We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Viktor Kovtun ("VK").
Viktor Kovtun, the graduate of the Odessa Institute of Marine Engineers, civil engineer. He is specializing for 20 years in interior from wood and other materials. Viktor Kovtun is the author of his own Trademark Xo-Xo-L design. Xo-Xo-L design as Viktor said is my attitude towards design in general and towards the furniture design in special. This Trademark has appeared as a result of philosophical raflections, color of Odessa life and daily workmanship. He said that our life lack simple things, good moods and smiles
Viktor Kovtun Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Viktor Kovtun.
Designer Interview of Viktor Kovtun:
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?
VK : I have mutually worked as a designer and at the main work. The design has helped me in my main work. The clients always want something new from me. I never think about becoming a designer. It comes by itself.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
VK : Not a big production workshop, which fulfills the wooden interior works
DI: What is "design" for you?
VK : All life, surrounding us, but the most great designer is the nature.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
VK : Everything come into mind.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
VK : the design for me is interesting in the process of creation and after that It becomes usual and not interesting, as a new design comes to take the place of the previous one, and so on.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
VK : I do not remember
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
VK : In the evenings and nights
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
VK : Good emotions
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
VK : Inspiration
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
VK : I think about next design
DI: What makes a design successful?
VK : Love of life and intuition
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
VK : Allurement and convenience
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
VK : Positive emotions and minimal load on nature
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
VK : We are surrounded by the nature design or the design, created by the mankind. The design in the future will be more closer to the nature, which in the time when it has no style will have a lot of styles.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
VK : 2009, Kiev
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
VK : It is very hard to explaine, as it is my internal world.
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?
VK : The design shall bring joy and by this I explaine the Xo-Xo-L design style.
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?
VK : Ukraine. My designs are partially affected by the ultural heritage. The life of people in this coutry brings me ideas for design.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
VK : I really do not know
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
VK : In the evening at the sofa using the pencil and notebook
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
VK : I do not have anything favorite at my home
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
VK : I work from 09.00 till 18.00 and at the evening, at home, I work on my designs.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
VK : during the design, one shall simultaneously think about the production technology.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
VK : I am not a professional designer
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
VK : Without brakes
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
VK : Knowing the delicacies of the technology
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
VK : pen, clear paper and PC
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
VK : Never takes a lot of time
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
VK : from one to four evenings
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
VK : I am not a professional designer
DI: What was your most important job experience?
VK : It is hardly to me to answer this question
DI: Who are some of your clients?
VK : Restaurants, private clients, port plant
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
VK : It is intuitively, I do not know why
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
VK : What God will write
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
VK : Myself or with the assitence of my son Yuriy
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
VK : I make single elements
DI: How can people contact you?
VK : xo-xo-l@ukr.netpaka@ukr.net
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
VK : I am as I am