Nikolay Vladykin

Interview with Nikolay Vladykin

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

My parents noticed my design skills at the age of 13. Since childhood, I have loved to draw, invent and craft something

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

Kai Ross Design Studio was established to realize my creative aspirations. It mainly creates furniture, lamps and accessories, but it also conducts experimental research, for example, in the field of optics and new types of vehicles. The range of studio interests is very wide, but not to the detriment of the quality of each of them.

What is "design" for you?

Design means a lot to me. This is, for example, a way of knowing the world around us. When creating an object, I first delve into the world of ideas and feelings. Then, as we concretize, into the world of matter and technology. Each world has its own characteristics and patterns that need to be learned and taken into account. This way is also "design" for me

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

definitely furniture. the objects that we surround ourselves with in our interiors

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

at the moment, this is a Balestra - a multifunctional lounge table. It managed to realize not only the idea of a new combined lounge furniture, but also the soulful aesthetics of modernity in three main materials - wood, metal and glass

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

My favorite material, without a doubt, is wood, but I strive to complement it with elements of metal and glass

When do you feel the most creative?

I guess it's not a matter of time or condition. It's a matter of inquiry and concentration. I'm the most creative when I have to be.

Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

First, it is the depth and quality of the idea. I'm not interested in repeating something that already exists or bringing something into the world that doesn't benefit people.

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

undoubtedly joy) the joy of discovering everything new, finding full-fledged and uncompromising solutions

How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

This is more of a design style field than just a design style - within the boundaries of modernism-minimalism-bionics and hi-tech

How do you work with companies?

I work with some remotely, and I come to some to learn more about their production capabilities in order to better adapt the design to them

What is your "golden rule" in design?

there are several of them, but the "passion & measure" is probably at the top of the list

How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

If we are talking about a sketch, it takes at least 30 seconds, 20 of them to find a pencil and paper) but some ideas have been implemented for years - too complicated or expensive

What was your most important job experience?

It's hard to say. Each experience brings something different, and only time will tell how important it is.

What are your future plans? What is next for you?

I want to produce serial furniture in the modernist style and participate in the Milan and Dubai exhibitions

Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

I create most of the projects on my own, but if necessary, I form a temporary team of professionals

Extended Interview with Nikolay Vladykin

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

I have a higher education in psychology and pedagogy. Psychology, as you know, is the basis of design. In 2018, I created the Kai Ross studio to design furniture and lamps for various companies, as well as create some limited edition items for individuals and galleries.

How did you become a designer?

I am fascinated by the process of finding, developing and materializing an idea - it's like magic

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

I don't think I've become one, but I've always been one. Of my own free will :)

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

I think a great designer differs from a good one in his uniqueness and aspiration - he embodies his own ideas no matter what

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

I want to create a bicycle car, but this requires some external support