We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Maxim Kashin ("MK").
The main concept of Maxim Kashin interiors is a symbiosis of the geometry of space and functionalism. In each of any interior, Maxim Kashin design team create such a geometry that maximally open the space in front of the person. Geometry of space begins with a planning solution, which should set the main dynamics of perception of the interior. The geometry of the walls always directs the person to the so-called main scene - the main space in the interior.
Maxim Kashin Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Maxim Kashin.
Maxim Kashin Design - Golden Mile Interior Space
Designer Interview of Maxim Kashin:
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?
MK : Since childhood, I have been fond of creative activities, I was very fond of drawing at school and tregynometry in high school. In addition to the general education school, I graduated from an art school, after which I decided to enter the architectural institute.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MK : Our architectural studio develops conceptual interiors for commercial organizations and brands that are interested in creating the image of a successful company that follows design trends. We create interiors for exhibitions, showrooms, bars, as well as create creative spaces and interiors for private clients.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MK : Design for me is primarily creativity, design is a mirror of society. I also really appreciate ideology in design. Design helps to fill people's lives with meaning and create interesting spaces that will give emotions to ordinary people.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MK : I enjoy designing display spaces and art installations most of all, but I also enjoy working on creative private residential interiors.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MK : I like the direction of the avant-garde of the beginning of the last century, in particular - Siprematism. The work of Kazemir Malevich gives me food for creation. I also like the architecture and design of a Japanese architect - TADAO ANDO and the architecture of a Spanish architect - Santiago Calatrava.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MK : For my company, the first thing I developed was the interior of a private country house, which laid my creative path.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MK : In interior design, my favorite materials are metal and natural stone. These materials allow you to make the interior more architectural.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MK : When there is an opportunity to solve interesting and non-standard tasks in the design of architecture and interiors
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MK : Most of all I pay attention to the general ideology and theory. I also pay great attention to the perception of the architecture of space by a person. In particular, the influence of space geometry on its perception from different points of view interests me most when designing.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MK : Basically, I experience positive emotions, but sometimes when solving complex problems or in a situation where not everything works out right away, I experience mixed emotions. But the more difficult the task and the path to its implementation, the more vivid positive emotions I experience at the end of the project.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MK : When implementing my ideas, I always feel a surge of energy for new projects and pride in all those who took part in the implementation of this project.
DI: What makes a design successful?
MK : Design makes successful in addition to its relevance, also the ideas that are invested in the course of design. Design filled with meaning and ideology is always relevant, because in this case, design is part of the author and part of his worldview.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MK : First of all, I evaluate the idea that the author wanted to convey in the design, then I evaluate the selected color combinations and the materials used.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MK : A designer is first and foremost a person who turns his ideas and ideas into reality. I believe that in the work of a designer, as well as in the work of an architect, the task is always to combine the visual aspect and the functional one. I believe that the interior designer is first and foremost the link between art and the common man. And the skill of the designer is to fit the design into the environment.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MK : Design is like art, before something new is born, they always return to the past. Now in modern design there is a search for something new through the prism of the past. It seems to me that now we are on the verge of the emergence of a new ideology in art and design.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MK : Our recent exhibition was dedicated to the interpretation of the avant-garde direction - Suprematism. We made an exhibition space with the support of the union of architects of our city. We created an interesting interior space using the Suprematist pattern developed by our team and many planes of mirrors. The exhibition was held in an old building in the city center. In the future, I would like to do an exhibition in a historic building during design weeks in Milan.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MK : I like the direction of the avant-garde of the beginning of the last century, in particular - Siprematism. The work of Kazemir Malevich gives me food for creation. I also like the architecture and design of a Japanese architect - TADAO ANDO and the architecture of a Spanish architect - Santiago Calatrava.
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?
MK : The style of interior design in which I work belongs to functional minimalism, in my last works I promote the ideology of new Suprematism. This ideology fills the interior space with pure geometry. I am not creating a box with a set of furniture and decor items, but a space where the walls are an interior item, and where every kink and turn is due to a geometric reading of the space.
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?
MK : I now live in Moscow. Our country, like any other, has its own cultural heritage, I believe that the heritage of your country has an impact, but in a modern cultural society, there are no boundaries for design and art. Each designer can study the history of architecture and design of any country through the Internet and literature, and choose a design culture close to him and work and develop in this direction. Russian avant-garde-suprematism is close to me in its ideological part, in particular, the influence of geometry and color on the human perception of space. I am also fond of creativity and ideology of ascetic minimalism and French modernism in architecture. At the institute, I studied all these areas in literature, then traveled around France and studied the work and architectural heritage of Le Corbusse.
DI: How do you work with companies?
MK : We usually try to work with like-minded companies, those companies that are close to modern trends in design. Before starting work, we usually try to understand each other better by discussing moodboards and detailed references. We always offer our author's vision of design, but we always take into account the wishes of the client, brand or company.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MK : First of all, when choosing a designer, you need to understand in what stylistic direction he works. Those who expect that a designer who works well in a modern style will perfectly design classic interiors should not be expected. It is also worth paying attention to the portfolio and the ability to present their own work.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MK : First I draw sketches by hand, I make diagrams of the idea, and then we start building this idea in 3D to see this idea in volume.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MK : I like the design of upholstered furniture in particular by the company EDRA, interior design from MINOTTI. I am also fond of car design, in particular I like the design of the auto industry in the second half of the 60s of the last century.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
MK : Usually I don’t wake up very early, then I watch the latest news on design and architecture, then I set tasks for the day for my team, I go to construction sites before lunch and conduct architectural supervision in the afternoon I come to the office and do current affairs there and communicate with my team I check completed tasks. I leave the office quite late, just after the evening rush hour in our metropolis, those after 9 pm.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MK : First of all, I would like to advise you to always treat any tasks with a creative approach, even those that seem boring and not interesting at first. I also wanted to advise you to always go towards your goal, and understand that this path will not be easy, but it will always justify itself.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MK : The positive side, I think, is a very diverse work, creativity, the possibility of self-realization. The negative aspects are a large mental load and an irregular working day, which in turn can lead to burnout.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MK : Design must contain ideology, those theoretical basis.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MK : For a designer, it seems to me that the main quality, in addition to a creative mindset, is also perseverance and determination.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MK : Basically our main tool is 3d modeling. First I draw sketches by hand, I make diagrams of the idea, and then we start building this idea in 3D to see this idea in volume. The link in which we work is AutoCAD+3dsMax, Revit+Lumion.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MK : Basically, I devote all the time to work, but I also try to devote time to sports in order to free my mind.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MK : The design time depends on the area of the object, and on communication with the Customer. On average from 3-5 months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MK : What are the current trends in interior design?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MK : I got the most important experience in the first years after the institute, when I came as an intern in a large interior design and private architecture bureau. There, for 3 years of work, I gained tremendous experience and formed as a specialist.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
MK : Our clients are both commercial organizations and private clients.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MK : Most of all I like to create concepts of spaces in 3D and then visualize them.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MK : I want to design and implement a contemporary art museum. To create both the architecture of the building and the internal space based on the ideology of the avant-garde - Surematism.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MK : I have a team of nine architects and designers
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MK : We are currently working on a very interesting interior project for private apartments with an area of about 200 square meters, this interior is an ideological continuation of our experiments with a new vision of Suprematism in the interior.
DI: How can people contact you?
MK : email kashinarchitects@gmail.com tel +79262471125
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MK : We are currently working on a very interesting interior project for private apartments with an area of about 200 square meters, this interior is an ideological continuation of our experiments with a new vision of Suprematism in the interior.