Ivan Krupin

Art, design and creativity have been and are an integral part of my life since birth. My parents were artists and designers, my grandparents were sculptors. My brother is a successful graphic designer, and my sister is an artist. I was happy to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors, studying at art school and then at the Academy of Art and Design. I started working as a designer while studying at the academy and continue to live it every day. Being a designer is as natural to me as breathing.

After several years of working in different design companies, my friend Sergei Grigoriev and I created our own small studio and called it PAP design. PAP is an acronym for paper airplane. For us, the paper airplane is a symbol of concept, design, implementation and function, without forgetting dreams.

Design for me is an art that comes into contact with people and the environment, solving functional problems, improving the quality of life, while at the same time creating an atmosphere and mood. Good design makes life easier, more convenient and fills it with aesthetics and emotions. It's something you can feel. A disposable cup deserves and needs design no less than a table, car or building. Design is attention to detail assembled into a single product.

I think there is no exact answer to this question, other than some general answer with a philosophical flavor. What I like to create most is a new project. Or in other words, the only thing better than mountains are mountains that you have never been to before.

I can't single out one specific design. There are projects that allow you to realize your creative vision more and they take a place in your heart, but also projects in which you managed to achieve goals with difficulty or with a lot of compromises are also worthy of attention and pride.

It was an Irish style pub. We came up with the name (Radio Ireland), developed the branding and created the interior. The pub was built in 2007 in St. Petersburg. We thoroughly studied the phenomenon itself and immersed ourselves in the atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub.

My favorite materials are wood, concreteб metal and glass. I like to work with these different, but at the same time natural elements. My specialty by education is furniture design and I always pay tribute to wood as a warm and tactile material. I like concrete for its solidity and texture, and it also allows me to play with its incarnations, such as different versions of terrazzo. The metal is interesting for its energy and flexibility of use for different purposes. Glass attracts with its levels of transparency and light refraction.

It’s sad to admit, but my most creative time of day is evening or night. I can generate ideas during the day, but the best time for me to polish these ideas is a quiet night. I need silence and twilight with cozy light accents. The best time to work is when no one distracts me and I can immerse myself in the project as much as possible.

The most important aspect for me is the concept. Everything should have meaning and emotion. I do not strive to stick out and impose the idea so that everyone understands it, but it is unconditional that I myself must know exactly what and why I am doing. This gives confidence and helps to hold the line during the realization process. Anyway, for me personally, it all comes down to atmosphere and feeling. And I believe that the grain of this lies in the very basis - in the concept. It's like key in music. Despite modulations and inversions, everything revolves around the same axis and creates harmony.

This is creativity. I got used to this feeling since childhood, when my parents covered the walls of the children's room with white paper every year and allowed me to draw whatever I wanted on the walls. It is that feeling when reality emerges from sounds, smells, air movement, memories and glimpses of the future. Movement in a spiral towards the core.

I think it's somewhat similar to giving birth and raising a child. There are ups and downs, difficulties overcome and pride, excitement when a child is released into the world and a slight sadness from the fact that the child has grown up and set off on his own journey.

I can call a successful design a project that combines a response to a request, a solution to a problem, combined with minimal compromises in creative terms. Ultimately, the success of a design is determined by its recognition. When a design hits the target and generates emotions, such a design awaits success and recognition.

This can only be done by abstracting from the initial conditions and features of the project. In general, good design always gives rise to emotion and some kind of consonant response within. In my area of ​​expertise, I define it as atmosphere. It is a fusion of light, textures, textures, shapes, functions and colors that create a certain atmosphere. If I feel a conceptual atmosphere and see attention to detail, if I feel a dialogue, then it's good design. My personal preference is for a design that achieves maximum goals with minimal means.

Since design, at least in my field of activity, has a real and tangible form, then undoubtedly this responsibility is present. When enhancing the quality of life with their designs, the designer should be mindful of how the product interacts with its environment. When creating a human habitat, we must not forget about nature. In other words, sustainable design should always be one of the goals, as well as harmony with the surrounding space.

Design has always accompanied and will accompany humanity. Recent centuries have developed design to impressive heights, making it both an art and a science. The development of technology is expanding the use of design, creating new areas where it is needed. New materials make it possible to do things that were unimaginable just 20 years ago.. As for the future of design, I hope that the human factor, as the factor of the doubting and searching creator, will remain decisive and will not give way completely to AI.

My exhibitions are completed projects that are located in different parts of the world. You could say that these are something like permanent exhibitions. Allow me a little humor, without which I cannot imagine life.

I try to learn something new all the time, study history, different cultures and everything that somehow surrounds and interests me. It could be music, it could be cooking, or literature and poetry, painting and nature. This mixture of knowledge, thoughts and feelings provides a breeding ground when it comes to creativity, in which the seed of a concept grows. Inspiration for me is to feel inspired again and, having found an idea, grow it and formalize it. I try to use creativity in all areas of my life and this allows me to always be in shape and not lose inspiration.

I have always been attracted to minimalism and laconicism. I was deeply fascinated by Japanese culture, which teaches contemplation and the pursuit of simplicity and purity of emotion. At the same time, I cannot single out any particular style of mine, as I try to meet the customer’s requirements. If you are a professional designer. then you must be able to work in any style, trying to make the best example of it. My approach to design is to be meaningful and seek harmony. I'll have to repeat myself and say the word atmosphere again. A seamless atmosphere with attention to detail and coherent storytelling.

I was born and raised in one of the most beautiful cities, which was built by the world's outstanding architects of the 18th century - St. Petersburg. His classic severity, shrouded in white nights, cannot help but leave its mark. Recently I have lived in different countries, including Kazakhstan, Australia, South Korea and now Thailand. But undoubtedly, St. Petersburg, called the Venice of the north, influences my work to this day. Working as a designer in Russia is not fundamentally different from working in the countries where I lived and often compares favorably with the quality of construction work and the qualifications of builders and standards, at least on those projects in which I was involved.

I work with companies in the same way as with private clients and look for personal contact. The only difference is that the decision-making chain in companies is more complex, and there are also more people whose opinions influence the result. There is also a difference in goals, which for companies are often focused on business success. But tasks are just tasks to be solved. We must remember that the work of a designer is not the pure work of an artist, it is a service sector in which a professional helps the customer find solutions, answer his requests, and also help his business become more successful.

For companies, in turn, I can advise remembering that a good designer is a creative person and be prepared for the fact that he may not be like an ordinary office worker in general. Finding a good designer means finding a professional who can solve the problems set by the company. It is worth studying the candidate’s portfolio of both completed and conceptual projects to understand not only the ability to implement projects. but also potential. If possible, study reviews of the designer’s work and work experience. However, the best way, in my opinion, is still word of mouth, and the transfer of a professional from hand to hand.

It all starts with a concept and finding the core. Then I begin to condense the sketches of shapes, values, and materials into something tangible. The process can go in different ways and this lies in the plane of sensations. Sometimes I start with planning, and sometimes with 3D modeling, sometimes these processes go in parallel. The result should be a conceptual presentation. Next, I develop the entire project based on its results. Next, I develop the entire project based on its results and polishing the idea. During the development of construction drawings, another process of sanding and honing parts occurs. The important point is that I must decide on a specific implementation technology when I am at the design stage. Next comes the implementation process, where the first place is taken by compliance with the project, in which everything should already be thought out to the smallest detail.

Fun question. I think this is a rather strange set. This is a Les Paul guitar in Honeyburst color, an MWF garlic press, an Interstuhl work chair, an Artemide table lamp and an Ikea roller blind.

My day as a designer consists of solving current work problems and developing projects. Typically, the first half of the day is devoted to meetings with customers and suppliers, visiting sites under construction, and the second half of the day for design work. The second half of the day requires immersion in the process, so I try to plan the day in such a way as to isolate part of the day for creativity without interruption.

Beginning designers should develop their professionalism, which comes with experience. You shouldn’t get hung up on a certain style, range or technology, as only broadening your horizons and diversifying your experience can make it possible to be flexible and find the essence. Never stopping your education and self-development is also important.Confidence in your concept, which you can explain and present correctly, is associated with the flow of knowledge that you have passed through yourself. Immerse yourself in the topic like an actor preparing to play a role. Then you will have confidence in what you create. Work on each project as if it were your only and last and never lose sight of its final goal.

Being a designer is a calling, just like being any professional. Joy and satisfaction from work are characteristic of any professional, be it a doctor, a builder or a bus driver. I still don’t perceive my work as work, although sometimes it is not very easy. I perceive this as life, because design fills everything. To avoid burnout, I give myself breaks during activities where I can distract myself and play a different role. For me, this is sport alpine skiing, because the process of training and competition is also absorbing, as well as playing music. I would consider the negative aspects of a designer’s work to be a large amount of work on the computer, as well as a lot of stress leading to nervous exhaustion. I would definitely include creativity and creation as an advantage. Seeing the results of your labors, when a real object grows from an idea, is amazing.

My rule in creating design is to know what and why you are doing. Don’t design for the sake of design, but find a note, taste, smell, wrap it in an idea and concept and follow it. And never neglect the details. You should also never forget that design must be functional. Design without function is just art.

I think the most important skill for a designer is the art of compromise. This may concern the customer, technology, budget and similar things. And the main thing in this art of compromise is, using all your experience, knowledge, skills and foresight, to reduce the need for compromise to a minimum. This is probably the unusual art of compromise.

I graduated from art school before the design academy and can paint and draw at a professional level. Combined with extensive experience working with the software needed in our time, such as 3Ds Max, Revit, Autocad, SketchUp, Adobe and etc, it gives me a wide range of opportunities, covering the entire distance from first sketches to visualizations and working drawings. Knowledge of the history of art, design and architecture also helps in the work process, being an inexhaustible resource.

I would say that designing is always a time-consuming task. The most problematic is the distribution of technical work and field work. Communication with customers, presentations, work with suppliers, manufacturers and builders excludes the opportunity to work on drawings or visualizations. It is necessary to separate these flows so that they do not intersect. I try to make a plan and track it using things like MS Project and Kamban boards like Trello.

The time it takes to create a project depends on many factors. The fastest completed project took 2.5 months for design and implementation, and the longest lasted 4 years. On average, project development and implementation takes from 6 months to a year. This period allows you to think through the concept, make good visualizations and working drawings, select appropriate materials and technologies, and also take into account the technological processes of construction. You also need to have enough time for delivery, work with contractors, suppliers and manufacturers.

I wanted to joke about the cost of work, although this is not exactly a joke, but in fact they often ask what style you work in. For me this is a strange question, because if a designer works only in one style, then he is not a designer, but an artist. A professional must be able to complete a task in a variety of styles.

Probably one of the significant work experiences at the beginning of my activity was the customer’s refusal of designer’s supervision. Despite the fact that this is a three-story building with two restaurants and a club, which took more than a year to build, I cannot say its address, as this is a caricature of the project. The fact is that having taken the project, the builder built according to its motives according to his taste and what was more convenient for him. Since then, I have not taken on work without author's supervision over the implementation of the project.

My customers include both private individuals, some of whom I have been working with for a long time and can call our relations friendly, as well as restaurant holdings and city authorities, for example.

I enjoy all stages of the work. I like to communicate with customers, work on concepts, and create visualizations. I am pleased when I see a good and informative drawing; I like being at a construction site and solving implementation issues. But, I have to be honest and say that the process of creating a concept pitch is the most exciting. And the moment of handing over the object comes close to it, giving rise to a storm of emotions.

Unfortunately, irresistible forces intervened in my plans and they were destroyed. Therefore, now I am looking for my place in the big world again and continue to work on projects.

For many years I worked together with my friend and colleague, but now we are scattered around the world and our studio already exists in virtual form and I am conducting the last projects independently, as my partner started designing and manufacturing furniture in another country. So at the moment I'm working on the designs myself.

I have ongoing projects that I am currently working on. Among them are the interiors of country houses, villas, an office and a restaurant. I wouldn’t single out just one.

People can contact me via email, instant messengers and social networks. For example, Linked In and Behance with a search by my name or PAP design.

I would like to thank A'Design for appreciating my work and say that this award was the icing on the cake for the 2024 competition season, motivating and inspiring me. It is very valuable when your work is recognized and appreciated, and such an impulse is difficult to overestimate.

I have been drawing since childhood, then I studied at an art school, then at an art lyceum and then received a higher education (MA) at the Academy of Art and Design in Saint Petersburg. Later, as an experienced interior designer, I received additional training as a graphic designer in Sydney. In general, if you count, I have been working as a designer for 24 years and I don’t plan to stop yet. I started working as a designer in 2000, even before graduating from the Academy. After working for 7 years in different design studios, I started working independently as a freelancer and in 2018, together with my friend and partner, we founded our own design studio.

I can’t point out the moment when I decided to become a designer, because it didn’t exist, in general. I have been an artist and designer for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a creative environment: my grandparents were sculptors, my father and mother were designers, my twin brother is a graphic designer, and my sister is an artist. Of course, the example of my parents and sister inspired me to take this path, but I could not imagine anything else. Everything else, no matter how interested I was in something, was a hobby. My childhood was spent in my father's workshop, in museums and at exhibitions. The walls of my room with my brother were covered with white paper and updated annually. We painted whatever we wanted on the walls. We returned to the city after the holidays and the walls were white, and the album was replenished with new works cut from the walls.

The main aspects of design that I traditionally pay maximum attention to are concept, thoughtful details and technical feasibility. The beginning and end of the project is the concept, the main idea. It may be quite obvious or hidden, but I must know and understand it. Only this gives confidence in your actions from the sketch to the completion of construction. Attention to detail is what inspires me. This is a kind of code of bushido, which prescribes taking little things more seriously than big things. Thoughtful details create atmosphere and define the quality of design for me. The third important aspect is to know how to implement the project. Knowledge of technologies and capabilities, the ability to follow a budget without compromising the idea and emotional component of the project is a very important aspect. It’s not enough to invent it, you need to build it.

All stages of design are exciting in their own way. It is also possible to stall at any design phase. I could say that working on the concept is the most exciting and enjoyable, but working on the details and drawings is just as fun, polishing all the previously born ideas. Implementation is no less interesting and brings great satisfaction from the tangible results of your work. I have a parental feeling towards my projects. They are like children. They are interesting, instructive, and sometimes difficult. One of the most powerful feelings is when your child becomes independent and begins his own journey. This is both touching and sad at the same time. Finishing a project and starting its own life is similar to this process for me with children. You participated in his birth, were there all the time, were the main thing in his life and know him every centimeter, but the moment comes when it’s time to launch the ship. This is an emotion.

All life shapes a person as a professional. All the books he read, the music he heard, the sunsets he saw. My approach to design is based on feelings and sensations. And my hobby as a musician helps me with this. Without imagination I could not be who I am. And when there is too much imagination, my experience as an athlete comes to the rescue. To harness your imagination and realize your ideas, you need perseverance, endurance and dedication. Creating something new, using all my resources and versatility of experience, embodying my ideas is the biggest motivation for me.

Every creator has a dream of creation. As one wise man said, the only things better than mountains are mountains that you have never been to before. Isn’t conquering new heights the plan? The project of my place is a complex task. I would like to design a complete environment, starting with the landscape, developing the architecture and interior design and ending with the graphic part. Designing the entire product journey, creating a seamless perceptual atmosphere, is my dream job.

My advice is to think more about ideas and their implementation, rather than about your career. Create each project as your only and last, gain experience in implementation, hone your approach, and learn without ceasing. Use all your knowledge to minimize compromises regarding the idea when implementing the project.Immerse yourself in all aspects of design and construction and this will help you avoid disappointments in the implementation of your projects. And success will come and it will be deserved.

My respect to my colleagues. I would advise some professional designers not to forget that design is not a pure art, but a service sector that has room for creativity. Design for design's sake is no longer design, but art. Design is a function, it is an answer to a question and a solution to a problem, first of all. Another tip is to go with the original concept and idea, as opposed to decorating something on top. It's always noticeable. After all, it is the ability to create a concept, develop and implement it, answering all the customer’s requests in the final product that is professionalism.

My day as a designer begins with meetings with clients, trips to construction sites and working with contractors, suppliers and manufacturers. Having completed these tasks, I devote the rest of the day to working on the project. I need a calm environment. to immerse myself in projects and at this moment I need solitude. I listen to music and work on the computer, surrounded by a pile of scribbled papers. Success makes me happy. A beautiful render or a solution found, a clear drawing with well-developed details - any progress in the work on the project brings satisfaction.

Undoubtedly, I cannot close myself off from the world of design and a certain observation influences my feelings and ideas. It would be strange to deny this. But it affects me in the same way as classical architecture or the Egyptian pyramids. When searching for an idea, I most often try to clear my mind and capture a feeling that, thickening like fog, gradually takes shape. I like to see good design and it sticks in my memory as sensations, like sounds or smells, but I don’t identify trends in it. Fashionable color of the season? I don't know anything about it, to be honest, or about the prevailing style. There is a good design that catches the eye and gives rise to feelings, but what season the color scheme is and whether it is in trend - I don’t know. But I do know that good design creates trends on its own.

From my point of view, good design creates emotions and feelings. This is something elusive, but in fact consisting of quite tangible things, such as an idea and its narrative, attention to detail, work with color and tone, gamma and materials. And, of course, functionality. Without functionality, any design is, again, just art. When I see a building, an object, an advertisement or use a product and it is pleasant, it gives emotions, it is convenient, it is thoughtful - this is good design. If, at the same time, the product solves problems and finds witty answers to questions, this is an excellent design.

In my main field of activity, it is very easy to divide readiness - this is when the object is commissioned and put into operation. Until this moment, the project is not finished and changes may be made; it lives on, despite all the careful preparation for construction. The idea can also strike during the construction phase, although I would like to say “stop, the project is ready” after preparing all the working drawings and complete sets. On top of that, in practice the deadlines are agreed upon with the customer, which does not allow you to hone your creation for years. Perhaps this is professionalism, when the word “stop, ready” is heard when needed.

Let me philosophize and say - the best project is always ahead. As I said earlier, I treat my projects like children and I can’t separate one, because it would be unfair to others. By far the best projects are those where there is minimal customer intervention and maximum creative freedom. Moreover, “the biggest” does not always mean “the best”, because one line can say more than a thousand strokes, and writing one character requires no less skill, practice and effort than designing the Eiffel Tower. This is how I will try to modestly avoid a direct answer, besides, I cannot single out just one project. Currently I am working on several projects, including a restaurant, a couple of country houses and villas.

Since I am well acquainted with the history of art and the history of design, I am also familiar with the work of many famous designers. But I probably won’t be able to single out one or even two. I like the work of many designers, sculptors, architects and artists, so I can’t single out just one, just like I can’t pick a favorite musician, director or athlete. I wish I could talk to Leonardo Da Vinci.

My favorite city is my hometown - St. Petersburg. It was built by order of Peter the Great from scratch. Its construction was carried out by the best Italian architects of the 18th century. It was a kind of experiment, later implemented in the same way with the capital of Brazil. Despite being a northern city shrouded in spleen, it is an example of classical architecture and, later, northern modernism. Music is an integral part of my creative process. Everything that gives rise to emotions and sensations is part of this process. Music also teaches how to create emotional shades by changing or adding one note to the usual scale, how to create a mood at intervals. I currently live and work in Thailand, and before that I lived in Australia for several years. I am sure that design is necessary for society, as it not only creates harmony and beauty, but also serves functionality and, which is important in our time, sustainability and care for nature. Design guides people, makes life more convenient, and instills taste. Thanks to design, I make my life and my family’s life a little more beautiful and comfortable every day. I'm currently working on several projects. This is the interior design of villas in Phuket, a restaurant in Kazakhstan and a country house in Russia.

Working with a partner for me is an opportunity to share ideas and discuss them, which allows me to evaluate ideas from the outside. Working as a team allows you to concentrate the efforts of each team member on one thing, which allows you to work more efficiently. Is it easy to work with me? Yes and no. It’s easy because I’m kind of a workaholic and will always pick up what falls from my partner’s hands. The difficulty is that I am often in search and doubt, while being, in a certain sense, a perfectionist. I often question decisions and try to prevent problems, which can irritate my partner. It’s easy for clients to work with me, because I’m sociable and I always try to present my work as fully as possible and explain all the nuances, look for the most rational solutions in terms of budget, etc. My clients most often become my friends by the end of the project. I don't like the stiff formality of a white collar. My work philosophy is - don't be a hack. Work as if this is the last and only project in your life. And be polite.

I give back to society by creating something that society uses. I am not someone who is constantly chasing money and often does things for free. This could be advice or help with layouts, selection of materials, colors, furniture, etc., but usually not a complete project. I respect volunteers and do this myself when I have the time and opportunity. Not long ago I volunteered at an outdoor sculpture exhibition in Sydney, for example.

Participation in competitions, especially of this scale, brings undeniable benefits. This includes joining the global community of professionals and increasing one’s self-confidence. Confidence in the value of their work is something that creative people often lack. In addition, participation and a prize place confirm to potential customers that you are a professional and can cope with the tasks. It can also help you get noticed, which can lead you not only to a new place or to new projects, but also to career growth. You may be asked to write an article or be part of a judging panel for other competitions. All this can directly affect your professional growth, recognition and, as a result, open the way to more interesting and meaningful projects. Participating in the A'DESIGN AWARD gave me a lot of emotions, because when your work is recognized, it is very valuable. The entire process was very professional and the packages provided are amazing. I really hope that this can have a positive impact on my professional activities. To be the designer of the day is a joy and an honor for me, of course. Being recognized and having the opportunity to talk about yourself and your work is priceless.