Interview with Alex Bazyl

Alex Bazyl ("AB") interviewed on Friday, 16 March.

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

AB : I became an artist as early as my childhood. When other kids were already busy with other things, I continued to draw. I was fascinated with drawing and inventing comic strips. I decided to be a designer during my studies at the Art School with the Academy. It was then that I made up my mind to work with space.

How did you become a designer?

AB : I started with real projects during my third year of studies at the Academy – projects of private apartments and country houses. After graduating from the Academy of Design and Fine Arts in Kharkiv, I worked on custom furniture projects. I started my own business in 2008. First, this was the Future-O studio. The projects were in a variety of style areas. But the emphasis was on streamlined solutions. In 2015, I decided to start a new design line – dynamic/kinetic design, and set up the Alex Bazyl - Dynamic design studio.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

AB : I work in my style – dynamic design. My product is a comfortable personal space harmonizing my inner and outer world. In the objects, things and interiors that I create, a key component is their impact on the quality of life. Dynamic design allows using space properly when its convex and concave parts play both a decorative and functional role. This allows using space with utmost freedom to add functional shelves and niches for arranging decorative things, books and other accessories.I help a person synchronize one's environment and inner world to create a qualitatively new life. A comfortable environment helps man and society become better.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

AB : I feel myself most creative when I create a concept of a future interior or an object. This is the decisive moment. Often this occurs suddenly and I have to catch the idea with a drawn sketch. At times, I am immersed in analyzing an object/space, and inspiration comes when everything is in place, and the next phase is the concept itself.

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

AB : Design is a process. The topping of all this is the creative process in itself. Each stage must be a delight and an understanding that the next stage will be a continuation of the process. And when the goal is achieved – this is the idea and the concept realized.I like to make distinguished objects, partitions and wall solutions. With each project, I offer one or several interesting solutions.

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

AB : When a design makes people happy and, at the same time, is environment-friendly – that's an overwhelming success.Make the design nature-friendly, rather than being a hazard. I always say that one has to give something to nature rather than taking from it.

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

AB : ●When designing a space the key thing is to show the individuality of the room –ephasizing its uniqueness. ●The best effect is made by a project that evokes associations. They are often connected with nature. The link of this association with the object itself and for whom the design is made (a person, a family, a company) is also important.●Never do a project for the sake of money. Do a project so that you can be proud of it and add it to your portfolio without any doubt.●While creating a project, you have to feel that everything is going smoothly so that all the puzzles fit into one picture. If something doesn't fit, then it's time to revise the work done and make proper adjustments.

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

AB : The basic tool is the skill of drawing by hand – this is what my father taught me. This helps to grasp an inspiration and idea on the spot. Further development requires using Archicad and 3ds max. I also like to make sketches on a workpad. I am inspired by viewing nature documentaries.

What is your day to day look like?

AB : I'll try to be brief. My morning starts with planning the day. I identify the key objectives and tasks. I start meeting these objectives and as soon as I have completed a task I mark it with a “+”. This keeps me in line and reminds me to stay focused on what's important at the given point of time. I like to listen to music and to look out the window, seeing how the town image changes during the day. I finish working late at night. Actually, this profession doesn't mean working to a fixed schedule. For me, it's life. Sometimes I wake up at night and sketch an idea, or do this while travelling by train.