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Interview with Katerina Kavazi |
Home > Designer Interviews > Katerina Kavazi |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Katerina Kavazi (KK) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Katerina Kavazi by clicking here.
FS: 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?
KK: I studied Interior Design (2002 BA in Interior Design) and while I was working I continue my studies in Architecture (2013 Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture). I was always interested and reading magazines about interior design. I have a really big collection of them. Also I found myself to be interested in history and theories of architecture. So I wanted to study interior design to learn how to design different spaces and their functions, finish materials and furnishings, color and lighting, furniture design and etc.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KK: K. Kavazi Interior Design Studio Ltd is an interior design consultancy company established in 2007. Our vision is to create unique spaces and inspiring environments. We treat our clients as individuals with individual needs and tailor our creative thinking and services to suit them, aiming at to creating design solutions that exceed and transform our clients' expectations. We design creative and workable solutions to clients' challenges. Our projects have quality, style and a true sense of place and occasion in common.
FS: What is "design" for you?
KK: For me design is everywhere- and that is why I don’t have a definition. Design for me is making things better for people...!
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KK: Residential houses
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KK: Armani hotel Dubai. The Armani approach is beyond visual aesthetics. The rooms are really stylish and comfortable. The layout of common spaces is really cozy.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KK: Sofas for a club
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KK: I really like wood and corian. I enjoy the forms and shapes that I can do with both materials.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
KK: Usually I am creative. For me every project is an opportunity for a special design.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KK: Concept and functionality
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KK: Agony and euphoria
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KK: Pleasure and thrill
FS: What makes a design successful?
KK: The question of what makes good design is no easy question to answer, mainly because it is so subjective. A good design is essentially one which meets a given requirement or stated need. For me, this means meeting the client brief and accomplishing their particular end goal.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KK: Scale, concept, materials, color
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KK: As architects and designers, we have an important role to educate the public and to realize the affect our designs will have on the environment. It is extremely important that designers and architects take into consideration sustainable, recycled and affordable materials for our projects. It is also very important to be able to provide our clients affordable projects.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KK: Sustainability. We must follow the power of sustainability by placing it in the heart of each design decision.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KK: My inspiration can be everything. From a photo to a quote. I always have an inspiration and I use several methods to adopt it at my designs.
FS: 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?
KK: I think I am between minimal, contemporary and eclectic. I enjoy using light and bright colors.
FS: 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?
KK: I live in Cyprus. The cultural heritage is not affecting my designs.
FS: How do you work with companies?
KK: I have a good cooperation with companies.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
KK: Nurturing and managing a workforce of creative professionals requires a certain degree of sensitivity to individual skills. Designers are really emotional with their creations.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KK: Analyze the situation before beginning the design; sort out what are the problems. I make a list with things to do. Sometimes I need to do a research for a design or a material. I combine my ideas with information obtained from research and I suggest 2-3 solutions in sketch. After discussion with clients I decide which solution to develop. I draw the chosen design including all the details that are important to its construction. If it’s a renovation I sent drawings and specifications to contractors for offers and then I valuate the offers and proposed the best offer to client. If it is an object I ask to prepare for me the prototype before production. Then I proceed with test or supervision and then evaluation of the design.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KK: In each house I like different items. For example in my house I like:Vintage Phone, Handmade Wood and paper dolls from a French sculptor, Caboche hanging lamp composed by transparent spheres made of polymethylmetacrylate for dining table, Handmade Notebook and a collection of fornasetti plates.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
KK: I wake up at 5. I play with my cat. Then I am reading books that I like while I take my breakfast. I send out a few emails and I go to the gym around 8. After I go to office. At the morning I do my designs until lunch break. At lunch I go out with friends or family. At the afternoon I meet clients and contactors. The time that I will return home depends of my meetings. Then I cook dinner and after I am watching TV and leaving comments on Facebook until I go to sleep or out for a drink.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
KK: The most important quality and skill expressed by a designer should be to constantly strive to bring a fresh point of view to each project. Prototypical design can translate into “variations on a theme” rather than static repetition. Entering the area of interior design a young person should plan on a life of continuing education.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
KK: There are always ups & downs to every career. The advantages of mine is Creativity and work schedule. Being an interior designer means you are creative in many ways and you can pretty much set your own hours. The disadvantages are you may come across many different clients that have very different opinions about your design than you might have. Depending on the projects location and client’s budget, you may find yourself limited on materials. You have to know how to spend wisely and find good deals on things, as well as be able to turn something cheap looking, into something extraordinary.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
KK: Each project to have individual/different design concept
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
KK: strong creative and artistic skills and excellent interpersonal skills to communicate and understand client’s needs.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
KK: Internet search, books, sketches, model making, drawings in 2d (AutoCAD) and 3d(AutoCAD, 3D Max), presentation using Photoshop
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
KK: I don’t care about the time I spend. For me is the result of my concept that counts.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
KK: Depends, from 2-7 days.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
KK: What made me become interior designer
FS: What was your most important job experience?
KK: Supervision and coordination
FS: Who are some of your clients?
KK: Private clients for residences, contractor s and companies such as DPAM, GOODYEAR, CROCODILE and etc
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
KK: Hotel design
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KK: Concept design for bigger projects and to focus in furniture design
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KK: I develop my designs
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
KK: In this period I am focus in designing furniture. I am waiting to prepare the prototype for me in order to evaluate them.
FS: How can people contact you?
KK: Via email or phone. My contact details are in my website(http://www.kkavazi-interiors.com/)
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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