Interview with Viktor Kovtun

Viktor Kovtun ("VK") interviewed on Sunday, 18 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

VK : The strangest thing is that I have never worked as a designer, it's more the style of my life the last six years.My education is not related to the design of furniture.I studied the design myself - with the help of books and the Internet.I did not work with well-known companies.Just in my workshop, we often use my design when working with private clients and businesses.

How did you become a designer?

VK : My path in design is not quite normal.I have two educations. That is, I have a diploma of a civil engineer and a diploma of a lawyer.But in recent years I have been running a small carpentry workshop.In this workshop, I constantly developed some new pieces of furniture.Already in adulthood my friend advised me to make an exposition to an exhibition in Kiev.This was in 2009. After the exhibition, my exposition was stolen. After that I did not design for 2 years. But still in 2011, rather intuitively, I sent my projects to the A’ Design Award competition, where these works received a positive evaluation.For me it was unexpected, but very nice.At all it was an internal drive to do good by good design.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

VK : My priority in design is first of all simplicity, following nature and searching for elegant technical and technological solutions.In many ways my design is intuitive. In the search for a visual or technological solution, I first make sketches, then either I do the drawings in AutoCAD, or we make a prototype according to the sketches. Models I do not do, because we start to make the product only after I am sure that this product is good.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

VK : When designing, I experience only positive emotions.The most exciting emotions arise when I find a simple and elegant solution in terms of design and technology.For me, it's important that the product evokes positive emotions and even laughter.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

VK : I believe that in order to make a good design, one must be keen on different types of art, culture and technology.I was influenced by painters - Impressionists, Surrealists.I really love the creativity of such designers as Arne Jacobsen, Carlo Mollyno, Charles Ormand Eames & Ray Eames, Verner Panton:Of course, I was greatly influenced by well-known architects, especiallyRichard Fuller.I also think that I am very much helped by the skills of a civil engineer and the constant desire to find non-standard solutions.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

VK : It so happened that in 2016 I developed and patented two connectors. Both connectors are designed to create a hexagonal morphological structure. One connector for furniture, another connector for dome and other curved buildings. That is, the connector allows you to implement projects in both design and architecture.I dream to create domed domes of any shape and to produce a flexible system of furniture elements that is based on honeycomb structures.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

VK : I would give some advice to young designers.Obviously with the question "what" you should ask yourself the question "how".That is, is it possible to do this, is it technologically feasible, how simple and safe is it for a customer? And still very important aspect: your products should cause cheerful feelings at the consumer.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

VK : I do not consider myself a successful designer.Unfortunately, in Ukraine, I encounter an absolute lack of understanding. But my attitude to this is philosophical. and I do not see in it this negative.In the end, a cool design that is needed and interesting to people is much more important and significant than temporary priorities.But one of the main qualities of the designer is patience and perseverance.Often you can not find the perfect solution to a creative task, society is often stereotyped in its majority. Novelty and unusualness can cause misunderstanding and even irritation. You must be ready for this and persevere in realizing your ideas. After all, the realization of your beautiful idea will still be your reward and recognition, let it be even a little later.

What is your day to day look like?

VK : In my usual work day, I work in my small carpentry workshop.That is ordinary everyday life. It takes a lot of time to search for orders.In addition, every morning we in the workshop solve the current technical problems. The fact is that our orders are never repeated, and every time I develop both manufacturing technology and the project itself, if this is not a ready project from the customer.But any minute I switch to my favorite creative tasks. This is a habit, developed by years of experience.But of course, the main time for design is the evening after work and the weekend.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

VK : I do not really follow the trends of design, although I regularly review the news of design on the Internet.Since my design is largely intuitive, then just follow the fashion trends is not obtained.Inspiration for me is first of all nature. I'm a supporter of bionic design.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

VK : To appreciate the design, you must first of all know the history of design, constantly interested in new design developments.Because you can say "yeah" it's cool, and then discover the same product in the 1960 design book.But in general, you must trust your intuition and your knowledge of the matter.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

VK : I decide whether my project is ready when both intuition and knowledge prompt that further changes will be superfluous.It is necessary to strive for an ideal solution, and the ideal solution is always the simplest.That's how nature teaches us.

What is your biggest design work?

VK : My biggest work is yet to come. And it is connected with cellular design and with cellular architecture.It really will be a difficult job, but I'm happy that I can offer one of the simple solutions to the long-term direction of our activities.

Who is your favourite designer?

VK : My favorite designer is Arne Jacobsen.If I were given a chance to talk with a single dead designer, I would have talked to him.I most admire many great people in different spheres of our life.These are Salvador Dali, Renee Magritte, Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Norman Foster, Guenther Meyer, Philippe Starck, Ilon Mask, Mark Twain, Werner Panton, Carlo Mollyno, Peter Kandinsky and so on.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

VK : I would not want to talk about myself.Yes, I like very different music - rock, classics, jazz, and alternative music. I can not listen to pop music and disco music.I do not like cities and I prefer to be outdoors.Now I'm working on realizing my bionic vision of design and architecture.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

VK : I think it's not very easy to work with me.I am more a loner than a supporter of collective decisions.It is enough for me that a person should be honest, interesting and ready for change.I have a small team. We work together for a long time. I really respect those people who work in my workshop.They often joke: to work with Viktor, the main thing is not to be surprised at anything.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

VK : Unfortunately, in our country right now is a war, so I think that the question is a public charity only after the war.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

VK : The participation in the A’ Design Award competition was very important for me.First, it is the recognition of my work by world-class professionalsIt gives both confidence and inspiration.A lot of positive emotions are given during the A’ Design Award award ceremony.Unforgettable impressions remain after communication with colleagues and co-thinkers from different countries.And also I feel a feeling of great gratitude to the organizers of the A’ Design Award competition.

Viktor Kovtun Profile