Interview with Maxim Kashin

Maxim Kashin ("MK") interviewed on Thursday, 16 June.

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

MK : I have been working as an architect for twelve years since graduating from the Architectural Institute of the State Cademia in Moscow. I studied at the Faculty of Industrial Buildings and Structures, but during my studies I realized that I was more interested in residential architecture and received a master of Architecture in residential and public buildings. Since 2017, I joined the Union of Architects of Russia after winning a state competition.

How did you become 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.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

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. 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.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

MK : It seems to me that the most important thing in the work of a designer and an architect is to show your own view of the established foundations in the world of design. At all times it has been appreciated and is appreciated now - this is the author's view and the ideology of design. Success lies in analyzing and passing through the accumulated experience and creating your own ideology and view of the design world.

What is your day to day look like?

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.

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

MK : I always read foreign magazines about architecture and interior design, watch reviews of exhibitions from different countries, I try to attend the most significant and large events. The study and accumulation of experience is one of the important aspects for the development of oneself as a person. The path of each architect or designer goes through the analysis of the works of his predecessors, first you accumulate experience and knowledge, then you can give your vision and interpretation, and then do something of your own. I believe that the main thing that is valued in society is its own vision of the world and in particular architecture and trends in design, so the author's design always remains relevant.

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

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.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

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. The completeness of the project is the feeling that the deed you have laid down is as accessible as possible for the perception of its surrounding people and society.

What is your biggest design work?

MK : The biggest project I had to work on was a project for building a neighborhood for 25,000 people from a well-known developer. It was a tender competitive project, the project from our team was in the spirit of Le Corbusier's ideology of modernism and linear cities.

Who is your favourite designer?

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.

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

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.

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

MK : For a designer, it seems to me that the main quality, in addition to a creative mindset, is also perseverance and determination. 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.

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

MK : I do charity projects, in particular, our team annually participates in a TV show on the federal channel, where we do interior design for free and implement it for families in need.

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

MK : My team and I received a lot of positive emotions from receiving the A' Design Award. Winning the competition helps each member of the team to understand that their daily work is appreciated not only by their supervisor but also by the international jury. Such awards allow you to unite the team, allow you to raise the spirit of your team to strive for new heights.

Maxim Kashin Profile