Denis Elianovsky

Specialized in Mobile Design.

Denis Elianovsky

About Denis Elianovsky

Denis Elianovsky, founder of opium.pro software company. For more than 10 years he works on the intersection of software design and engineering, creating sophisticated IT solutions for largest companies in Eastern Europe. Working primarily on digitalizing and helping people to get rid of monotonous and overwhelming labor he believes that that is the way to achieve new levels of personal freedom for everyone, freedom of controlling your own time. Beside his business activity he also popularizes conscious approach to digital privacy and security, helping people, who are far from IT world, to adapt and understand it better.

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

Salto Rondata Mobile Application

Mobile Design

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Interview with Denis Elianovsky

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 Father passed away when I was quite young, which necessitated that I find work earlier than most. Having tried my hand in laborious positions, serendipitous circumstance landed me in a design position, at which, somewhat to my surprise, I naturally excelled and felt most comfortable.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I am the founder of opium.pro software company. We work at the intersection of software design and engineering, creating sophisticated IT solutions for some of the largest companies in Eastern Europe
What is "design" for you?
Design is an extension, and satisfactory realization of a desire.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I really love the projects on which failed many of the previous attempts. It's always satisfying to finally get the things done. Especially when it comes to something complex.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
We are improving all the time. Although we are proud of every project, the newest one is always the opportunity for improvement. Our latest baby is a design for our own startup — 3+5
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
A business card. It was 14 years ago. Just of curiosity I called the customer recently and it turned out that they are still using my design for their business cards.
When do you feel the most creative?
All my colleagues eventually find out how to use do not disturb mode on their phones because I send a lot of messages at 4am, the most productive time.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I start at the end and work backwards. Meaning I have identified what’s missing, and strive to make it manifest.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I can't say I feel anything. Actually I barely can feel the time itself during designing. You have just started and boom, it's 4am
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I start noticing what we have missed in it and what we might have done better. I suppose this is a feeling of frustration.
What makes a design successful?
To quote Futurama, If you do things right, no one will be certain you did anything at all. Good design becomes an innate part of every life, providing an invaluable convenience.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The objective. You can be a talented designer and make functional work, but if your objective is simply it’s completion, you have missed the point. Quality products enamor the user to return, for the seamless experience of using the service.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Convenience purely for more consumption is the antithesis of a healthy society. I think convenience so as to facilitate greater personal control and time management are a fulfilling consequence of good design.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
There is so much focus on AI and it’s inevitability. Not without some nervousness. However, the hand of the maker will never be exempt. Further I hope the reasons why we work, not just how we work, will also change to better reflect a healthy society.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Don't force yourself to do anything, just relax and listen to the silence till it speaks back to you. If it says something about deadlines, then you are inspired enough and it's time to do stuff.
How do you work with companies?
It's probably a good thing to find the right person inside the company, the one who is really interested in changing something and has the resources and power for that. And when we have found them, we just work with these people, respect and mind their priorities.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
There is no way choose the best one for you without working with them. So just start with something small and look carefully at their attitude. The attitude stays the same regardless if the project is small or it is big.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Immerse yourself in projects that you care about. Build a project around something you love. Be it a tv show, a sports team, whatever. Just get started and from there your passion projects will grow, and you will treat every assignment with the same personal attention to detail.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
The old maxims are true. Success is a mixture of hard work and luck. The latter is in the lap of the Gods, but you must do your part. If you are unsure of your abilities, say goodbye to that version of yourself and fake it until you make it. It can feel dubious at first, but better that than inaction.
What skills are most important for a designer?
It’s important to be true to yourself. Imitation, however flattering it might be, is a fine starting point, but it is a shallow end point. Few things are more refreshing than designers who can march to the beat of their own drum.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
For now we make use of the Figma app. But honestly we just as often simply use pen paper. Making the process tactile and familiar, this encourages a sort of personal value and association.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Designing is also a really pleasurable task, the time is not a problem.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Usually it takes at least 3 months. But sometimes it can take a year or more. The emphasis is on delivering quality. Designing for failure disrespects both the customer and provider alike.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Big things on the horizon. We are launching our own financial startup in EU. http://3p5.app

Designer of the Day Interview with Denis Elianovsky

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
My earliest experiences came about by chance. I was initially drawn to the industry of manual labour, but naturally excelled in a design position when the opportunity presented itself. I went on to obtain my Masters of Design and Service of Microprocessor Based Systems from Mendeleev University. Eager to work, I founded opium.pro soon after. Our work ethic has met with success. We already provide for some of the largest companies in Eastern Europe
How did you become a designer?
By chance. I found myself having to become the breadwinner in the family earlier than most. I tried my hand in physically laborious positions, and after a workplace incident involving a chemical burn, I determined I wasn't cut out for such an environment. Serendipity landed me in a design position, where I was first asked to customize a business card. I found this work engaging and satisfying. To this day those clients still use those cards. It seemed clear to me that I could pursue this venture as a rich and rewarding profession.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
We make mock ups and broadly interpret what we want. A surprising amount of which is done with pencil and paper. Then it's merely a matter of trial and error. You have to be willing to meet a lot of challenges head on and not sacrifice short of your objective. Each new work is a learning curve.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Speaking for myself, when I work it's a sense of autopilot. I'm sure there is an outpouring of some sort. Like some kind of cathartic expression, but I love to find that productive flow state, and find that the hours just fly by.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Prospects were pretty limited where I come from. That is, limited if you don't make the work come to you. My city's main exports are in chemical manufacturing. There's nothing ignoble about being a laborer, but it's not an environment in which everyone can thrive. I have always been interested in the intersections of cultures, both traditional and new, such as online communities and environments. Now my community is an international one, diverse with life experiences to share and learn from.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I honestly simply want to keep focusing on building my company. The objective is ultimately to liberate people from the monotony of labour, and give people free time to peruse their own personal interests. Any future projects will ultimately aim towards this common goal.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Be unapologetically true to yourself. Imitation, however flattering becomes stale. It’s absolutely fine as a starting point when learning. Maybe even necessary. However, once you have sharpened your tools, then, as the saying goes, to thine own self be true.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
See above. This it true for anyone at any stage of their career. Especially if they are privileged enough to be in a position where they can shape their own vision.
What is your day to day look like?
Each day presents new challenges because I actively seek them out. I work late. Very late. My colleagues have quickly learnt to put their phones on silent so as to avoid the nightly 4am text ' what do you think of this, blah blah blah..' I code for fun, because if you have the right work relationship, it is fun.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I should hope that i very much stick to my own design, and heed not too much of what trends have to say. If it should happen that my work is in vogue, then well and good. I guess it would be regarded as contemporary. If it’s out of season, then it’s hip in another way. It'd be leftfield and unconventional.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
When I have little to no sense or memory of having used it. Whether to communicate, or obtain data or products. When it’s a seamless harmonious part of the every day.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
This is an eternal question.Generally something undergoes several revisions, but the beauty of maintenance and updating means opportunities for new developments.
What is your biggest design work?
For now it's the same project that won the award. I consider it the biggest because it has the most significant number of audience. Hundreds of thousands of users, maybe even millions in the future when it passes all the tests. Just the number of potential users really changes your approach to the project and makes you think much more carefully when making decisions.
Who is your favourite designer?
If you asked me this question tomorrow, I'd almost certainly give you a different answer. For today, I'll just say Naoto Fukasawa. His emphasis on introducing a new element, with something already familiar, is a foolproof approach to methodology. Given that I so often work with basic materials in the early stages of a projects development, it's little wonder I'm a sucker for beautiful and functional stationary.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I'm a digital nomad. For the last 5 years I move to another home approximately every 3 months. Sometimes it's a flat in the same city, but different district, and sometimes it's another country. All my belongings for this period of time can be fit into a piece of hand luggage. It's a good opportunity to learn the about world and find out that there are not many differences between different people when it comes to day-to-day things.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
Don't try to change people. Just work with those who are already doing what you need them to do.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I think information has to be free for everyone. The only secrets we have in opium.pro are the secrets of our clients. Besides, we don’t hide anything that helps us to work, but share it. We release posts and articles, make videos for young designers and software developers, and contribute to open source software to help them do their work better. And at the same time, personal information and privacy is a completely different thing. People underestimate the power and importance of it and share it too easily. So on the other hand I also help non-IT people to be more protected on the internet.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
At the very least, we hope to get more clients from all over the worlds of course. I'm sure, getting one of the most valuable awards in the world a heck of a good start.

Extended Interview with Denis Elianovsky

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
My name is Denis Elianovsky. I hold a Master of Design and Service of Microprocessor Based Systems from Mendeleev University. I am the founder of opium.pro software company. We work at the intersection of software design and engineering, creating sophisticated IT solutions for some of the largest companies in Eastern Europe
How did you become a designer?
I was good at it, and naturally gravitated into the field. My world view has been largely shaped by the perspective that we spend too much of our precious little time on monotonous and unfulfilling tasks. Considerate and thoughtful design can do it's part to circumvent these conditions.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
My Father passed away when I was quite young, which necessitated that I find work earlier than most. Having tried my hand in laborious positions, serendipitous circumstance landed me in a design position, at which, somewhat to my surprise, I naturally excelled and felt most comfortable.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
We design and provide interaction between people and complex computer systems. We have a lot more quality we’re eager and capable of delivering.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Immerse yourself in projects that you care about. Build a project around something you love. Be it a tv show, a sports team, whatever. Just get started and from there your passion projects will grow, and you will treat every assignment with the same personal attention to detail.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Their objective. You can be a talented designer and make functional work, but if your objective is simply it’s completion, you have missed the point. Quality products enamor the user to return, for the seamless experience of using the service.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
To quote Futurama, If you do things right, no one will be certain you did anything at all. Good design becomes an innate part of every life, providing an invaluable convenience.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good design can enable greater personal liberty. Time is fleeting, and no one wants to be suffocated with technocratic clutter. We should be free to practice and partake in discourse, dialogue and democracy, free of mundanity.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I know it's corny but really there's really nothing I'd rather be doing that building my own company.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
The old maxims are true. Success is a mixture of hard work and luck. The latter is in the lap of the Gods, but you must do your part. If you are unsure of your abilities, say goodbye to that version of yourself and fake it until you make it. It can feel dubious at first, but better that than inaction.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I think it best to take inspiration from a variety of fields, not just agency design. The original artistic work of Chris Cunningham, the Dutch designer Marteen Baas, or product design of Naoto Fukasawa for example. I'm a sucker for MUJI stationary.
Who is your favourite designer?
We are improving all the time. Although we are proud of every project, the newest one is always the opportunity for improvement. Our latest baby is a design for our own startup — 3+5
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I actually wanted to go to a military academy for some time after school. Not so much to play soldier, but rather it seemed a streamlined opportunity to get into q hands on engineering position. Ultimately, I settled for a less greasy form of engineering.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Design is an extension, and satisfactory realization of a desire.

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