We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ivana Bukvic ("IB").

Ivana is first mother of two kids, wife and a young business woman. She has built up together with her husband corporate business company, where her interior design work has begun. Later, she has founded her own interior design studio - Ivy's design because she wanted to grow in that field, not only be oriented to her husband's business. Her design is different, because of warmth you feel when you enter into any space she has designed. She makes people feel better at any place and to appreciate themselves more as they are.

Ivana Bukvic Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ivana Bukvic.

Designer Interview of Ivana Bukvic:

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?

IB : Design was always my passion, although I my educational background covers finance and accounting. Since school days I had my own fashion design studio in my room at home and design was always somehow my dream job. First big opportunity showed up when my husband started with his business of refurbishing and selling old apartments, where I turned my hobby into a business. Since then, together with my husband we built up one business kingdom rent24 co-working concept where I was doing interior design of every space. Today his company covers a lot of European countries and spreading the business to USA. During the time, I founded my own interior design studio Ivy's design where I am today.

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

IB : After I founded my own design studio, based in Berlin, Germany, we have focused more on other, different projects, like restaurant ErnteZeit that won us A' design award. We have big plans for the future, at the moment we are working, together with rent24, on opening their new locations in USA. That is a big project for us since we rent24 is planing to open more than 10 locations in different, world's most popular cities. In the same time, we have different projects in Germany and Croatia, from offices, restaurants to houses and flats. Ivy's design has 8 employees, currently expanding regarding to increased volume of work. Although we are small team, we have big projects and rely on teamwork.

DI: What is "design" for you?

IB : Design for me is much more than just a job. Through design I express not only my feelings and emotions than emotions of my clients, for whom the space is designed. It is important that design tells story of the people for who you are designing but also people who are going to spend time in that space. Design for me means revive the space according to its purpose and people.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

IB : I love challenges, especially those parts in some spaces that are rejected and forgotten. For me they are more interesting because designing that kinds of spaces I show my full potential and made those parts into highlights. I feel than I have freedom to turn boring, godforsaken parts into glowing elements of every space.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

IB : Like mentioned above, I first started with refurbishing old apartments. Later, just after my husband started with his business company I was designing offices and co-working spaces. Now Ivy's design covers all kinds of spaces, we have designed everything, from offices, restaurants to houses.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

IB : Special attention is always on natural elements. Nature is a big part of my life and my design is recognised especially because of bringing nature in every space. Combining natural elements, plants and wood with gold and copper details is my favourite match.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

IB : Working together with my team, exchanging ideas is when I feel most inspired. It is important to be up to trend and follow what I "in" nowadays. I am constantly learning and educating myself, researching and exploring. Talent plays big role in design but hard work is what brings results.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

IB : I think there is no such a thing as "bad" design. Any design can't be bad, those are personal preferences. Difference can be make between design that most people like and enjoy and design that several people feel good at. I wouldn't consider design as good or bad, just as how people when they are inside the space. Following their reaction from the first impression to their second and later coming in. If every time when they come in, they feel the same excitement I know I did a good job.

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?

IB : I live in Germany, actually in Berlin, which means totally different than life in other german cities. If you have ever been to Berlin, you know its special charm. Berlin is unique, very international, young, chilling and alternative. There is especially, since years, popular industrial design. It has also very rich history, especially during second world war and you can feel it in the city. Because of all of that, being a designer in Berlin has lot of cons, it is full of inspiration and meeting all those international people makes you feel like you are traveling around the world just by living there. But it is also competitive due to large number of designers in Berlin and Germany in general.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

IB : Every project starts with meeting with clients to get to know each other and the space we are going to design. After that is always meeting with my colleagues about exchanging ideas and suggestion to start with design concept.

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

IB : I am mother of two little kids, 3 and 7 years old. My day always starts with making a breakfast for my family, driving kids to school and heading to the office. I won't lie, working days are always super busy and stressful. Meeting all day with clients, working on currents projects with my colleagues, trying to do my best on all sides. It is not easy to manage it but I kind of like it, that is the reason, I think, why I always manage it successfully.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

IB : What I always say to everyone, never give up, hard work pays! if you believe in yourself and work hard, opportunity will come. My beginning was going in completely direction, but deeply inside I have always felt that design in my way to. 10 years ago I couldn't image what my life will be today, but somehow I believed I will find my way to do what I love.

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

IB : Nothing is perfect, but when you do what you love, you are close to that. For me being a designer is like a dream come true and although there were and will be a lot of sleepless nights, trying to manage being a mom, wife and successful designer is not an easy job, but what good in life is easy?! Being a designer is a passion above the job and if you don't feel it, it won't be that much satisfying as it should be.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

IB : Like I mentioned before, except talent, you must work hard. Without hard work nothing will happen. Other, for me important skill to have is passion for design, your emotions are what make your design good as it is.

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

IB : Well know is that internet is endless source of informations, so Pinterest is a place where I found a lot of inspirations. But besides internet you must talk to the people, you must get to know your clients, their personality and what they want to achieve with that space, what people are going to be in that space etc.. My design team covers most of design programs, such as ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, SketchUp... We want to give our clients best service as possible, from moodboards to 3D visualisations.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

IB : If I don't like what I do as much as I do, I probably wouldn't manage it successfully. But with support that I have from my team and not sleeping that much I as should, it works.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

IB : It depends on a lot of facts and factors. From size of the space, existing condition, budget and wishes from clients. It could take from 2 to 6 month and more.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

IB : It is definitely "how much is it going to cost?". People's most important thing to know are the costs, although our wishes are unlimited, unfortunately budget is.

DI: What was your most important job experience?

IB : Well, the greatest experience was building up rent24 corporate identity, setting up design concept base for all future spaces. Since company had tendency to grow really fast, I had to be fast with quick and effective solutions to meet the deadlines. Each location was on its own way specific and challenging and now I can really say it was until now by my most important experience where I learned a lot.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

IB : My biggest client is definitely rent24 company, that has more than 10 opened co-working spaces and now co-living around Europe and expanding their business now on US market. Besides them there is one big avio company that wanted to stay in secret.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

IB : Staging is for sure my favourite part. That is where my magic is actually happening. Finishing the space with all details to bring that special warmth and "feels like home" feeling for me plays the biggest role. I always put emphasis on feeling inside the space that is why this last part of designing is something special.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

IB : Future plans are big and I am so looking forward to it. The future / present plan is designing rent24 co-working spaces around USA. Can't tell you more before we start but stay tuned and keep following our social media pages. I can tell you for sure it is going to be big surprising.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

IB : I am more team player. Two heads are smarter than one. I always listen ideas from my colleague and accept their solutions if they fit better, but first inspiration mostly comes from my side since it represents my brand.

DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

IB : In progress is now, among other projects, refurbishing more than 100 years old house with backyard. It is really challenging and exciting, since object is national heritage and it is protected so to do anything there was needed to have valid permissions that are not easy to get. It is getting close to its end so I am excited to see it done and share it with the world.

DI: How can people contact you?

IB : People can contact me on all my social media channels, via phone or email or even come directly to my office in Berlin. I can write it down here:mail:ivana@ivysdesign.deaddress: Potsdamer Straße 188, 10783 Berlin, Germanyphone: +4915140007657

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

IB : I think you asked most of the important questions. At the end I would just like to say how happy and grateful I am to do what I love and be surrounded with best team who support each other truly.