Interview with Anton Shlyonkin
Anton Shlyonkin is a part of graphic design duo from Russia called «All my T». The other part is his wife, who is a graphic designer herself, Anna Goncharova.
Designer of the Day Interview
7 December 2018
I've graduated from National Design Institute in Moscow in 2011. Since then I worked in different fields as a graphic, web, packaging and type designer and illustrator. I also used to be a lecturer for 5 years in the National Design Institute as well. Now I am a part of a design duo AllMyT with my wife as a partner, who is a graphic designer too. I really like working with «small» clients — book authors, musicians, family businesses etc. But we work with bigger clients too — banks, insurance companies, ad agencies, government structures. For example Guta bank, Rosgosstrah, PFR, Olymp stroy, Tasty help etc.
I always wanted to be an artist, but I was told that you need A GIFT to become one. So I chose a second-best option - graphic design. And I am pretty happy about it now because graphic design is a great thing.
The most important quote for me is «Less is more». The second one though is «Rules are there to be broken». So, I guess, the main thing for me is to make a functional and «clean» design which is «still alive», rough in the right places. Also, I am all for the hidden meanings in my work, though they are more like easter eggs for the curious viewer and not an integral part of the design.
Oh, I love designing stuff. I really love to generate ideas with just a pen and paper, it's kind of liberating and also fun
I used to be a musician, and I believe it really helps with a sense of rhyme and «feeling» colors, and overall composition. Also, drawing is really helpful too. And for type design work - definitely calligraphy.
I was a student, intern, freelancer, designer, art director and now - co-founder of my studio. The next step is to create some kind of product for myself. Designing for others is fun, but I believe the end goal is to make your own stuff as well (which many designers end up doing)
Design is a hard work and should be treated as such. But the main goal is to have fun in the process. I hate when people say «Client made me do it» if something turns out bad in their work. I believe limitations are liberating in a way. It's also important to be educated in many different fields to be «fresh» and relevant, which is pretty easy to do now. Thanks, internet!
Always be excited and love what you do. And observe constantly. Be aware of things. If you are getting bored by your work - find a way to make it fun. Place little easter eggs, try new stuff, try something new for every project. As long as it doesn't hurt the project it's all good.
Coffee! Then - e-mails. I use it for most of my work and for the news and subscriptions too. And the main thing is the music. A lot of music. Also, I really like sharing ideas with my wife, it's priceless
I don't believe in trends as a useful tool. But of course, it's important to be aware of things, and not only design. So I try to read a lot. Podcasts are amazing too. And the best thing for inspiration is browsing through Behance, of course!
This thing is hard to generalize. Some basic design aspects as composition and colors and overall impact. But most important - if it serves its purpose. But it's more like a gut feeling for me
It's important to understand that nothing can be perfect. So it's important to be able to stop and move on. That said though it's still important to be satisfied with your work. I usually have a short checklist for each project. If I hit all of the marks, everything I wanted to do - it's time to move on.
My biggest project to date — navigation system and identity for Sanki track, which was a part of 2014 Sochi Olympics. It was a huge project, very interesting and complex. For more recent examples — branding and identity for «Little Bakery», because I had to do so many new things, like interior design.
Stefan Sagmeister (he is the best for me). Jessica Hische. Chip Kidd. Osten Gruppe. Niels Shoe Muelman. And many many many more. Professionals are awesome. And a lot of old masters, not only design-wise but from all art fields too.
Music is really important. All kinds of experiences. It's a good time to be a designer. A lot of things to explore, and even more things to do.
I think respect is really important for designers. Sometimes you need to do what you need to do even if you want to do something else. It's important to do your best for your current project and not just indulge in thing on a whim.
It's important to share knowledge. That was my reasoning to go back to my Institute to teach young designers. It's also important to contribute to society and culture, to do non-commercial projects, to be a part of the community. And I try to do it as well as I can and encourage my students to do as well.
Competitions allow you to really reflect on your work. It's also important as a social tool. A' Design Award also arranges exhibitions of winning designs which is just crazy. It's the best part for me. Oh, and the yearbook. And the overall exposure - it's great. And it's really useful too. And of course, it's really nice to be acknowledged by the community.
Design Legend Interview
23 April 2017
I graduated from National Design Institute in Moscow in 2011. Then I work in different places, co-founded different studios and now I am a part of graphic design duo «All my T» with my wife, Anna Goncharova, who is a graphic designer too.
That's what I do, that's what I like. I just can't not do it
Kind of. I always wanted to be an artist, but it's kind of a specific craft and environment, and the next closest thing — design — suits me better
I do primarily graphic and packaging design. But occasionally I got some different types of work, like illustration and interior design, which is really nice and refreshing.
Just do what you like to do
Discipline
I'd say — clarity of vision
The importance of good design is hard to overestimate. It is a valuable asset in all aspects of any business, from marketing to engineering. But it really should be a GOOD design or it can do more harm than good.
My personal projects and collaborations, definitely. So many ideas and so little time
Version 2 of my «Type tarot» project
Hard work
Stefan Sagmeister (he is the best for me). Jessica Hische. Chip Kidd. Osten Gruppe. Niels Shoe Muelman. And many many many more. Professionals are awesome.
Everything by Stefan Sagmeister, because he is awesome. Notebooks and phones from Apple. Guitars by Fender. Posters from Osten Gruppe. They all just make me feel constantly amazed and creative, it's more like an emotional thing.
I have to say — navigation system and identity for Sanki track, which was a part of 2014 Sochi Olympics. It was a huge project, very interesting and complex. From more recent examples — branding and identity for «Little Bakery», because I had to do so many new things, like interior design.
Just work every day. And observe constantly. Be aware of things
Music. It's a big part of my life as it is, but would be interesting to become a professional in this field
It's an art with a definite purpose
It's hard to name a certain person, but I am really thankful for my graphic design professor Evgeniy Taboriskiy. And definitely my wife.
I like what I do
Communication skills. I am naturally an introvert which is a really bad thing for a creative person, actually. But now I am fine :)
Presentation is a huge part of a successful project, I think. It's like a new project in itself. But the presentation itself is hugely dependant on the initial design project, so it's hard to give any solid advices.
Without any details — it's something more «art» than «design», so it should be interesting.
To save the world
Professional approach, I guess
It's a big part of culture nowadays, so it is on par with art and music in that regard, I think
Book covers for some independent writers
Every work is helpful in some ways, so I really appreciate them all
Less profanity
Interpenetration of different art fields. And VR
It depends
Sketches with the pen and paper
Less is more
Design, of cause
The last half of the process. I prefer to start by hand
Scanner, camera, Adobe package
It is very important, of cause. By the initial idea is way more important
I don't know. Decision making process? It's always interesting to me in others works, anyway
It makes me happy for the society
It's my wife, of cause, Anna Goncharova. She is a great designer herself and we often work together. And co-design is a great thing in general.
Other professionals: artists, musicians, writers, designers.
«Another book...» by Stefan Sagmeister
Just work every day
Leonardo da Vinci or Pythagoras
Well, this interview is a really time consuming thing :)
Orange, India, potatoes, summer, guitars and... I don't have one
I got a work to redesign a logotype and told my teacher how bad the initial design was. Turned out it was his old design :)
I was more susceptible to literature as a child, so no
I just hope humanity will not destroy itself
Thanks for your interest!
Designer Interview
7 December 2018
I always wanted to be an artist, but I was told that you need A GIFT to become one. So I chose a second-best option - graphic design :). And I am pretty happy about it now.
«All my T» was founded as a way for me and my wife, who is a graphic designer too, to do some self-commissioned works. The first things we did were typefaces and t-shirts, hence the name. But now it's more than that and we do design for clients under that brand too.
The design is an art of making art that serves a purpose, I think.
Type, lettering, creative concepts.
I am not sure if I can think of something specific here. The best design for me is a design that works. But simple beautiful things are nice too
Funny enough, it was a rebranding for a bank
I am really into laser cutting and 3d printing nowadays
As a designer, I think it is really important to be creative all the time no matter what. We are professionals after all
I really like building a system that almost «designs» things for me by itself
I like my work so I am quite happy when I work
At that time I am already interested in something new, probably :). But it's a nice feeling, of cause
If it fulfills its purpose
This thing is hard to generalize. Some basic design aspects as composition and colors and overall impact. But most important - is it serves its purpose.
Design will save the world someday
Design is expanding and that is awesome. New ideas, new material, new technologies — I really like that
My last exhibition was in Italy, in the home city of Dante Alighieri. Where was a poster exhibition about his Devine Comedy and my poster was a part of it
Music is really important for me
My design style is really impermanent. I like to try new things. But overall I'm inclined to do «clean» and structural things
I live near Moscow, Russia. But now everything is so interlocked — thank you internet!
Mostly through e-mails
Choose a professional and let him do his work
Sketch, scan, vector, print, corrections, repeat (as necessary)
Macbook, Fender Stratocaster guitar, Blue Snowball microphone, iPhone and, let's say, a 3D printer
I work, I listen to music, I work some more and sometimes I eat
I can share my all time favorite quotes about design: «Design is one» and «Less is more».
I love what I do, so it's hard for me to highlight specific examples. Where are many positive things, art is a grate thing in itself. As for negatives — some people a hard to work with and as a designer you should work with a lot of different people all the time. But some people are amazing, so...
Less is more, of cause
Observation
Paper, pen (I don't like pencils), calligraphy brush, notebook, and some Adobe stuff. I also sometimes use a laser cutter for packaging prototypes.
I work quite fast, fortunately. As for a time management — I am not that good at it
1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, I month, 1 year - depending on the task. It's too hard to be more specific here
What is graphic design?
Working on Sochi Olympics in 2014
I really like working with «small» clients — book authors, musicians, family businesses etc. But we work with bigger clients too — banks, insurance companies, ad agencies, government structures. For example, Guta bank, Rosgosstrah, PFR, Olymp stroy, Tasty help etc.
Anything with a focus on type. Because I love type
I am working on one interesting project, but I can't tell you yet :)
Some work I do by myself, but some — with my wife Anna Goncharova (she is a graphic designer too) as a graphic design duo «All my T»
No, it's a secret :)
My e-mail or behance profile
Thank you for your interest