Ihor Shadko

Specialized in Design.

Ihor Shadko

About Ihor Shadko

Ihor Shadko has been working as a user interaction designer for more than 7 years, during this time he elaborated considerable amount of projects from small mobile apps to sophisticated dashboards (B2B/B2C) wich are used by millions. His works span a wide range of society needs: in mobile banking, restaurant sphere, document-turnover, law, the entertainment industry, and dating. He dedicates himself to helping businesses solve design problems bring their ideas to life through functional and appealing designs.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Ihor Shadko

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
My mother is an architect, and I used to draw every time a blank piece of paper appeared at home. In my youth, I saw terrible examples of advertising and design surrounding me in my small city so I decided to fix this because I was sure I can do better. To bring people joy and harmony, through my designs. Already as long as 7 years as I have started to work on in digital design sphere (I came from the print industry as many my colleges) and continue to bring business ideas into life in an efficient and elegant way.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I work in Ukrainian IT company which specializing in design and development, and also with different product companies on a freelance basis.
What is "design" for you?
First of all, it is emotion. Design it is mean of achieving a result by people, design it's the biggest part of my life. It is the smell of the fresh coffee in the morning, slick metal surface, symmetry, and asymmetry. Words, colors, and sounds.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I adore mobile apps because most of the content is consumed through mobile devices. Also, I'm interested in wearable electronics, virtual reality, and any interfaces from the tangible or the digital world.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
I guess I won't be original if I choose the Dieter Rams works. He is an indisputable genius of the 20th century, whose 10 rules of the good design will influence the nest generation of designers, as well. Also, I like Gleb Kuznetsov's works whose approach in mobile design seems to me fresh and innovative.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
I suppose it was an e-commerce website for an automobile plant. Surprisingly, after 7 years it is still in work but definitely needs to be improved.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I love meaningful animation that nowadays helps significantly improve user experience if do not abuse it. Regarding platforms and technologies, I do not have any particular preference. Technologies are going to change, but the good design, unlikely.
When do you feel the most creative?
When I see that I'm solving a real problem of real people around me.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Definitely marketing, and user research understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through. Also, user testing during an implementation process.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I feel immersed and cheerful during the developing process, even when I'm getting tired. I adore my work.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I definitely feel proud when I solved someone's issue and people use my products.
What makes a design successful?
Keeping your user's needs over anything else. Solving of a real problem, or providing a better service than existing, and warm care on people who chose or might choose your product.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
An ability to perform a task, easily and quickly through a certain interface.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
To bring the harmony to people into this busy and running ahead world.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Well, taking into account that the most aspects related to the user interface will be automated by the artificial intelligence, the main task for designers in the foreseeable future is to analyze data and to adjust work between machines and humans.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
The best exhibition for me is to see in a bus a person using my product and getting positive emotions.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I watch a diverse bunch, of creative podcasts with an inspiration from different design fields, not being limited by only user interaction. It might be https://muz.li/ , https://dribbble.com/, https://www.behance.net/ , https://medium.com/ etc.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I put an accent on simplicity and convenience. Nowadays it's impossible to navigate through some websites and they still win some awards due to the "wow effect" but people usually have no time to figure out how it works, they live their busy life. So clean and simple design is a paramount task for me.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I live in Ukraine, and obviously, my cultural heritage and national mentality have some small influence on my work. But I often travel and see the world from different sides, work with foreign customers and study a future market. Thus I would not say that my roots can have some other influence on me besides a positive.
How do you work with companies?
I immerse myself in a task completely, study the culture which stands behind a company. Research its' users, and competitors. It's very important to evaluate everything before the first pixel drops into Sketch, or the first line of code meets Github.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Well, it depends on the size of a company, its location, and allocated on design funds. It's good if it's possible to find a good designer nearby, if no it takes some time to understand how a freelance designer suit to your business. I'm currently writing an article on this topic.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
If briefly there are: 1. Getting of a technical task and research. 2. Wireframing and prototyping. 3. Preliminary testing. 4. Preparation of mockups for development. 5. Testing of a real product.
Can you describe a day in your life?
1. Early morning. Bicycle journey to my office. 2. Morning meeting. 3. Work on a set of sprint tasks. 4. Short ride around the district. 5. Learning and reading of news.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Yes. Don't jump too much ahead. Being young I had a bad habit do not finish affairs completely. Fortunately, I have got rid of it a long time ago. So, tips: 1. Be consistent. 2. pay attention to details. 3. Work on one task at one time. 4. learn permanently. 5. Do not forget to have fun.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Positive side - you're changing the world. Negative side, sometimes due to the creative process you're getting yourself exhausted. In this case, take a vacation, go somewhere far ago. Explore a new culture.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Oh, there are an enormous amount of them. Some of them I already counted. The most useful tools currently are Sketch, Zeplin, Flinto, Brackets, After effect, Photoshop, Invision.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Yes, it's true. I work with a timer on my phone to give my eyes and mind some rest
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It's a very vague question. Sure, it depends on a complexity and volume of a particular project. I guess, from 1 month, to even several years.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
It's fun. Probably, people start to ask me to explain some terms such as UX, GUI, wireframe, etc.
What was your most important job experience?
It is 1.5 years project - document turnover dashboard, for a huge metal holding company. It was very challenging, despite a couple of designers working on it.
Who are some of your clients?
VISA, DataGroup, Unison bank, KAZ Minerals, Mycelium, Unitel and many others. Mostly those are big enterprise companies.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
This one is the most interesting and hard. Forming of a list with user needs, technical and business requirements. It's always challenging. You're like a lawyer who is standing for the rights of all users, business and developers.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I'm eager to learn more in the business sphere and open my own startup soon.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I usually do design on my own, but sometimes short terms or difficulties require work of a team, so this is also always an interesting experience. One plus, you can always share and absorb knowledge.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Yes, sure, but unfortunately, it is still too early to speak about this exciting project.
How can people contact you?
I'm pretty social. So you can find me everywhere. The easiest way to write me an email. igor.shadko@gmail.com Or Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorshadko/ Also, I am on Dribbble and Behance https://dribbble.com/Shadko https://www.behance.net/igor_shadko

Designer of the Day Interview with Ihor Shadko

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I have been working as a designer of digital products for more than 7 years. During this time I elaborated considerable amount of projects spanning from entertaining mobile apps to sophisticated business managing systems, dashboards (B2B/B2C).I truly devote myself to helping businesses to bring their ideas to life through functional and appealing designs. This approach is being reflected in a business revenue and overall user engagement.Among my clients are Visa International, Kaz Minerals, Wargaming, Uni-Tel telecom, Mycelium, Data Group (the largest Ukranian internet provider) Dil Mil (dating app),Thoughtspot (BI data analysis) and many others.
How did you become a designer?
I guess my mother is the one who unintentionally dropped the spark all the way back to my childhood. She is an architect and I remember all these sketches laying around. I used to grab a pencil and draw over all these lines and shapes. Years after I decided to become an auto designer, I adored cars as any boy but this idea is still buried in dozens of car sketches inside my table. And this is good because the human interfaces development is the right thing which keeps me fascinated for already almost 8 years. I started as a freelancer then got to an auto company where I maintained their e-e-commerce websites. After this were some agencies where I honed my skills before I’ve started to work on particular digital products.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
Well, consistency, clarity and delight are the main things I pursue.My design process usually includes:1) Initial kick-off meetings (Why we do this? Who is it for?)2) Reiteration on business requirements.3 Research (Analysis of existing products; Investigation of the user base)4) Creation of personas & use cases.5) Ideation.6) Prototyping.7) Testing.8) Design.9) Delivery.10) Testing.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
It’s simple! The constant challenges I face when I to try to understand what a user thinks trying to accomplish a certain task, make me excited and a right delivered solution really makes me happy. I’m really happy and almost never get bored because I adore what I do.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
First of all, as I mentioned above, I think my mother’s work. Next will be my integral love of typography and human behavior analysis. I always was wondering why people do things this way and how can I help them to make it more efficient.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
In the nearest future, I want to start work on a big design system and devote myself to data visualization for business. I think shaping this knowledge I can lead a design department on a new position soon.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Be curious and empathetic but strong and persuasive. Be confident leaders in their spheres. Communication skills are extremely important, it's all about design. You must explain your design clearly and solve any problem keeping your mind sharp.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I’d say for me, consistency and striving to become better is the key. You should learn from your mistakes and even better on mistakes of others. And of course work hard but still have fun, we’re living our lives after all. I do not want anyone to shift their lifework Balance to much :)
What is your day to day look like?
- Coffy- Morning brainstorm.- Work on planned tasks- Lunch and talks with colleges- Reading some inspirational resources- You will not believe, work again.- Dinner- Study of new programs practices and design methodologies.- Good night.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
Well, each day I read some articles from different websites such as UXpin, Medium, Muzli, and others. But I’d say there is only one trend you constantly need to follow: be clean and clear. Trends change every year these factors remain.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I think most designers know and follow the 10 principles which define a good design introduced by Dieter Rams:According to Dieter Rams, good design:1.Is innovative2.Makes a product useful3.Is aesthetic4.Makes a product understandable5.Is unobtrusive6.Is honest7.Is long-lasting8.Is thorough down to the last detail9.Is environmentally friendly10.Involves as little design as possible
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Being honest it’s never ready :) it can be ready for an iteration but after this you have A/B testings, new features, and urgent improvements. I there is a good proverb: If you think that your design is 100% good to go, you are already too late with the product.
What is your biggest design work?
It’s a really tough question. I’d say it’s Dil Mil, a south Asian dating app. It might be far not the most complex project but it’s my favorite since it solves the real tangible problem: helps to unite human hearts. Really, there are several couples pre-week, reaching us and telling: we found love through the app. I'm really happy for them.
Who is your favourite designer?
For sure it’s forever Dieter Rams. The genius of clean and functional design.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Like anyone who lives a modern lifestyle I’m obsessed with technologies, especially I have a certain impact on its development. With all these, I try to reach the golden balance between the tech and nature, try to hike, cycle and network with people outside of my occupation as well. Also, I adore dogs and hope I will have one soon.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I think the ability to listen and respect someones different opinion is very important for designers as well as the ability to persuade backed by researcher and data. I try to help anyone in my team even if it’s not my responsibilities and this approach benefits. The same I expect from, my coworkers, and employees. Be honest, kind and willing to help.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Of course, I often help to young designers with advice when they reach me on socials. I try to help them to find themselves, with education or technics. I also have in planes to develop something, volunteering. For instance help with the development of the street signs design code in my hometown to help tourists and even locals to navigate easier.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I’d like to thank A’Design Award for the nomination, I think the competition helps designers to challenge themselves, showcase their works to a wider group of people and fight the fear of critique. This is especially important for designers since designers do their work for others.

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