Interview with Pavel Kozlov
Pavel Kozlov has accumulated over 17 years of experience in graphic and digital design, as well as illustration.
Designer of the Day Interview
1 November 2022
My experience starts from 2002 when I goes to University to graphic designer. That years I learned how to create good design (visual and right for users). In 2006 when I finish the University I started the Peopleofdesign project which writes about design and in 2007 me and my classmate launched the Radugadesign company. In Radugadesign I was a designer in the projects for Nike and BMW. I quit from Radugadesign in 2012 and in 2015 I goes to full free-lance. From 2015 I worked with Uber, S7 Airlines, Linguatrip, Panasonic and other great clients.
In 1999 I opened the source of some website page and look at html and css. And I trying to edit few options in css and tags in html :) and it was a start of my interest to design, to create comething great... I have read few books about web-design, about css and html, learning basics of php. I was searching where to go to study - and goes to University to learn graphic design.
First of all I looking for references. I want to know who and how did something like this before. I trying to catch the vibe, mood and right style. If this project is for client - I asking client about what he want, how is he seeing the product/design/site..
After that I thinking about the project, I sketching, creating some concepts and showing it to client. After that the real work starting.
For presentation in portfolio I'm using the mockups or if it real product - I making a photo.
After that I thinking about the project, I sketching, creating some concepts and showing it to client. After that the real work starting.
For presentation in portfolio I'm using the mockups or if it real product - I making a photo.
I love design, I love to create something interesting and beauty.
I have non-design skill - developing. I have epxerience in Adobe Flash developing. I have created few interactive web-sites. That skill helps me to join to the Radugadesign team and make with them really interesting projects incl. for Nike and BMW
In the future I want to start the my own brand which will customizing sneakers and manufacturing home (and hotel) textile. I don't have a plan to be a graphic designer, or web designer only. I want to realize some of my ideas in different spheres.
Don't be afraid to do what you love. ... Only what you love can make you happy and really productive. For non-english designers -> learn English language. For fashion designers -> learn french. Don't stop to do design but keep the balance. Balance is very important - it protect you from burn, professionaly burn.
Watch every day something new in design, new portfolios, new trends. Keep your eyes open. It will help you to be in a trend and vibe.
As usual. ... Sleep 7-8 hours (not more), breakfast - tea or coffee with some cookies. When breakfast - check some news, mail, telegram. Some metrics of my projects. ... After that working or going to shops. ... My every day is different after 1 PM...
Going to sleep in 2-3 AM.
Going to sleep in 2-3 AM.
Inpiring in the Pinterest, LinkedIn... I'm subscribed to some sites about design. But first of all -> Pinterest
I have 2 types of projects.
1 - for money. It's simple. Doing what client want. Try to create good, correct design.
2 - interesting project. And I can say what the project is done when I see the result and I don't want to change something. I have few projects which I proud and love it.
1 - for money. It's simple. Doing what client want. Try to create good, correct design.
2 - interesting project. And I can say what the project is done when I see the result and I don't want to change something. I have few projects which I proud and love it.
Every design we can do better and better it's a fact. BUT best the enemy of the good.
My biggest project (not work, not commercial) is Peopleofdesign. This is a magazine/project about design. I started it in 2006 and I working on to present days. From my work I have few big and interesting projects but I can't select one of them and .. I love it all.
Best designers in fashion - Karl Lagerfeld and Maison Margiela. Best graphic designer - Paula Sher and Stefan Sagmeister. I know much very interesting designers and I can't write them all... Also web designers too...
I can't answer this question. It'll be very very long answer :) I'm Russian but not living in my country. My father was aircraft pilot. My hobby is tennis and it inspiring me, it changing me and my design. Everything what surround me - changing my live and design.
I was participating in pro bono project for social event on Baikal lake. I created the logo and style.
Every award make a designer - better designer. Every award is very big motivation for do something best and bigger. Growing up. If you get award - you growing as designer. Peoples will know you...
Interview about Simple Bio Wine Illustration Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
26 July 2024
I began studying graphic design in 2002 at a university in Moscow, Russia. During my studies, I participated in international exhibitions. In 2006, I graduated and immediately started working in my field, creating packaging and manuals for climate control equipment.
I am motivated by the ability to visually communicate ideas and solve problems through design. The creative process, from conceptualization to execution, excites me and allows me to bring innovative solutions to life. I became a designer because I have always been passionate about art and creativity, and I wanted to combine that passion with practical skills to create impactful designs that resonate with people.
It was my conscious decision to become a designer. Even before university, I was interested in changing things to make them both functional and beautiful
I like graphic design - packaging design, illustration. I want to create some industrial and textile design. Want to create my own fashion brand.
More practice in design, learn not only design (photography, architecture, sculpture, history of art, history of fashion) Get more experience.
A good designer creates functional and aesthetically pleasing designs that meet the client's requirements and solve the problem at hand. A great designer, however, goes beyond just meeting the requirements. They bring a deeper understanding of user experience, push creative boundaries, anticipate future trends, and create designs that not only solve the problem but also evoke emotions and leave a lasting impact. Great designers also continuously seek to learn and adapt, staying ahead of industry changes and innovations.
A good design becomes exceptional when it is functional, aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, innovative, and emotionally impactful. Evaluate design by how well it solves the problem, attracts attention, and provides a positive user experience.
A good design is a - great visual and good usability, but it depends on the main task of design.
I want to make a design of tea pot and tableware for Wedgwood of Lenox. Because I love tableware ... Or socks for Falke :)
My own fashion brand. I want to make a tableware, home textile, socks and ... yes, sneakers ;)
Inspire by your life.. And do more great job.
It's a long list of designers... Paula Sher (from Pentagram), Vadik Marmeladov, Peter Tarka and other...
Logotypes by Paula Sher it's a incredible projects, Vadik Marmeladov with his philosophy, Peter Tarka with his 3D models.
My best design is the project for Tristan Pollock. I created three illustrations in a unified style for his article in the magazine, each reflecting the essence of a different paragraph.
Everytime you need to take a harder tasks and do it better better and better... and don't forget about the rest.. Good rest is imporant.
Going to test pilot school... and being a test pilot as my father.
Design is everywhere. Wherever you look, there is design. A bus stop, a street lamp, any bench on the street — everything is design.
My classmate from Radugadesign was my friend in University and best art-director in the Radugadesign studio.
My own projects about design and experience helped me to create a many interesting things.
The financial side of life always creates a lot of problems. Sometimes you have to take on projects just for the money, without thinking about adding the work to your portfolio or showing it to anyone.
Each project should be shown as it would appear in real life. For example, for an interface, it should be displayed as it looks on a phone screen. Or for a branding project, it should be shown as it appears on actual materials.
It will be my personal project - concept of packaging design for Starbucks coffee..
Make more beauty things... and be a designer.
People expect a designer to bring novelty and new concepts. But life isn’t always that perfect. A designer’s life involves a lot of routine.
Society and its appearance greatly depend on what surrounds it. If there is decay and dirt around, society will correspondingly be angry and... sad. If there is beautiful design and everything is convenient, people themselves will be drawn to the beautiful.
At this moment I creating the online shop for my friends from Radugadesign. Really interesting project.
Illustrations - often without some deadline and you can pain when you want. I love illustrations. Also - packaging design... concepts of packaging for some interesting brand.
I would like to see designers relying less on artificial intelligence for images and instead creating those images themselves. I hope designers will consider not only the visual appeal but also the meaning and essence they incorporate into their projects.
Design is likely to become simpler. Although this depends on the design field. Illustrations will remain as they are. Packaging will also stay the same. However, interfaces and web design change every season (about every six months). In the future, this trend of constant change will continue.
It greatly depends on the project and the task. For the Simple BIO project, I spent 2 weeks on the illustrations, made changes, and the project was completed in a total of 4 weeks. There have been projects that I completed in a week.
From little brief for client... Brief include a 3-7 questions. After that work starting.
It's not the first 80% of the work that's the hardest, but the last 80%. - But it's a joke :)
Trends sets the designs.. only
When I creating the illustration - I'm using a paper and pen or pencil.. Then using the Photoshop or Illustrator. So, technology is good, it's important for good design.
Adobe CC package, paper, pen, pencil.
Through color, we convey emotions, and through materials, we convey both emotions and tactile sensations.
How much is the price :)
I think - oh, I like it, I want it... And this inspire me to start do something beatiful, like my own brand...
I believe in co-design when my partner can take some part of my work. for example - I can do a concept, my partner can do a 3d renders of my concept.
Art-directors and project managers... Art-director give some another ideas
I don't like read book about design. My last book I have read - Catch my if you can. (not about design)
job, job and another job..
I would like to talk to the iPhone designers to discuss the size of the phones. They are so large now that they are inconvenient to use and don’t fit in your pocket. They have become quite non-mobile. I would ask them to create a phone with a good camera in a smaller size.
I have a few awards - this fact not changed my life.
I like white and yellow. Place - ocean shore. Food - steak with mash potato. Brand - New Balance.
Short - I worked with a decorator on her textile design. I worked 3 weeks. And when project was finished - she payed me $30.
Quite sunny morning with no any noise, any bad emotions. Sweet coffee with milk, some good toast with cheese.
Nope. I have a dream to being a test pilot like my dad...
I don’t know what will happen in 20 minutes, and you’re asking about hundreds of years ;) Maybe everyone will be flying and controlling devices with their minds. Just like in the movies.
Don't stop to create a incredible things. We can make a beautiful world around us.
Designer Interview
23 October 2021
In 1999 (I was 16 years old) I tried first time edit the CSS code of the webpage. It was so interesting and I thought — I can do some interesting things with this options... In 2002 I goes to university to learn a graphic design.
Now this is my life. In 2006 I launched the Peopleofdesign.ru - blog/magazine about design on Russian language, in 2007 my classmate and I launched the Radugadesign media design studio. And from 2015 till today I'm working as freelance designer and illustrator.
Now this is my life. In 2006 I launched the Peopleofdesign.ru - blog/magazine about design on Russian language, in 2007 my classmate and I launched the Radugadesign media design studio. And from 2015 till today I'm working as freelance designer and illustrator.
I don't have a studio, but I have personal project which named — Nonameproduction. When in 2015 I'm leaved from the full time job, I had experience and I started personal project as a studio. I have developers and friends-designers.
Design for me it's a life. Design is everything and you can see it everywhere. When we looking to the left — design, looking to the right — also design :) We took a tea or coffee and it's packaged — design. We taking a metro card or parking card — design again. Design is everywhere.
First of all I like packaging design and ... tableware, yes, tableware it's my passion.
It was a business cards and folder for documents. But in the university I have designed a package for dairy products.
I'm focusing on creativity and clearly in graphic design.
Oh, this is incredible, awesome. When your result goes to life — you are like a superhero for yourself (for a little time).
First of all this is good visual. Good composition, interesting colors, forms and great typographic (if it have).
Make a simple and right solutions of some problem. It's about social, about ecology, about forms and ... about everything.
Graphic design in the general flow fades into the background. The first place is taken by the web design and UI/UX. But everyone still needs it. I'm sure — the graphic design and illustration will follow the peoples everywhere.
My first and last exhibition was in University. I was participant in the big exhibition of my classmates. It was in Moscow, 2004.
When client write me a story about company/brand or about product, i'm going to Pinterest and collecting the mood board for this project. And when it's done I'm thinking about the point of this company and design.
Not much words -> simple but right minimalism
I'm in Russia now, in the Moscow. Moscow have a much interesting places for inspiring to something great.
Cultural heritage not affects my design. Many good designers living in Moscow and we have many offline and online events for designers.
Cultural heritage not affects my design. Many good designers living in Moscow and we have many offline and online events for designers.
This is individual process. With one companies (clients) you working fast and very hard and you want to finish it faster. With other companies you working without hard deadlines and your working process is simple and friendly.
Companies -> check the portfolio and try to talk with designer about one of project from his portfolio. Try to listen about it. And if designer not a designer — he can't talk about his project with some passion.
- my doodle printed mouse by Logitech (LOGI). It was a limited series.
- sound system by Creative labs
- my computer wood chair by IKEA :)
- cups by Vista Alegre from Tea With Alice series
- and my teddy bear by Steiff and Tiffany&Co.
- sound system by Creative labs
- my computer wood chair by IKEA :)
- cups by Vista Alegre from Tea With Alice series
- and my teddy bear by Steiff and Tiffany&Co.
5 AM - wake up. Coffee Starbucks with bread and butter. Watching YouTube channel from my playlist and working. Some days I don't want to work and going to shopping plaza, looking to peoples, looking to windows displays. I don't have a daily schedule - it's a remote work pros...
If I have a project - i'm working almost full day with 1-2 hour pause. Evening - watching the movie with my wife.
If I have a project - i'm working almost full day with 1-2 hour pause. Evening - watching the movie with my wife.
Don't stop. Do what you love. Don't stop learning and don't stop dreaming.
If you're not experienced (young) designer and you don't have designer name and you are on a freelance — you must be ready to hard working. Be ready to be a poor... But for a little time :)
If you're have 2-3 or more years in design — congrats — hardest time in the past.
Positives — you will work with different great peoples. You will be reach if you will do everything right.
Negatives — I don't know what negative about it. If you think about negatives, don't be a designer.
If you're have 2-3 or more years in design — congrats — hardest time in the past.
Positives — you will work with different great peoples. You will be reach if you will do everything right.
Negatives — I don't know what negative about it. If you think about negatives, don't be a designer.
Do what you love...
Listening client. Yep, it's most important skill. Second — talking, talk about your process.
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, Figma — software. Hands and paper.
70% time for work, 30% for something else.
It depends on the task. Simple landing page — 4-12 days. Logotype — 2-5 weeks (often with full identity). Website — from 2 weeks to 4-5 months.
Haha.. why so much expensive?
Important and interesting — work with Radugadesign team.
Some agencies, private persons, It-companies, banks..
I like packaging design
Start few my projects. And learning 3D and video design
As team and as myself
hello@nonameproduction.me
https://nonameproduction.me/contact
https://nonameproduction.me/contact
Interview about Simple Bio Wine Illustration Grand Interview