Interview with Ksenia Zagaynova
Ksenia was born in Moscow and has a master's degree in business administration. She's always dreamt of changing her path in life and now she is studying in British higher school of arts and design…
Interview about Dance Anatomy Ring and Earrings Design Interview
Designer Interview
28 April 2020
Yes, I think I've always wanted to be a designer. When I was little I drew different fashion outfits and dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. But I didn't take this path right away and I have a master's degree in business and business administration. So I could finally realize my dream only 2 years ago when I started my studies in the British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow. Namely, I chose jewelry design as I couldn't find pieces that would meet my expectations and I had my own ideas of how they should look like. Therefore, my desire to create something beautiful but simple, unique and ergonomic made me become a designer.
At the moment I act under my own name as an individual designer and my own brand is XENIA GAI.
Good design makes us happier by combining a functional solution and aesthetic pleasure. As for jewelry design, apart from the above-mentioned, it helps to express one's unique personality and style.
I tend to create interactive jewelry, transformable pieces or constructors as I like the idea of game and interaction.
It's hard to choose one favorite design as there are so many wonderful designers in all spheres that I truly admire.
The first collection I designed in course of my studies was inspired by Calatrava architecture. It included 3 pieces based on 3 buildings: 2 mono earrings and one pendant.
At the moment my favorite materials are all kinds of metals. As for technologies they're all interesting to me but of course 3D modeling and 3D printing allow solving and creating the most sophisticated pieces.
I feel the most creative when I travel abroad and see something new or when I stay in my own city and go for walk. When I walk I always discover something new around me even in Moscow.
I focus on simple lines, geometry, ergonomics.
When I design I feel that I'm doing the right thing, I feel inspiration, brain work and satisfaction.
There's a long path between the idea and realization, a lot of work and challenge so of course I feel just great when it's finally there, I can wear it, others can wear it and feel happy just like me.
Correspondence of the final result with the initial designer's task.
Functionality, clarity of the idea, aesthetic image.
I think it's the idea of making people happier by simplifying their lives and satisfying their aesthetic perception.
It is becoming more digital, I think it already follows and will follow the IoT trend.
My last exhibition took place in a new design gallery and shop created by my colleagues and called ZVENO in Moscow. As for the future expos it's not decided yet.
I seek to create unusual but wearable objects that could fit the unique character of the owner. I prefer simple lines, interactivity and mechanisms. I'm inspired by architecture, existing design objects and natural shapes. I feed my creativity by travelling, going for long walks, listening to my favorite music.
I would say that my design style has not completely formed but I tend to design geometric and movable pieces. I try different techniques and instruments and that influences the final design. We'll see where it all takes me.
I live in Moscow, Russia. I wouldn't say that my country's cultural heritage affects my design. I would point out one disadvantage related to the Assay Chamber, the work process is poorly organized and represents obstacles for jewelry designers working with precious metals.
I haven't had such experience yet.
First of all I choose the sphere I'm inspired by. It can be a process, an existing object, anything that inspires me and makes me eager to investigate it. After that I start my explorations, i analyze what exactly interests me, I come out with the main features and leave all secondary attributes behind by using the techniques of analytical drawing. This way I develop a visual language for my future pieces and start designing the objects themselves. Then after doing the necessary calculations comes the 3D visualization of my sketches followed by the final production process.
Man Ray chess, towel hanger, art deco wash basin, Eichholtz lamp and a tape dispenser by Cantili.
I wake up at 8 or 9 a.m., at around 10 I start working on my current collection, I go out for a walk or meet my friends.
Practice more in drawing and sketching, follow your initial designer's task and don't be afraid to try new methods and test new ideas.
Positives: design makes me always train my brain, imagination and explore and discover something new every day and create something physical that could make someone feel happier. Plus it is possible to plan your day the way it suits you. As for negative aspects, well, you always have to seek for this balance between creating something you could easily sell and something that inspires you but could be hard to realize in terms of technology and thus could become an expensive object of art.
Formulate your idea clearly and follow your task.
Drawing skills, imagination, extensive knowledge, multitasking.
Drawing tools, software: ZBruzh, Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Keyshot, "The art of jewelry design from idea to reality" book by Elizabeth Oliver, and also some kind of inspirational journal where I place my ideas and things that inspire me.
This is still a hard issue for me but I try to plan my day accordance with the identified project stages and I range my tasks by priority.
It depends on the difficulty of the technology, if it is complicated it can take up to 6 months but usually it takes me 1 or 2 months.
Why did you decide to be a jewelry designer?
To me every experience is important. My previous marketing experience helped me to refine my organizational and communication skills. Most important design experience includes the development of the drawing, technology and software skills.
I enjoy the analytical work when I explore the object, identify the most important features to work out the visual language and then based on that come up with the design of a piece. This is the most important and difficult part for me as a designer.
My future plan is to implement my new collection and further develop my brand.
I develop my designs by myself.
At the moment I'm working on a collection devoted to traveling and taking something to remember with you from each country.
They can check out my personal account in Instagram - @xenia_ova.