Interviste con Viktor Bilak

As designer I have been working more than 20 years in the field of exhibition design. My first project of exhibition stand was my diploma work in Stroganov Moscow State Art Industrial University. The theme of my diploma was The exhibition stand as a part of corporate style.

From childhood I wanted to draw. So, first I graduated art school for children, then I graduated art college on professionality The master of artistic woodworking. My diploma work was The Souvenir boxes from wood with handmade relief of Transcarpathian Castles. But during this work I felt that I want to work with big shapes and forms in space, with different materials and colors. In this reason for my future studying in this field I chose Stroganov Moscow State Art Industrial University.

For me in designing work there are three the most important things: aesthetics, ergonomics, safety. There are interrelated to each other. During designing I remember the words of famous Russian aircraft designer-engineer Tupolev that "Non aesthetic aircraft will not fly".

In designing of exhibition stand there are big periods: projecting, assembling, exhibition, post-exhibition. During each periods I feel different emotions. The most exciting emotions appears before exhibition opening. During this period you compare the real object (Stand) with the virtual project in your head. This comparison determines the sign of emotions. If the real object better then virtual you fill inspiration.

For designer job are very important purposefulness, perseverance, ability to explain your ideas.

My dream design project is the new innovative system of intellectual toy Bi-Luck for studying the colors. This idea is patented and has awards of designers competitions. I hope to find the partners to produce this toy.

The most important advice for me in my job from my professors was that the artist is 95 percent of the work and 5 percent of inspiration.

It is very important in field of design to look and keep good partners.

In field of designing of exhibition stand there is one empirical criteria for estimation that you make good design. Before the opening the exhibition people make selfies on your stand. If you feel that in the project or in object nothing interfere for your eyes and you see harmony it is good design.

The most simple for me as designer to decide is it fully ready design or not to make pause in working from one hour to some days and after that to return to project. If you want to improve something it is not ready yet. But sometimes it is a big problem for designer or artist to finish his work. He start to improve the project and do new one. Sometimes is better to ask somebody non-designer is the project ready or not.

Every time then I start with new project I think that is the most important project in my life. I hope that the biggest design work of my life is in future.

For me design began from the works of Leonardo da Vinci, especially - his aircraft. He was the great artist, engineer, inventor, designer.

The most inspiring city for me is Venezia (Venice) because in this place meet three incompatible materials: water, stone, wood. The stone does not sink in the water; the wood (piles) does not float out of the water; wood and stone combine in architecture. All is not correspond the physics laws.

The participation in A' Design Award competition give me positive emotions for future projects, international context of the best design, promotion in public relations.

The main idea of the aesthetic concept of the stand based on the poster image of the exponent company. It is colored crossing ribbons of the wallpaper. This idea realized in the stand as architectural lines of different types.

During designing of this work was very important to create different types of geometric lines and translate them from 2D in to 3D space.

The designing of this particular concept took about four months.

At first there were other ideas of the concept for this project. They were touch upon the standard planning of the stand. When they realized in 3D program, it was not so interesting to see them. One of the planning of the stand was non standard configuration and contain the idea of different geometrical lines. It corresponded to the poster image with color ribbons.

The ideas of Russian Suprematism influenced to this project. The artists of the suprematic approach to the art suggested that it is possible to express the world by different geometrical forms. Balance of the geometrical forms, the basis of suprematic composition were very important for this designing this work.

During designing of this work I collaborated with architect. It was very important because technically this project was very complicated. For this project it was necessary to calculate the static loads and develop new technology of fastening wood elements of the stand.

During the designing of this work I understood that the most important in creating something new to be internally confident that it is possible to do.

The main idea of the exhibition stand Palitra is the image of sunny meadow with flowers.

The main focus of this project was to connect the drawing of the flowers of wallpaper in interior of the stand and real flowers used in decoration of the stand.

This design concept take about five months.

The name of this design is the name of customer Wallpaper Factory Palitra.

The most unique aspect of this design is the illusion of sunny meadow. This effect achieved by special lighting and flower decoration of the stand.

I collaborated with marketing and design teams of KOF Palitra. For this event Wallpaper Factory Palitra produced special collection of wallpaper correspond to the design concept of the stand.

The project required special selection of colors of different stand materials correspond to the image of sunny meadow.

The main aesthetic idea of the Mercedes-Benz Russia stand is the image of twisting road.

The main focus in designing of this progect was to organize the space of the stand to place all vehicles and define the comfortable trajectory for walking of visitors.

The creation of design concept of this stand took two months.

This design project was created by inspiration becouse the image of twisting road desided artistic and technical tasks.

Mercedes-Benz Russia SAO Company is the customer for this design.

This project required detailed empirical research of the real space for placement of vehicles.

The customer and visitors of Mercedes-Benz Russia stand highly appreciated this design and it convenience for work and presentation of vehicles.

The main idea of the design project is image of pergola.

In main focus in designing this project was to achive the effect of openness on stand.

This project realized on exhibition MosBuild 2016 04-08 of April in Moscow.

I did this concept about two months.

This project inducted by inspiration. The idea of the project was connected with non-standard space of the stand.

This project realized on exhibition MosBuild by bilder partner EXPOLINK company.

Italian architecture influence on design of this work.

The wallpaper manufacturer A.S. & PALITRA is the customer for this design project.

The name for this design is the name of company-client A.S. & PALITRA.

During the working on this project I used Autodesk Design Suit, Adobe Creative Suit Design Premium, OCTAdesign, CorelDRAW computer programs.

The most unique aspect of this design is connection beetween the aesthetic image of pergola and exhibitional space of the stand.

During the working on this project I collaborated with engineers of exhibition stand.

This particular design used special technology for making elements of the stand from chipboad without joints.

The project required empirical research and selection of color of wallpaper depending from real context of nearby stands on exhibition.

The hardest part of this design activity was to choose the wallpaper in accordance to aesthetic concept of the stand and agree it with the client.

During realization of this project I received positive reaction from my client, builder and visitors of the stand. So, I decided to participate in design competition.

In this project I learned and used new type of lighting for wallpaper.

I was born in USSR and the art of Soviet avant-garde influences on my designs. I got classical art education in Russia so the traditions of the Russian school of painting is very important for me.

From childhood, I wanted to draw. When I was 5 years old, I saw the picture of fairy tale: animals were in doll’s theatre. It was so bright, colorful and magically that I wanted draw the copy of this picture and made them a lot. When I was 9 years old I went to the art school, 14 – I went to the art college and finished it 19 years old, 21 – 27 years old I studied arts in faculty of design in Stroganov’s Moscow State Art Industrial University.

I work in field of exhibition design to create trade faire stands.

The most important skills for a designer from my point of view are the skills from classical artistic education: art composition, drawing, painting, sculpture.

Good designer usually has several good projects. All works of great designer are outstanding. But great designer at first must be good designer.

The main criteria in evaluation of design work is the reaction of client. If client get aesthetic pleasure from designers work and do not get uncomfortable sensations – it is good design.

The great masters of the Renaissance inspire me to create new design projects.

The most favorite design for me is the Rubik’s Cube - the dynamical 3D object that to force you think “by the fingers”. This skill is very important for artist, painter and architect.

Design for me is constant searching of something new.

My teachers and my partners help me to develop in profession of designer.

For designers is very important to present their work for professional evaluation, for example, to participate in professional competitions for designers.

The ultimate goal in my design works is to create the aesthetic and artistic image of the object and make it comfortable for users.

Design make life more aesthetic and comfortable for people.

I think: “It is very interesting design! How they do that?”

If I can concentrate only on the artistic task during the day - it is the successful day for design. The trade faire like the performance in the theatre: the premiere must be in time. It is motivate me to do my work efficiently and on time.

From childhood, I wanted to draw. When I was 5 years old, I saw the picture of fairy tale: animals were in doll’s theatre. It was so bright, colorful and magically that I wanted draw the copy of this picture and made them a lot. When I was 9 years old I went to the art school, 14 – I went to the art college and finished it 19 years old, 21 – 27 years old I studied arts in faculty of design in Stroganov’s Moscow State Art Industrial University.

I founded the design-bureau EXPOLEVEL in 2003 to provide highly professional approach for the design and realization of exhibition stands and public interiors. The main goal - to reflect in design the unique of company. Creative potential allows suggesting conceptual projects based on an artistic image.

Design for me is constant searching of something new.

The most favorite design for me is the Rubik’s Cube - the dynamical 3D object that to force you think “by the fingers”. This skill is very important for artist, painter and architect.

I feel myself the most creative in the night when the cares of the day are over and I can just concentrate on the artistic task.

At the beginning of the creative project, I start to see the contradictions and feel the interest to decide them.

When my designs are realized, I feel creative enthusiasm and I want to improve my project or to change it and I feel enough power for it.

I think that the design will be successful if it is aesthetic, comfortable and have good promotion.

I was born in USSR and the art of Soviet avant-garde influences on my designs. I got classical art education in Russia so the traditions of the Russian school of painting is very important for me.

The most important skills for a designer from my point of view are the skills from classical artistic education: art composition, drawing, painting, sculpture.

victor@expolevel.ru