank you for reading all these answers!