Interview
Nataliya Naymark
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.
For my bachelor degree I studied economy, I actually studied institutional economy, and than I had master degree is digital marketing . When I decided to become furniture designer In started searching for Universities I can study. To get in university in Moscow you need to draw composition, head, human body , column and landscape. I started learning to draw and still try my best. I couldn't go to university as I have to pass school exams and it was too much of a work. I ended up having several courses such as Kibardin Creative Synergy and Furniture Design for Beginners Online Short Course by Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London. I also a professional user of online platforms with courses. I did several programs in edX. My favourite one is Fundamentals of Manufacturing Processes by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.I also attended courses by Coursera, like Modern Art & Ideas by The Museum of Modern Art. And some Russian courses from openedu, my favourite one is History of design by HSE University. I suppose I took more than 20 different courses since 2019. I still love and learn about History of design . I also tried to do some practice work. I did several interior projects and furniture for each of them. To learn about light I did Practice with Women in Lighting and worked in different museums for different exhibitions. I started applying for different competitions last year. I won open call for The Vaults Centre for Artistic Production. In sketches and technical drawings I have more than 30 collections of furniture and light, more than 30 separate items and more than 30 tiles. To present my graphic abilities for tiles and carpets I did New years postcards for the last two years. Each of them present one of my carpets and tiles.
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?
While I was at school I had attended excursion courses for different Moscow museums, such as the Pushkin State Museum of Fine arts, The State Tretyakov Gallery, Armoury Chamber, National Museum of art of peoples of the East and many others. So during profession test in school I got higher mark in arts than in math. I attended math class and won several awards in math and physics. So it wasn't obvious for my teachers and parents. So in the end I got recommendation for architectural program. The problem here was I didn't draw, at all. I was good at technical drawing, as it was obligatory for 8 year in school. Anyway I ended up in economy bachelor and digital marketing master degree. I did love working in creative company as UX strategist. I love usability and finding peoples needs and dreams. We did several outstanding marketing campaigns for Unilever and different car companies. However after turning 30 I understood I still dream about architectural job. But getting older also helps to understand your advantages and disadvantages. It drives me crazy if thing has mistakes in measures, and I feel that architecture would be a challenge. So i decided to become a furniture designer.
3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
My design studio/company is just me. Right now most of the revenue I get from interior design projects, However I am in due deal process with several manufacturing companies about my furniture design.
4 What does “design” mean to you?
think the best way to talk about design is to think about Vkhutemas and the way designer was presented there. So they taught in art workshops future artist constructors. it means that result of their work is both construction and art. And this is how I see design. It is a melting pot of watchfulness, elaboration of experience and accuracy of physics, math and usability. As soon as everything works you have an unforgettable beauty that will improve living of human beings. Nowadays we also have to think about sustainability. It is something Rodchenko said about things we own, they are not just things, they are friends we take care of and try to prolong their working cycle .
5 What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
My favourite design changes from time to time. When I first started I was in love with Bauhaus and thought it will be the only was I will be designing in the future. However as soon as I learned about Vkhutems I started to love works of Melnikov, Rodchenko, Bykov, Tatlin and many others. More than a year ago I came across article about Sottsass and it was total love, I did several things in Memphis style. Right now I am learning again about Modernism. I love works of Aalto, and Pierre Jeanneret. I think that Aalto inspire me with his minimal design and unique feel for materials. As for Pierre Jeanneret there are care for folk crafts and French conciseness and lightness. I also really want to learn more about Charlotte Perriand, I haven't done anything yet inspired by her works, but I really want to dive into them in near future.
6 To you, what makes a “good” design?
There are several people whose opinion matters to me, and I can understand whether my design is good, just by seeing their faces. They shouldn’t say anything, I just see question in their eyes and it means, I have't thought something out. As for works of others, I think right now my watchfulness on one hand works out, and technical understanding on the other hand. I try to think about TA and potential interior, and if I can think about several of them, it is great. It means that it is something worth spending time.
7 Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
I am inspired by the Russian avant-garde and mid-century. So in my design style you can see geometrical composition coming form avant-garde and attention to function and a little love for multifunctional objects coming from mid-century. But even when I get inspired by other design style the importance of strict mathematical calculation and beautiful subsequences are always there.
8 Tell us about your design process.
I am an active user of lean canvas. And I think they really help to keep the projects structured and up to date. Anyway most of the time I start with sketch, after that goes technical drawing after this I am doing prototype. Sometimes I mix last two interactions. During or right after I try to do lean canvas, so I don’t forget all the important properties of the object, and than starts process of search for the right materials , making of a real size prototype and search for the company to buy my design.
9 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Right now I live in Serbia. I lived most of my live in Russia, I have jew roots and love England. I have mix of cultural heritage, I get easily inspired by a new place, and it is the most interesting how people see objects in different places, how they care and approach them. When I was into Vkhutems I made quite a number of things inspired by Melnikov and Rodchenko. And I think Russian heritage are for sure in many of my things. On the other hand I find Scandinavian design quite impressive and probably my Mordva heritage take place here. As I feel like a multinational person, my works also reflect this. If I am working with hands, I might listen to lectures through Arzamaz , It is a radio with lecture about history, art, politics, etc. If it is something I have to think about words (like right now) I do listen to music. If it is a new idea, I need complete silence, Walk and nature.
10 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
It means that I got recognized by designer society and as a self-taught I value it much. I believe it might open new collaboration opportunities for me. I want to sell my design to companies, the more the better, I would love to do some brief work. I dream of using new materials, and finding proper design for specific material. Me dream design project is to make analogue of cafe Pittoresk , made by Rodchenko, Yakulov and Tatlin, where everything will be done by me, starting from tiles ending with pictures on the walls. Real festival of Russian Avantgard.
11 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
I felt it would be the best case of showing my ability to do ergonomic product, that is optimised for economic production, as molds that are used already exist in Vitra production. from other point of view it shows my love for history of design and is a great example of parete organizzata that were widely presented by Gio Ponti. I also think it will be a great fit in small appartments. It has it's own TA and solves specific problem in the house.
12 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
The hand that had light, It's design and length was something I needed to think through several times, as it was not long enough or had problems with rotation.
13 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
It is huge honour to be between winners, as I don’t have any formal education , I am self-taught and during my education I didn’t have much of feedback about my way of thinking and designing. Having such a huge feedback and actually getting an award is amazing. I still have days when I wake up and check again that it wasn’t just a dream.
14 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
It has mix of marketing, UX and design. And all of this makes me work and be inspired and come with new and interesting solutions for different problems.
15 What makes your country specifically, unique in the design industry?
Right now I live in Serbia. I lived most of my live in Russia, I have jew roots and love England. I have mix of cultural heritage, I get easily inspired by a new place, and it is the most interesting how people see objects in different places, how they care and approach them. When I was into Vkhutems I made quite a number of things inspired by Melnikov and Rodchenko. And I think Russian heritage are for sure in many of my things. On the other hand I find Scandinavian design quite impressive and probably my Mordva heritage take place here. As I feel like a multinational person, my works also reflect this.
16 Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
It is hard for me to say, because I don’t know many people from design field. But from my point of view: younger generations are too much into sustainability and cause of it their design sometimes lacks interestingness on the other hand older designers are just into the look of the object and use of well known production . I believe it will get mixed up at some point and we will see absolutely new things. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist now, it just will be on new level.
17 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Design is something you will be learning the whole life. There is no end to this process. Try to structure everything you do, so it will be easier to deal with it in the future Develop Research and watchfulness
18 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
Collection of art history books. Magazines, such as World of interiors, Design anthology, Apartemento, Frame, Openhouse. Love MacGaffin magazine
19 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
Me dream design project is to make analogue of cafe Pittoresk , made by Rodchenko, Yakulov and Tatlin, where everything will be done by me, starting from tiles ending with pictures on the walls. Real festival of Russian Avantgard.
20 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My favourite designer changes from time to time. When I first started I was in love with Bauhaus and thought it will be the only way I will be designing in the future. However as soon as I learned about Vkhutems I started to love works of Melnikov, Rodchenko, Bykov, Tatlin and many others. More than a year ago I came across article about Sottsass and it was total love, I did several things in Memphis style. Right now I am learning again about Modernism. I love works of Aalto, and Pierre Jeanneret. I think that Aalto inspire me with his minimal design and unique feel for materials. As for Pierre Jeanneret there are care for folk crafts and French conciseness and lightness. I also really want to learn more about Charlotte Perriand, I haven't done anything yet inspired by her works, but I really want to dive into them in near future. So my main inspiration is history of design&
21 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Use lean canvas, filling them helps to answer on many questions you might be asked in the future, and help shaping your idea.
22 Which THREE (3) friends/peers would you nominate to participate in the next MUSE Design Awards?
