We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Milda Vyštartiene ("MV").
Milda is a young 3D artist who works mainly in architectural vizualisations, but her dream is to create her own furniture and home lighting product collection and sell them worldwide. To make her dream come true, she applied for the A Design Award & Competition, where she could achieve global recognition.
Milda Vyštartiene Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Milda Vyštartiene.
Designer Interview of Milda Vyštartiene:
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?
MV : I’ve admired arts since I was a child. I grew up in a small town, so I never knew that design and arts are two different things. When someone asked me what I was going to study after school I always said, that I’m going to be an artist. But only during my student years I realized what design really means. It is a complexed subject and I was lucky that my study program consisted of basically every design field basics, so I got the chance to choose my own path as a designer.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MV : Design is a balance between science and art. Design is one of the things that pushes the world forward. Innovate products change our habits and help us live better, healthier and smarter lives.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MV : The most enjoyable thing for me now is working with new lighting product ideas.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MV : I started my career as a graphic designer, so my first design works were logos for small businesses like hair salon or a car rental firm. Then I started working as a 3D artist where my first project was an architectural visualization of a business center in London.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MV : Technology allows us create new ideas within digital platforms but for me every new idea starts from a piece of paper and a pencil. When the idea is generated, it is transferred to a 3D or graphic software for further development.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MV : I think the most efficient days are the rainy ones. You stay inside and start searching for stuff, reading articles, watch videos or movies and then a brilliant idea pops into your mind. Luckily my country has ¾ of rainy days per year.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MV : Every design is different and has unique properties but if I would have to choose one main aspect it would be functionality. I think it is the most important aspect of a design.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MV : I feel relaxed and focused at the same time. It calms my mind and gives me positive energy.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MV : It’s a mix of emotions. But usually I’m excited, because you never know where the result may bring you.
DI: What makes a design successful?
MV : I think functionality is what makes it successful. Aesthetics is a matter of taste but function is indispensable, whether it’s lighting or ergonomics. Design may also have a single purpose – to provoke a feeling, create certain mood and it’s also a meaningful function.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MV : Certainly, the first thing people judge is the looks. This is how the nature has created us. Our eyes are the main tool which we use to understand the environment we live in. So naturally people judge the looks of an object before they test it. But the impression of the appearance lasts only for a few moments, after that comes the main aspect - function.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MV : Scientists and designers are responsible for innovation, human social life and environmental issues. They have to study and research all possible impacts of their design to society and the environment before actually creating it.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MV : I usually find new ideas by doing casual things because then your mind is absolutely open to new experiences. I watch movies, play games, spend time with my family or just have a walk in the park. Nature is incredibly full of new ideas you just need to listen to it.
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?
MV : I live in Lithuania, in Klaipėda city. Geographically Lithuania is the center of Europe but for a very long time this country was part of Eastern Europe where all forms of art were under regime’s control. I think it is the reason why today Lithuania prospers with innovation and technology – it’s because we love to be free. Our mentality is now mostly Nordic. Maybe that’s why we love functionality. Lithuania has become one of the countries who have the highest rate of educated people .
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MV : I’m still young myself so some wisdom pearls would be good for me too. But if I had to give an advice, I would suggest that everyone should step out of their comfort zone and try new things like participating in an event, make a video of your work, laugh hard and take everything that life gives, even when it’s all lemons. Every experience is a good one because it helps you evolve and learn not to make the same mistakes again. So don’t be afraid and try something new.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MV : The negative is that you tend to analyze everything and everywhere so sometimes you can become annoying to your friends. But analyzing is a positive thing too. This constant analysis makes you see things that most people wouldn’t even notice and solve everyday problems faster and better than others.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MV : The ability to think out of the box and imagine things that may seem impossible for other people. Every other skill like modeling or editing can be learnt but creativity is something that people obtain from a very young age or be born with it.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MV : Probably music is my most often used help tool. I can’t imagine myself working in a silent room. And also, I can’t start working without a cup of coffee or tea. A good pen and a piece of paper are the first things which I grab to markup a new idea. When I don’t have these things around, my phone becomes my sketchbook. I take pictures of everyday objects for inspiration.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MV : When you get a new project, you get a strict deadline too. So in the beginning, I try to make a schedule of what should be done till the deadline comes. Sometimes it gets a bit hard to squeeze in time when a client asks for some modifications but I think that’s the problem every designer encounters once in a while. So making a good schedule saves time and nerves.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MV : I guess every job gave me some good experience in communication and working skills but the most important experience I got from my current job as a 3D artist. I learnt how to make my ideas look realistic and how to present them to others. Some people don’t understand an idea if it’s written on a piece of paper, but if you show them a realistic 3D render everything makes sense.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MV : My aim is to create my own home lighting collection and sell them worldwide.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MV : My lamp design which won an Iron A’ Design Award is based on my MA degree studies which I will complete this summer. So currently I’m focused on this particular project.
DI: How can people contact you?
MV : The best way to contact me is via email: mvystar@gmail.com. I will be happy to answer any questions.