We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ksenia Zagaynova ("KZ").
Ksenia was born in Moscow and has a master's degree in business administration. She's always dreamt of changing her path in life and now she is studying in British higher school of arts and design (Moscow). Ksenia seeks to create unusual but wearable objects that could fit the unique character of the owner. She prefers simple lines, enjoys interactivity and mechanisms. Ksenia is inspired by architecture, existing design objects and natural shapes.
Ksenia Zagaynova Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ksenia Zagaynova.
Ksenia Zagaynova Design - Dance Anatomy Ring and Earrings
Designer Interview of Ksenia Zagaynova:
DI: 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?
KZ : Yes, I think I've always wanted to be a designer. When I was little I drew different fashion outfits and dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. But I didn't take this path right away and I have a master's degree in business and business administration. So I could finally realize my dream only 2 years ago when I started my studies in the British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow. Namely, I chose jewelry design as I couldn't find pieces that would meet my expectations and I had my own ideas of how they should look like. Therefore, my desire to create something beautiful but simple, unique and ergonomic made me become a designer.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KZ : At the moment I act under my own name as an individual designer and my own brand is XENIA GAI.
DI: What is "design" for you?
KZ : Good design makes us happier by combining a functional solution and aesthetic pleasure. As for jewelry design, apart from the above-mentioned, it helps to express one's unique personality and style.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KZ : I tend to create interactive jewelry, transformable pieces or constructors as I like the idea of game and interaction.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KZ : It's hard to choose one favorite design as there are so many wonderful designers in all spheres that I truly admire.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KZ : The first collection I designed in course of my studies was inspired by Calatrava architecture. It included 3 pieces based on 3 buildings: 2 mono earrings and one pendant.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KZ : At the moment my favorite materials are all kinds of metals. As for technologies they're all interesting to me but of course 3D modeling and 3D printing allow solving and creating the most sophisticated pieces.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
KZ : I feel the most creative when I travel abroad and see something new or when I stay in my own city and go for walk. When I walk I always discover something new around me even in Moscow.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KZ : I focus on simple lines, geometry, ergonomics.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KZ : When I design I feel that I'm doing the right thing, I feel inspiration, brain work and satisfaction.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KZ : There's a long path between the idea and realization, a lot of work and challenge so of course I feel just great when it's finally there, I can wear it, others can wear it and feel happy just like me.
DI: What makes a design successful?
KZ : Correspondence of the final result with the initial designer's task.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KZ : Functionality, clarity of the idea, aesthetic image.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KZ : I think it's the idea of making people happier by simplifying their lives and satisfying their aesthetic perception.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KZ : It is becoming more digital, I think it already follows and will follow the IoT trend.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KZ : My last exhibition took place in a new design gallery and shop created by my colleagues and called ZVENO in Moscow. As for the future expos it's not decided yet.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KZ : I seek to create unusual but wearable objects that could fit the unique character of the owner. I prefer simple lines, interactivity and mechanisms. I'm inspired by architecture, existing design objects and natural shapes. I feed my creativity by travelling, going for long walks, listening to my favorite music.
DI: 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?
KZ : I would say that my design style has not completely formed but I tend to design geometric and movable pieces. I try different techniques and instruments and that influences the final design. We'll see where it all takes me.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
KZ : I live in Moscow, Russia. I wouldn't say that my country's cultural heritage affects my design. I would point out one disadvantage related to the Assay Chamber, the work process is poorly organized and represents obstacles for jewelry designers working with precious metals.
DI: How do you work with companies?
KZ : I haven't had such experience yet.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KZ : First of all I choose the sphere I'm inspired by. It can be a process, an existing object, anything that inspires me and makes me eager to investigate it. After that I start my explorations, i analyze what exactly interests me, I come out with the main features and leave all secondary attributes behind by using the techniques of analytical drawing. This way I develop a visual language for my future pieces and start designing the objects themselves. Then after doing the necessary calculations comes the 3D visualization of my sketches followed by the final production process.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KZ : Man Ray chess, towel hanger, art deco wash basin, Eichholtz lamp and a tape dispenser by Cantili.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
KZ : I wake up at 8 or 9 a.m., at around 10 I start working on my current collection, I go out for a walk or meet my friends.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
KZ : Practice more in drawing and sketching, follow your initial designer's task and don't be afraid to try new methods and test new ideas.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
KZ : Positives: design makes me always train my brain, imagination and explore and discover something new every day and create something physical that could make someone feel happier. Plus it is possible to plan your day the way it suits you. As for negative aspects, well, you always have to seek for this balance between creating something you could easily sell and something that inspires you but could be hard to realize in terms of technology and thus could become an expensive object of art.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
KZ : Formulate your idea clearly and follow your task.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
KZ : Drawing skills, imagination, extensive knowledge, multitasking.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
KZ : Drawing tools, software: ZBruzh, Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Keyshot, "The art of jewelry design from idea to reality" book by Elizabeth Oliver, and also some kind of inspirational journal where I place my ideas and things that inspire me.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
KZ : This is still a hard issue for me but I try to plan my day accordance with the identified project stages and I range my tasks by priority.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
KZ : It depends on the difficulty of the technology, if it is complicated it can take up to 6 months but usually it takes me 1 or 2 months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
KZ : Why did you decide to be a jewelry designer?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
KZ : To me every experience is important. My previous marketing experience helped me to refine my organizational and communication skills. Most important design experience includes the development of the drawing, technology and software skills.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
KZ : I enjoy the analytical work when I explore the object, identify the most important features to work out the visual language and then based on that come up with the design of a piece. This is the most important and difficult part for me as a designer.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KZ : My future plan is to implement my new collection and further develop my brand.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KZ : I develop my designs by myself.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
KZ : At the moment I'm working on a collection devoted to traveling and taking something to remember with you from each country.
DI: How can people contact you?
KZ : They can check out my personal account in Instagram - @xenia_ova.