Interview with Vladimir Vashnev

I always created things with my own hands. After 10 years in graphic design I decided to go back to designing and building objects that are tangible and useful for community.

I have always been attracted to creating things so design was a natural choice.

I design custom furniture and interiors. In future I plan to do more public space projects.

Try to be an essentialist in design. If any part of your design does not add value to the whole or your design as a whole does not greatly benefit its users, than scrap either that part or your complete design.

Knowledge of a wider context of her work.

A good design ages gracefully and appreciates in value.

Good design makes a lot of business sense. With time its value compounds thus both the client and end users win.

Spaces and experiences for the underprivileged people.

Build a new kind of inclusive communal space

I have a variety of interests in life, other than design

Melnikov, Malevitch, Lissizky, Rodchenko

Worker club concept by Rodchenko.

Pokrovka 6 Hotel. The design's intention is to make guests happy and inspired.

I read and think a lot about wider context of design. Architecture, art, urbanism, business, real estate development, psychology, physiology, engineering, communication are just a few disciplines a designer needs to be well aware of.

Painter and sculptor

Making life better for many people

My partner and wife Dasha

Endless craving for knowledge and empathy

I had to reeducate myself and start my career from scratch a few times

Explain your thinking and how exactly your idea benefits the client

We are launching a side project — small batch production of unknown Soviet designs

Make projects that are beneficial for community at multiple levels

More solid work

It acts as a social glue

Pokrovka 6 Hotel. The project turned out better than it looked at design stage thanks to the freedom we had at every stage from concept to construction.

I hope for legislation that discourages production and consumption of wasteful low-quality products and services.

Design will help to eliminate unnecessary poverty and suffering

We do projects of different scales. So from a few minutes to years.

I research every aspect of the project.

Function before form

It's a technical tool. At the moment technology is of little help with vision and creativity.

Nothing fancy. Cinema 4d + VRay to test my ideas.

Materials have structural and tactile properties as well as semantics. We usually choose material palette first and only proceed to design details afterwards. Colour communicates meaning and is culturally specific. We spend a lot of time with colour and know exactly what we try to communicate and reference.

Why is it so cosy?

The people behind the design have a strong philosophy that makes their product work and also grit to sell it to the employer or client

My wife Dasha. Design may benefit strongly from teamwork.

My creative director

Books on psychology

Building prototypes from various materials with my own hands helped a lot. Also collecting feedback after project completion is a very useful and data-driven approach.

Kazimir Malevitch

They may help me scale my opportunities and thus better benefit the society.

Multiple colours, seashore, Indian food, summer/winter, snowboard, don't like brands in general

A client I built a custom table for, kept secret about the designer, so that no one can order a copy of that table.

When I do not feel like working I don't. Next day I feel more energetic and refreshed. This way I avoid burn-out.

It was obvious that a was a visual kind of person.

I live in a country where I do not know what will happen tomorrow.

Practice MB CBT.