Viacheslav Pytailo

Historically, all my activity since 2005 is related to real estate in some or other way. As a matter of fact, I became a designer without any theoretical skills, by practising, because this area is directly related to both construction, repairs and design. This has turned into profession and passion from 15 years of practice.

My SKS design studio was formed as a response to a request from customers, friends and acquaintances. They needed a turnkey high-quality repair, taking into account all the wishes for the layout design and rationalization. When there are a lot of projects, being different in terms of constructiveness, footage, layout and design, you cannot do without a professional team. Our team consists of professionals enjoying their work. A new project is a challenge for each of us to make it better and more beautiful than last time. Our pride is that SKS customers trust us in the design and planning solutions' selection choice entirely. And, of course, all their preferences are taken into account.

This is creativity, the creation of a masterpiece, a real challenge, passion, hours of days and nights of thoughts, during which I imagine how it will be better, more beautiful, constantly improving the project. My objective is the owner’s apartment to be a pure reflection of his character.

I used to enjoy the "Loft" in its various manifestations a couple of years ago, but nowadays ART DECO has become my favourite. We are trying to combine design with the art of both artists and sculptors almost everywhere. Therefore, each of our projects is a mix of different art types. Sculptures and paintings are in almost all the interiors created by SKSDESIGN. "Grunge" and "Industrial" also never leave me indifferent. I enjoy riding around the world and visiting colourful places for inspiration — this is an inexhaustible source of new ideas. Each nation and country has its own design specificity and flavour, which we use in our work with gusto.

I like the process of creating an idea the most, and only then - materialization. That's fantastic, when we or customers ring in the new non-standard solutions, for example, furniture creating manually or right at the object.

The first embodied design was in 2005 - our goal was to design a health complex of 350 square meters and zoning the space using different stylistic solutions.

I prefer natural materials when creating: stone, wood, as well as metal and glass.

When dealing with an unusual object (for example, a two-level penthouse or a small area of 40 squares).

Much attention is paid to planning and architecture solutions since the design can be changed in the process, but it will be much more difficult to make architectural replanning after the repair is completed

I apply force every time in order to make the embodied object more lovely than on visualization/paper. Often dual emotions overwhelm me: on the one hand, both joy and pride of the completed project and the fact it is better and “more alive” than on paper, and on the other hand, I always criticize myself for discovering moments that could be made even better than it turned out, and that we did not take them into account before. Whether or no, and for any result, I feel a kind of self-criticism

If we speak about client orientation A design can only be successful if the customer enjoys it. It is of fundamental importance to remember the opinion about the result is often subjective. If the customer clearly knows what he wants, the design does not have to be the best for everyone, as this is the customer’s preference. The project also success is when a great deal of various elements and details create a single image, when a room is cozy, and the design is light, when it is still in trend after a few years and its owner is still pleased with design.

First and foremost is a planning and architecture solutions, as far as it is logical, effective and rational. Next is design. Here the initial impression is the major aspect. You should feel comfortable. And, sure enough, it is important how different elements of both design and decor are duly chosen and correlated with each other.

Sure thing, these are emotions the created design "transmit" to everyone who sees it. It should be positive: joy and happiness, pleasure and comfort, as well as coziness. Designers, architects and the entire team must consider the usage of exclusively environmentally friendly materials. Moreover, it is important to follow this at all stages — from concept development to full implementation.

Design is changing as fast as world at large, so its objective is to be flexible. Nowadays there are no prohibitions and boundaries in design. Everything is mixed: classic with a loft, grunge with fusion. I am sure the design is cyclical, and the emergence of new directions with smooth rolling lines inherent in existing styles or the corners' absence does not mean the departure of the trends being currently relevant.

The last exhibition, “The armory show”, which I managed to visit (before quarantine), was held in New York from March 5 to 8. I was impressed with contemporary art and paintings. This is the very case when you are creating an interior design for one picture, but not hanging a painting finally after the repair, as part of the interior. I look forward to the Isaloni and Art Basel opening — these exhibitions are inspiring ever. I advise visiting MOMO in New York to everyone, as this is a boundless source of inspiration.

As I have already said, I am always impressed by exhibitions, respecting designers and architects being inspired by their work (this is a rare business segment where designers and architects are not a competitive environment, but a kind of community where everyone inspires and makes a challenge). Such a fact, in turn, leads to creating masterpieces in both design and architecture. The process of sculptors', painters', forgers', craftsmen working with wood also inspires every new object in our sphere perfectly well. This is a real professional rapture when observing the process of creating a masterpiece by human hands without any robotization and conveyors.

Until recently, the role of the main direction was played by a light loft mix with a modern style. At the very moment, our studio is working on apartments, a penthouse and an office. I would call their style as a Luxury Art deco one. The distinctive features of this style include: the combination of green sofas with gold chandeliers, the use of bright accents, a lot of heterogeneous marble, mirrors in gold frames, sculptures, glass partitions, forged elements as decorative wall partitions, the usage of copper in the cabinets' manufacture, as well as decorative elements.

I am a man of the world, having managed to live in a great deal of various countries and cities. Australia, USA, New Zealand, Peru, Canada, Bali, Hong Kong and almost all of Europe are among them. Sure thing, both culture and design features of each country leave an imprint on the style of work. Utterly everything inspires me. Modern design has long become global being not tied to a particular country. I saw the Scandinavian style in the apartments of my friends in Austria, a two-story industrial loft in the center of Paris and an expensive classics in a Bali house. There are no boundaries for design.

We are open for cooperation with all the companies and suppliers. It is of fundamental importance for them to be professionals in their sphere. Ofttimes useful contacts can be found at exhibitions.

If considering dealing with a company, then a good designer is one both hearing and feeling the customer (if the company is large, sometimes this could be a project manager, anyway I am an adherent the designer communicates with the customer in any case). Sure thing, he must be a professional in his sphere being a practicing specialist. This means that you need not only to draw a design gracefully, but to link all the details, taking into account all the wishes so that it is convenient, comfortable and beautiful. Besides, it is very essential — taking into account dealing with the customer — the drawn design should correspond with the declared budget, not being higher.

Any process starts with acquaintance with the customer, communication, clarification of his preferences. It is of fundamental importance to make adjustments to both customer nature and values (since the design is a reflection of the owner's nature in my deep belief). Next planning decisions' clarification, determining the project purpose. Here, there are at least a dozen factors: for yourself, for renting, for an office, who are the company's customers, a household analysis, animals, how many cars are in the family, is there any security, what kind of lifestyle do household members have, and much more. The following work stage is the concept development. Here preliminary designs are made and, in parallel, planning decisions, after which we agree on the result with the customer. In the design project, we use materials, furniture and decoration in such a way the result suits the customer both in design and in budget. As soon as we finally agree on the planning decision and design, as well as the list of finishing materials and furniture, our company starts working. First, dismantling, “wiring” electricians, plumbing and other utilities, then installation, roughing, finishing, and after that — furniture. SKS performs designer's supervision at all stages.

Finishing with veneer walls, sculptures, paintings, furniture, chandeliers, marble.

Getting up at 7 am, training, having breakfast at 8:30-9:00, then updating all the information (nowadays there is a great deal of communication means of that time passes as you check them all), checking if I have not forgotten to answer an important letter or question. From 9 to 19:00 or even later (depending on workload) — work: meeting with customers, suppliers, partners, field supervision at the facilities. As both studio CEO and owner, I need to deal not only with design, but also with a number of other organizational issues. At the same time, I delve into the details of each project, taking a first-part part in it. Our objects are located in different cities and countries, so transferring often takes a good deal of time.

My guidance to beginning designers is to never give up, always looking up for new inspiration sources. Find your way and manner. It is also important to help environment with your design, transmitting only positive emotions through it.

You can be born a designer, or you can become one. Anyway, this must be reached. I can’t imagine how you can be a designer out of need, because this is a vocation, passion and pleasure, and if not, then it is not yours. Do not forget being a designer is very responsible, as people or companies trust you to solve their problems. The designer's aim is not just not failing the customers, but doing it at the level, even two levels higher than their expectations.

Design is a creative process, so there are no boundaries or rules. However, if considering dealing with a customer, there is a “golden rule” in design — being both practicing and professional specialist. Namely: the implementation must be better and more beautiful than the picture, budget, quality and deadlines should be certainly met.

Creativity and creation. Artificial intelligence never substitutes a person in such a situation. This is what will “drive” not only design, but the entire planet in the 21st century

We try not to dwell on one thing in season and out of season. We both test and introduce everything new appearing on the market.

Design is a creative process. It happens that a decision comes in a minute, but sometimes it takes weeks looking for it.

We give a guarantee for turnkey repair terms in SKSDESIGN– 100 square meters in 3 months. The Customer moves to his apartment after 3 months. Guaranteed.

Luckily, most SKS customers trust us, and all the issues are covered by 15 years of experience and a portfolio of specialists, consisting of more than 200 turnkey projects. Anyway, each question is unique, being associated with a specific project.

It was a real challenge from one customer - completing 15 turnkey apartments in 4 months. It was a challenge, and we dealt with it ahead of schedule

All SKSDESIGN customers are self-sufficient people who clearly know what they want. The vast majority value time, striving for the best.

My team and I are a practicing company. This means that we are not only doing a design project, but are implementing everything on a turn-key basis. This is a great process, and I enjoy it entirely. Communication with customers, dealing with a team, creating and implementing the next masterpiece — I'm pleased to do so.

We are interested in working in different countries. The SKSDESIGN team has ambitious plans and plenty of orders. It is extremely important and interesting for me to bring both art and sculpture closer to people artistically. Therefore, we have planned a lot of design and engineering work in collaboration with artists and sculptors.

In any event, we use teamwork. You also need to do a great deal of other work related to quality control, communication with customers and suppliers besides both design and engineering.

Nowadays the most entertaining work is a two-level penthouse with an area of 170 meters. There are many nuances in design you need to consider: a wood-burning fireplace and a personal elevator, engineering a second floor, etc. And, of course, it will be turnkey work. Leading Italian and Dutch factories are picking up both furniture and lighting for this object at the very moment. I will be pleased to share this work with Adesign, subscribers and the jury next year.

Our head office is located in the Kyiv city, Ukraine, at the following address: Demiivska, 33 Park Avenue Vip. Phone numbers: +38 (066/097/063) 458 43 43.www.sks.ua info.sksdesign@gmail.com

I'd like to thank Adesignaward for such a great opportunity to take part in the contest and for your tremendous work acquainting the whole world with design, its trends and peculiarities!