Interview with Ilana Seleznev

The truth is that I have been hesitated for a long time and during the traveling in another country, a random conversation on the bar whit some guy I spoke to said to me: "What are you doing?" Wait a minute.. do not tell me .. you're a designer?"

And that's how it solved my dilemma :)- because I always thought study design or psychology and to this day I know I'll learn psychology later, these areas overlap in my eyes

For me, the part of the research and systematic work is very important at first. Then I move to form and then to the function, I work backwards and my whole process is different and based on the tools that I developed for myself at first (now I am teaching others)

I am happy to work in my work and I am usually happy to design but its depends on the project to. on it content also, becouse it affects the awareness and thought.

I think that I love to cleanliness, the fact that I had play whit broken engines when I was little and that I am practical and technical as well.

My dream is to finish my methodology, to prove that it is good/ necessary
and that people around the world will use it. In addition I want to exhibit all over the world and stand on my TED world stage

Work hard, persistence and Never give up

Work hard, persistence and Never give up dreaming

My routine looks like this: wakes up early in the morning, e-mails, uploads something to the social network, goes out to meetings with customers (design) lectures with students and late end in the studio.
A long day, varied and different

Trend is something temporary in my oppinion, I'm updated but less connect to it (just the minimla style).

In my opinion, the product has two aspects: emotion and function.
When they exist in the design product its good and not measured by taste, this design is clear to everyone and has a need in the world.

I ask questions and by responses I understand where the design stands

The methodology that I developed and the products developed following the development of my method - Thinking inside the box"

I dont have one thing I love, I love a lot of things, I need variety :)

But I have some like - Dor Carmon - Israeli designer
Zaha Hadid
Tom Hancock
Tom Dixon
Haim Hayon

Everything is very fast and changing.

For me is the combining maths and design.
In my opinion, creative and innovative development and design should be based on clear tools and formulas, in other words, on systematic progress and traceable patterns. Our brain relies on patterns in order to make sense of our surroundings and save energy, so why not use these existing tools to make sense of the chaos?” Ilana’s trust ( and develop some method) in mathematical structures also gives her a more relaxed approach to design, as she tells me: “Many professionals go out of their way to find that epiphany moment, that a-ha-moment.

There is a lot of pressure on finding the next big thing and having to think outside of the box, but instead, we can use our existing toolbox and take inspiration from the methods and patterns of mathematical and logic rules.”

Who said thinking inside the box is bad? Using the right tools, e.g. our brain, is just as inspiring!

I wish that designers would use the tools that I develop and shape a better world

The help and support

My profession is basically everything - anything that has a three dimensional.
I want to change the world with products that can help people even on a daily level and health stature.

I choose to become a designer.

I love my work and a lot of topics but mostly enjoyed working on projects that help or solve some kind of problems and make people live in a more convenient way.

Work really hard and believe in themselves in difficult times without budgets :)

In my opinion, is the perseverance and the desire to leave something new to this world + Consider the small details.

Smart product with meaning + research + combine emotions whit function.

Good design remains forever compared to bad design that more expensive and disappears

I would be happy to design more products for people with disabilities, some categories that I like are:
Products for the environment,
Medical products,
Merchandise - Smart Gifts.

I have many dreams :)

Thinking inside the box - a combination of mathematics and design.
For me, successful design is FFF (form, fit, function) combined with human and design emotions.

Some other design masters:
Dor Carmon - Israeli designer
Zaha Hadid
Haim Hayon

Each of them with a unique style... I like too many designs and things, not something specific.

For me, a good design it means that: smart design, a design that has a function and an existential need, a product that solves a problem in the world and does not answer only an individual taste.
successful design is FFF (form, fit, function) combined with human and design emotions.

To be a good designer you have to know how to learn and listen to others.
For me, I had to develop a set of systematic. working. tools. I'm develop a new methodology for the world and for designers, something that we all can work with. A tool for the world called "Mathematics of Design Thinking inside the box.

I was going to study psychology, and become one :) and then I would go to study design

For me, Design is everything that has three dimensions.
In my case design have one dimension that includes research and thinking inside the box process.

MOM and my man :)

Support and human capital (good people)

I think there are many more obstacles ahead of me and they never finish in any profession and certainly not in design. But so far I have encountered mostly in: the customers, budget problems, lack of materials and unclear and work methods.

At first, I think that designers need to understand their methods and ways of work, and then we can talk about the presentation of the things.

Unfortunately, at the moment I can not talk about them. I'll be happy to do so in the future.

The ultimate goal is that the whole world will work according to my method and the designers will design new and innovative and creative products :)

Quality and reason for everything

Good design creates an easier and comfortable life, it is timeless!

My new exhibition that related to my methodology

The design projects that give me the most satisfaction was a belt for a pregnant woman, where I started my research on the project I find out my closed world and from there I came to develop my entire methodology

I would like to see the Minimalism style change.

I think that the design field is moving fast, the adoption of new technologies, new and smart materials, 4 dimensions (not 3) and a new visual style "Maximalism" - the modern Art Nevo.

It is a very complex question, it is depending on the project itself and the nature of the work, everything is very different. The duration of the process changes by the complexity of the project.

In a new design project, I start from the project's research (the closed world) and then proceed to form and then function. I believe in systematic and innovative thinking. That means that I have developed a different process that starts from form to the function, "Thinking Inside The Box", Method of triangles that are lean on mind templates (scientifically proven).
Through all this entire process that every designer familiar with that includes handmade sketches, 3d modeling, prototypes and so on, I stick to "Thinking Inside The Box" and separate my intuition from it.

My life motto is - Think Inside The Box

Good taste helps but it's not really important, it's something very individual..

I have no rules, I am in favor of adopting them, and everything depends on the project itself, as long as it supports the idea.

During my design, I use the method "The Math Of Design - Thinking Inside The Box" as the thinking method.
I also read mostly about creative thinking, listen to TED and other podcasts.
For software, I use Adobe sweat and 3D programs.
For modeling, I use our 3D printers and other materials.

The role is that everything must support the idea and have the same saturation, I have no limit whit the quantity or the color... In my opinion, everything is in the secret of saturation :)

What inspired me and how I design it... That's I can explain my method more :)

Hmmm... why I did not think about it myself?! Well done to the designers :)

My ideal design partner is the music but I definitely believe in sharing ideas from the moment that the things are clearer as a concept (the main thing is that there is no fixation in thought thinking)

The most influential businessmen and companies for me are:
IBM
Steve Jobs
Bill Gates
Zaza Hadid
Google

I read mostly about creative thinking

I develope my skills whit hard work and lots of reading and perseverance.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

It still does not recognize (in my head) that I have won ( I am a few steps before
the famous recognation xaxa)

I dont have one thing I love, I love a lot of things, I need variety :)
For example: I love blue and very brown.
I like Italian and French cuisine

I look young and sometimes do not get into big meetings because they think I was wrong..
I laugh on one side and of course on the other hand I take it as an advantage :)

Positive feedback from a client or a student's success

Obvious probably not (even now I am not a great one... there is always more to learn) I prefer that people teal things like this about me :)

I think that a thousand years from now the Artific Thinking & Age of machines waiting for us.

I like to drive sports cars and racing for a hobby:)

My name is Ilana and my profession is an industrial designer, I am the owner and founder of Studio RDD and the inventor of the 'Math Of Design - Thinking Inside The Box' methodology. My award-winning design firm creates quality promotional merchandise from a wide array of materials custom made to suit every budget and need.
I have made it my mission to build a product design studio unlike any other by placing an emphasis on highly-personalized customer service. I work side-by-side with my customers from our first meeting through the roll-out of the product, ensuring that our shared vision is met or exceeded.
I will be there at every turn with you – making your dreams reality. I have made it my mission to build a product design studio unlike any other by placing an emphasis on highly-personalized customer service. I and my team of designers will work side-by-side with our customers from our first meeting through the roll-out of the product, ensuring that our shared vision is met or exceeded.
We will be there at every turn with you – making your dreams reality.

For me, design is everything that has three dimensions.
In my case design have one dimension that includes research and thinking inside the box process.

I like to desgin everything, this is the reason I choose my profession.
Some categories that I like are:
Products for people with disabilities,
Products for the environment,
Medical products,
Merchandise - Smart Gifts,

I like too many designs and things, not something specific.

The first product that I designed was a baby carrier that transforms into portable swaddle pad

My favorite material is wood.

When I think inside the box because it helps me to solve the problems faster for my clients.

The design aspects that I focus the most are:
Quality Research ("The Math Of Design - Thinking Inside The Box"), function, emotions.

I feel good to solve problems through design, it is fun and happy.
It is very fulfilling to help the world to become a better place.
The closest for me to Sherlock :)

It is very fulfilling like a proud mommy.

For me, successful design is FFF (form, fit, function) combined with human and design emotions.

First of all, I separate my emotions from it and check if the function is working, then I move the visual aspect.

Solve problems and help the world to become a better place.

I think that the design field is moving fast, the adoption of new technologies, new and smart materials, 4 dimensions (not 3), and a new visual style "Maximalism" - the modern Art Nevo. Plus, Covid19 will change the world!

My last exhibition was in New York City and France :)
My next exhibition will hopefully be soon in Israel (it is not up to me, it's up the Covid19).

In my opinion, in order to be creative, I need to limit my resources and think the closest to the problem (this id the reason that I create my methodology "The Math Of Design - Thinking Inside The Box").

My design style is mostly minimal that is why I like the quote "Less Is More". Recently, I'm interested in something new and different, it basically the opposite. I call this design style "Maximalizem".

I live in Israel and there are definitely influences from it. The resources are limited and some of them are expensive and barely available. Those limitations force me to be creative and innovative in the way I design and think.

Usually, companies contacting me with a problem or a design request and I help them create the product or the solution they need. Starting from the research stage to the final product.

My suggestions to companies are first to understand the importance of the designer in it and to give him or her the freedom to do his work. If a company truly believes in innovation, they have to be willing to invest in design.

I believe in systematic and innovative thinking. That means that I have developed a different process that starts from form to the function, "Thinking Inside The Box", Method of triangles that are lean on mind templates (scientifically proven).
Through all this entire process that every designer familiar with that includes handmade sketches, 3d modeling, prototypes and so on, I stick to "Thinking Inside The Box" and separate my intuition from it.

My favorite 5 are:
1. Logitech MX Vertical Mouse
2. Google Home
3. Norman Duck
4. Vitra Mirrors
5. Nespresso Products

My day starts early in the morning, some of them include yoga and sports. I arrive at the office or to a client or to University to learn or to teach. Every day includes different topics and subjects. The end of the day depends on it's intense.

My pearls to the young designers are to work hard and believe in themselves. The sky is not the limit but your mind can be ...

Let's start with the negative. They are a lot of people that, unfortunately, still don't understand and appreciate this important profession.
Let's finish with the positive. My profession, industrial design, is everything. I have a lot of diversity in my work and some of them can make the world become a better and helpful place.

My "golden rule" is "Think Inside The Box".

The skills that are most important for a designer is to be open for criticism and to be able to absorb and to be an autodidact, all the rest he can learn.

During my design, I use the method "The Math Of Design - Thinking Inside The Box" as the thinking method.
I also read mostly about creative thinking, listen to TED and other podcasts.
For software, I use Adobe sweat and 3D programs.
For modeling, I use our 3D printers and other materials.

As someone who grew up to Russian Doctors time managing was something that I familiar with and today I manage it very carefully and treat it with huge respect.

The duration of the process changes by the complexity of the project.

The most frequently asked question to me is: Can you quickly sketch me a concept?

After a few years of job experience, there was a specific moment that changed my life and made me realized that there are problems in the designer's work process and we have to involve mathematics and systematic work in our design methods. This made me invent my own method and believe that maybe I have something to offer this world.

Among my not classified clients are:
Jaguar Israel,
Land Rover Israel,
Epoch Times,
and more

I enjoyed working on projects that help or solve some kind of problems and make people live in a more convenient way.

I will continue to develop my own thinking method and use it to create more innovative and creative products.

Mostly, I work as a team.

Yes, I do, but unfortunately, at the moment I can not talk about them. I'll be happy to do so in the future.

People can find me on social media and by the website in the following links:
Web- http://www.studio-rdd.com/
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/studio_rdd/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StudioRDD
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilana-seleznev-86552b4b/