How to get started as an interior designer. What items need to be handed over to the designer: a list and recommendations. educate yourself

On choice professional work above design is usually chosen by people with creativity and outlook on life. The goal of such a specialty, in whatever area the design is presented, is the ability to determine best qualities products and perform it in the most attractive form for the buyer. Therefore, in addition to the ability of a person to draw well or combine colors, there must be a general development and the ability to create structured relationships.

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What items need to be handed over to the designer

We live in a time when design can help a person make a choice. It is the outer shell that gives an idea of the quality of the product and the need for its existence with the buyer. The designer must be able to understand what the buyer needs to see and subtly feel the requirements of the customer. Thus, this one covers many aspects of the human humanities, including psychology. The field of design seems to be very interesting for young people with different points vision:

This profession is growing rapidly.. For a person who does not like monotony and is ready for constant change, it will be interesting to study new trends to cover new unexplored islands of knowledge about the chosen subject. With the advent of new technologies and emerging professions, new varieties of designers are entering the market.
It's profitable. A few decades ago, designers were considered people who could not find a “normal” job or did not have the necessary amount of knowledge to pass to another profession. This delusion still slips through the people, which, in fact, is false information. A specialist in this field will receive much more than "office plankton", managers and managers. In addition, of all creative fields, the designer leads the list of the most profitable professions.
It's a new way to meet. Yes, there are people who choose the field of design because of the possibility of communication with people from different walks of life. Despite the fact that such a reason may seem trifling to some, designers often have the opportunity to meet interesting, famous personalities. Frequent travel and business trips ensure that your company is located in different parts of the world.

If we sum up some results of what a design person is like, we can draw several conclusions:

This is definitely a creative person.. It is difficult to imagine how a designer who is not fond of and does not understand anything in art will try to squeeze something creative and aesthetic out of himself. Therefore, to become a good designer, you need to be able to draw at least.
Flexible and willing to take risks. It's rarely talked about, but almost half of design is about a person's ability to take risks and adapt to changing trends. If a designer is able to subtly feel the wave of popular trends that exist among people, then he will be able to manage them through his design.
This is a computer-friendly specialist. It is difficult to imagine in the modern world at least one type of designer that does not need special equipment And computer programs. New technologies make it easy to create more interesting and quality design. To become a sought-after specialist, you need to follow the updates in the world of technology and, of course, the release of new graphic editors.

It is thanks to such little information about the general image of a person who will be engaged in design that we can intuitively imagine what subjects need to be taken for this profession.

What is required for admission

There is a list compulsory subjects, which the applicant is obliged to take for any creative specialty. This list also applies to the designer:

Russian language (or other official language in the country).
Story.
Literature.
creative competition. It is this stage that causes large quantity difficulties for people who are going to subsequently study as a designer. The creative competition is put up by different universities in different ways, so you need to prepare for it solely on the basis of personal requirements for a higher educational institution. In general, we can say that this is usually an art competition, which seems to be the need for an applicant to draw a picture, a composition for a certain period of time.

The first place in the list of the most popular trends in design is assigned to industrial design, as it includes the most extensive features and work. The task of a specialist in this direction is to create not only beautiful, but also the most functional items. A person involved in industrial design must understand how to combine beauty and practicality.

In the natural duties of a profession of such a plan will be the creation of models of objects and things for various uses. It can be a label for a new product, or a storefront.

You can enter the following specialties:

decorator;
layout designer;
interior designer.

In addition, industrial design has the opportunity to train students after ninth and eleventh grade. For admission, you need to know the following subjects:

Story.
Russian language.
Creative competition.

This is a vast aspect that includes a huge variety of people with different creative abilities and potential. This includes illustrators, artists, illustrators and web designers. Most often, graphic design involves the ability to create functional and practical design site.

For this reason, the graphic designer necessary requirement, except for a fine artistic taste, is a good knowledge of the computer system and programs.

To apply for graphic design, you need to take the following subjects:

Mathematics.
Russian language.
Physics and informatics.
Literature and creative competition.

It should be borne in mind that you can only apply for a graphic designer after the eleventh grade.

Another quite popular trend among designers. Experts in this field can create outfit collections, study folk traditions, learn to select fabrics and accessories, select clothes.

What items need to be handed over to a fashion designer:

Russian language.
Creative competition.
Story.

Admission to this specialty is really good decision, since becoming a fashion designer and studying in this specialty is possible even after completing the ninth grade.

Interior designer

Many people mistakenly believe that interior designers are only engaged in work on projects of houses and apartments. Their responsibility, in fact, includes a much more extensive list, such as studios, shops, offices and other types of premises. Interior designers are considered to be among the most sought after in the labor market, so it is not surprising that most applicants choose this particular area for their further development.

To become an interior designer, you need to know the following subjects:

Russian language.
Story.
Creative competition.

In any case, no matter which direction in the creative specialty anyone chooses, this is always the right path to an interesting future and adventure. It is important to treat the preparation and admission, but also not to forget about your real desires and dreams.

Such a specialty as a designer from year to year attracts applicants from higher and secondary specialized educational institutions.

It is not surprising, because it provides great opportunities for implementation, it cannot be called boring, with its help you can earn not only big money, but also worldwide fame.

So how to become a fashion designer to become your own in the world of fashion, to create fashionable collections for which stars will appear, to dictate trends in the choice of clothes?

This path is very thorny, and only the most talented, hardworking and ambitious individuals can conquer the peak.

How to become a fashion designer: the specifics of the profession, its pros and cons

Fashion designers can be conditionally divided into two groups: professionals in their field, who gave their lives to design, and wealthy young ladies, for whom design is a hobby and an opportunity to occupy themselves with at least something.

If you do not have a rich patron and you intend to become a professional in your field, then you should study this specialization inside and out, understand what knowledge and skills a fashion designer should have, and also study the pros and cons of this business.

1) What should a fashion designer know, be able to do and do?

Clothes designer- this is not just a person who drew an obliquely crooked dress, but what will happen next with this drawing does not concern him.

No, the designer who creates the collection is the person who is responsible for everything, because it is he who will be blamed by critics and buyers if the presented clothes are not fashionable and of poor quality.

Every good fashion designer should know:

Fashion history: names of famous designers, supermodels, magazine editors, names of fashion houses, historical collections, the appearance of iconic things and the names of their creators, etc.
The theory of fashion: what is the name of this or that cut of things, basic terms, names of fabrics, decor, technical equipment, major fashion trends, styles, directions, etc.

Fundamentals of clothing modeling.

You do not just draw a sketch - you create a model of clothes on paper, so you must clearly understand whether they can create a dress according to your sketch, what fabric it is better to sew it from, how it will look in reality, etc.

Fundamentals of labor organization and people management.

No fashion designer works alone, because he cannot create a fashion collection on his own. In your subordination will be seamstresses, buyers, technical staff.

You will have to cooperate with, bookers, models, journalists. All this is not as simple as it seems at first glance.

Fundamentals of psychology.

A fashion designer has to work a lot with people, and with people - creative and creative, with their crazy cockroaches.

A good psychologist can find with everyone mutual language, will not allow conflicts to occur that harm the workflow.

If you want to become a good fashion designer, you must develop the following qualities in yourself:

Creativity.

You, as a person of a creative profession, simply do not have the right to look at things corny. People with boring traditional thinking and collections will create uninteresting ones.

Goodwill.

It is sharks in the world of fashion who can be kinky, hysterical, look down on everyone. You, as a beginner, must be extremely polite and friendly with everyone, starting from the technical staff.

Punctuality.

If you promised a client (for example, the management of the fashion house you work for) to create a collection of clothes by such and such a date, then your promise must be kept. No one wants to work with a designer who misses deadlines.

Perseverance.

The fashion world is cruel, intolerant of newcomers and highly competitive. Only strong and stubborn people who clearly see the goal and see no obstacles can achieve success.

Employability.

If you want fame, money, famous clients and respect from your colleagues, you will have to work very hard. Forget about weekends, holidays, parties for the period of creating a collection.

Work, work and more work. Lazy people have no place here.

2) Advantages and disadvantages of the profession of fashion designer

Clothes designer It is a profession that has both advantages and some disadvantages.

Do not allow pink glasses blind your eyes. The belief that the creation of clothes consists solely of pluses will not lead to anything good.

If you don't have a rich patron, no connections, and no proper education, your path to the fashion industry will be longer and more thorny.

Young designers who want to become professionals without education and connections need to:

Master all the subtleties of craftsmanship.

You must replace formal education with self-education:

learn to draw sketches well, cut, sew;
be able to choose fabrics and accessories;
know how to combine colors;
understand what clothes are in demand among consumers;
follow up fashion trends and anticipate them, etc.

Implement as many ideas as possible.
It is not enough to draw a few sketches of clothes - this will not make you a professional designer. Your folders should be bursting with sketches, and the most successful models should be cut off and shown to the public.
Apply for an internship at a fashion house.
Do not immediately aim at such fashion houses as Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Versace and others. Start to master the specialty, train in domestic designers.
Send your resume to those fashion designers you would like to train with. Perhaps someone will invite you for an interview. Such an internship is sometimes even more useful than special education.
Participate in competitions for young designers.
Both in Russia and Ukraine, enough competitions are held annually in which young designers can show their clothes.
For example: "Russian Silhouette", "Admiralty Needle", "Autograph", "Look into the Future", Grass Design Week, Young Fashion Line and others.
Do not miss the opportunity to participate in them. Here you can find out more about the design competitions that will be held in 2017: http://grantist.com/subject/design
Create your portfolio.
You can't go to interviews without a portfolio. Put in the folder:
- the best sketches;
- professional photos of already sewn dresses;
- photos from shows in which you participated;
- articles about you in the press;
- resume, etc.
Find your first star client.
You can't become a popular designer if you don't have stars in your clothes. To get your first celebrity client, offer him/her a suit/dress to go out for free and ask him/her to advertise.
You can cooperate in this way with the stars leading the pages in in social networks, TV presenters, etc.
- in social networks;
- on your own website;
- through outdoor advertising: banners, ads, city lights;
- on city forums;
- with the help of the media, etc.
How more people will know about the clothes you create, the more customers you will have. The more customers, the more fame and profit.

Not everyone can understand how to become a fashion designer. Someone lacks talent, someone lacks perseverance and diligence, someone lacks education, someone lacks a bit of luck.

But if you make every effort to realize your dream, you will definitely succeed ...

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Marina Ignatieva

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Not so long ago, such a profession as an interior designer appeared on the labor market, and its popularity today leaves no doubt and is only gaining momentum every year. If earlier everyone was engaged in the design of their home on their own, in our time they practically do not do without the services of a designer.

Pros and cons of being an interior designer

The specialty “interior designer” is in high demand today (you definitely won’t be left without a piece of bread with butter and sausage) - many educational institutions offer training in this profession.

True, it would be fair to say that the high demand remains exclusively for professional designers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of such work?

Pros:

Creative work. It cannot be said that the freedom of action is absolute here, but the creative component is definitely “not taken away”.
Wide scope of acquired skills.
A good (and sometimes just excellent) earnings.
Constant communication with new people, useful acquaintances, broadening one's horizons and "weighting" the baggage of knowledge.
In a situation where there is a "lull" (lack of customers), you can always get a job in any company where your very broad knowledge will be useful.
Free schedule.
No need for advertising: if you are a professional (and even talented), then word of mouth will quickly provide you with popularity.
prestige of the profession.
Joy from successful projects.
Independence from the "uncle boss".
Gradual filling of your personal portfolio.
You can work in retirement (no one cares about your age, the main thing is work).

Flaws:

The lack of such an opportunity as vertical growth. Expansion is possible (for example, opening your own design studio), but there is simply nowhere to grow above a professional designer.
Internship/internship is required.
You can't do without a well-established circle of reliable partners (from carpenters, furniture makers and electricians to partners in curtains, repairs, etc.).
Contractors sometimes let you down.
Work will not always be permanent.
Your views on beauty and practicality will not always coincide with the views of customers. And the customer is always right.
Indispensability. You cannot take sick leave. If you have started a project, it is you who must bring it to its logical conclusion, regardless of whether you have a runny nose, a temperature, or personal matters. "Take it out and put it in"!
A sharp start after training is a rare rarity. You will need time to develop a client base, create your own name, promotion. And most importantly - do not tarnish your reputation at the start.
You will have to learn special programs on the computer. You can't do without them today.
You also need to have artistic skills.

Professional responsibilities of an interior designer - how does it work?

Basics for an interior designer - what talents and knowledge should he have?

Taste and creativity, own creative look.
Patience and diligence.
Ability to listen and hear the client.
The ability to present your project as a whole at an early stage.
Computer skills at a sufficient level (that is, a confident user).
Knowledge and understanding of the basics of space ergonomics, architecture, painting, design, color combinations, construction, installation and communications, sequence technological processes, properties / qualities of all modern building / finishing materials.
Knowledge of the main interior styles, as well as the principles of implementing these styles in the interior, taking into account all the nuances.

Career

As a rule, the first steps of a young specialist are work in collective projects or design studios. It will take some time for practice and internship, the lion's share of which will be spent on studying programs and layouts. The top step of a career is your own design studio or a solid “post” in the company.

Conditional phasing of the career ladder:

A specialist without work experience, but with education and the availability of all the necessary knowledge.
A specialist already with work experience (from 1 year) with his portfolio, well "floating" in all modern trends.
A specialist who combines the duties of a foreman and designer, with a high level of knowledge, work experience of at least 3 years, experience in large premises / buildings, freely orientated in construction / material manufacturing companies.
Specialist top level with experience of 5 years, with a solid background technically complex projects with knowledge of foreign languages.

What does an interior designer do?

Creation of interior projects (from apartments and offices to entertainment centers, etc.).
Analysis of the client's wishes.
Subsequent development of drawings, sketches, diagrams for discussion with the client.
Measurement of premises and development of future design.
Creation of a layout and 3-D modeling.
Choice of materials, general colors(in accordance with the wishes of the client), furniture, interior items, etc.
Development of the budget and accurate calculation of the cost of the interior.
Preparation of work plans and schedules for workers.
Control over the work of workers with the correction of previously drawn up plans, if necessary.

How does a designer work?

Meeting with the client at the facility (as a rule). Study of floor plans, drawings and wishes.
Preparation of a package of documents and technical assignments.
Photographing the object and making all measurements.
Compilation of technical specifications / tasks, taking into account the wishes of the client in terms of style, layout, functionality and furnishing / equipment.
Development of a design project.
Coordination of the project and (after approval) development of a set of its drawings with all technical data in the documentation.
Implementation of all necessary work (the designer only controls, consults, selects materials, lighting, etc.).

How to search for orders?

Among the most effective and affordable types of advertising are:

Special printed editions. You will have to order advertising here for a long time, and you will not be able to save money. The ideal option is glossy magazines for wealthy clients, although free newspapers can “shoot” in your favor.
Word of mouth radio. This option, as mentioned above, begins to operate as you gain experience (positive).
Global network. For starters - a personal website, an updated portfolio. Next - promotion of your site. Don't forget about groups in social networks.
Posting ads (distributing flyers, etc.). Outdated way. Good for advertising an opening cafe or an upcoming show. The designer should think about a more solid method of advertising.

You can also use the following options:

Give a "cry" to friends and relatives - let everyone recommend you.
Call those "private traders" and small firms that are engaged in finishing work. As a rule, they do not have designers, and for a separate percentage of the design project, you will be recommended to clients.
Call large stores and organizations, advertise services. Perhaps, just at this moment, someone urgently needs a design project for his new new department or office.

interior designer salary

Of course, it depends on many factors. There are no salaries here (unless you work in a company as a simple employee). As for the amount of income, it depends on the region. On average, the cost of design per 1 sq/m is $40-50.

Independent swimming or working in a company - which is better?

Working for a company involves earning 20-30% of the order. The rest goes to the "pocket" of the company. Pros: no need to look for orders, there is a social / package, official employment, there is always work, you do not need advertising
When working for yourself, the earnings will be 100%. But you will have to look for orders yourself, you cannot do without advertising, and no one will provide you with a social / package.

Self-Education and Courses for the Interior Designer Profession

Choosing one of the most prestigious professions in the world is not enough. You also need to become an expert.

Where do you study to be an interior designer?

First, career guidance tests.
Art school will not interfere.
Creating a portfolio of drawings, graphic works.
Next - the university and the delivery of specialized subjects.
Parallel development of the subject in courses, on the Internet, etc.

Where to go to study?

State Art and Industrial University named after. S. G. Stroganova (Moscow). Study - 6 years. You will have to submit at least 10 drawings + a very difficult competition.
State University of Culture and Arts (Moscow), Faculty of Design. Pass - an exam in the specialty, the history of Russia, the Russian language.
State University of Service (Moscow).
High School of Stylistics.
National Institute of Modern Design.
Moscow Institute of Art and Industry (MHPI).
Moscow University of Public Administration (MUGU)
International Independent Environmental and Political University (MNEPU).
Moscow State Mining University (MGGU).
University of the Russian Academy of Education (URAO).
Moscow State University technologies and management (MGUTU).
Moscow branch of the Russian International Academy of Tourism (MF RMAT).
british graduate School design (BHSAD).
College of Arts and Crafts named after Carl Faberge No. 36.

Advantages of studying at a university:

More thorough training. Not 1-2 years of courses, but 5-6 years of study.
Employment and the possibility of practice / internship.
Financial savings.

Is it possible to start from scratch and without training at the university?

Available. If you are a real diamond among designers, a line of clients is already lining up for you, and you are ready to work tirelessly. Self-education is a serious thing.

You will have to master:

Fundamentals of architecture and design.
Construction technology.
All necessary computer programs.
Light design.
Theory of culture/art.
Accounting.
Furniture design, etc.

Useful websites for interior designers

The best forums for designers (exchange of ideas, communication, consultations):

Necessary programs for the work of an interior designer

Each designer's project is a unique creative work that has not been done on paper for a long time - it has been replaced by computers. Now, to help the designer, not ink, pencils and rapidographs, but graphic editor. With them, the process goes much faster, and it is easier to make edits. So what should a designer learn? Most popular programs:

3D Studio Max

Universal program for three-dimensional modeling of objects.

ArCon

A simple and convenient program for design and design.

Floor Plan 3D

Pros: automatic calculation of the area and determination of the dimensions of the designed room, a wide choice of materials and textures, the ability to maintain a bill of materials with Excel export, calculation of the cost of the project.

3D VisiconPro

Domestic "answer" to the German ArCon.

Sweet Home 3D

Simple free program with more than simple functionality.

IKEA Home Planner

Option for interior design. Available interior elements - in the models of the company. Calculation. And even ordering furniture.

Design Studio 3D 2010

This program is designed to create simple projects.

Ashampoo Home Designer

Option for modeling and 3D visualization of the interior.

DS 3D Interior

An option in case of "how to make a permutation." As well as DS 3D Furniture Designer or DS 3D Kitchen Designer.

Try on the Floor

Program for creating an interior: after uploading a photo of a house, you can “try on” floor coverings for it.

Color Style Studio

Program for experiments with color.

Google SketchUp

Interior design. Video lessons.

Also useful: Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Homestyler, SketchUp, 3D Room Planner, Sweet Home 3D, AutoCAD and ArchiCAD.

The search for one's own individual path in life occupies almost every representative of today's youth. However, such decisions can affect a person of any age.

In the course of its development, the personality constantly undergoes different stages development, within which you can encounter an unexpected realization of your vocation. More and more people are striving to occupy a niche associated with the multifaceted manifestation of their creative potential. One of the professions that fulfill such needs is the fashion designer.

What does it take to become a designer?

There are many ways to get the title of a designer: for someone it is enough to complete special courses, for someone to independently master the key skills of this exciting profession. The second option seems even more appropriate than the first, since it implies not only a formal approach, but a consistent and thorough mastery of the secrets of manipulating one's fantasies.

Becoming a designer means learning to search creative solutions in the most banal situations. The standard approach to questions remains for civil servants, now you are the intermediary between endless fantastic ideas and the outside world. This approach is especially noticeable when designing outfits for the fair sex, because girls are especially demanding that fashion become more unexpected and bold. A women's clothing designer is a person who harmoniously combines a sense of style and openness to experimentation.

How to become a designer yourself?

Possession of drawing skills, the desire to convey one's feelings to the world around, the willingness to realize a non-standard view of the world are the main conditions for climbing to the desired work. To achieve success, it is important to constantly improve, create sketches daily, follow all fashion trends, especially the activities of domestic gurus.

You can enroll in the relevant courses, where specialists will introduce beginners to basic skills. creative work, which, like others, requires a responsible approach and hard work.

Famous Russian designers

In the field of design on domestic soil, several gurus of their profession can be distinguished. Vyacheslav Zaitsev is one of the most famous fashion designers in Russia, he managed to receive several state awards and establish himself as a professional in the field of fashion. Valentin Yudashkin enjoys no less fame, his works are known and loved even abroad. Vladislav Aksenov equally deserves the same reviews.

The editors of the site advise to focus on designers worthy of emulation.
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Until the age of 20, I lived in an apartment that was in a terrible state: cramped Khrushchev with repairs made back in the time of Khrushchev himself, old wiring and no amenities. The esthete inside me demanded beauty and comfort, but what could be done in this realm of decadence? Once I watched a program in which designers make a real palace out of hopeless housing. The process itself seemed magical to me: wow, and you already have beautiful apartment. But it's a lot of work and art.
I was wondering how professionals actually work. Therefore, I talked with Yulia Shatalova, art director of the Instilier interior design studio. She told me about the intricacies of her work, the crazy clients, and the state of Russian apartments today.

Yulia Shatalova, 33 years old, Moscow

From my school years, it was not enough for me to study in only one educational institution, I wanted something more, something in addition to the standard program. Therefore, I graduated from two schools at once: general education and art.

The same story happened with the choice of a university: I was interested in psychology, but this alone seemed not enough. At the same time, I entered the Stroganov School as a designer.

I did not expect that art education would become the main one for me, because I was preparing myself to work as a practicing psychologist. But life places accents in its own way. So, after graduation, with two diplomas in my hands, it turned out to be easier to find a job in the second - design, and I got a job in a small advertising company designer of printed products.

Where did I start:

Print design quickly got boring, and I became interested in spatial solutions, in my free time I began to study interior design. This was followed by employment as a designer in an Austrian furniture company, where, under the strict guidance of an experienced interior designer, I honed my skills in developing space-planning solutions, decorating, lighting in the interior. These skills were further consistently developed in two design and construction companies, where an understanding of building technologies, norms and rules in construction was added.

At a certain moment, I felt cramped within those typical design solutions that were required of me by employers. I wanted more freedom, a more complete implementation of the knowledge gained by that time and the accumulated creative ideas, expanding the range of design tasks to be solved.

It became clear that it was time to gradually move on to independent practice. By a happy coincidence, my husband had just graduated from the MBA program, and he also wanted to put into practice his knowledge in the field of marketing, business development and management.

He began directing my freelance work. After some time, the number of orders began to grow, and we began to attract third-party specialists to fulfill them. Our joint work with my husband replaced all other areas of activity: we both concentrated on the work of the studio, leaving work for hire.

Today we are both doing exactly what we love: me, my husband - business. And when general work becomes a favorite thing, then it ceases to be perceived as work, it is a part of your life: personal, family - whatever.

On loving your job:

The design studio is a family business, so it is the biggest and most enjoyable part of my life, except for the time we spend with our daughter. Together we do business, together we find solutions to complex problems, together we achieve success, together we rejoice in it.

Interior design gives you the opportunity not just to fantasize, but to realize your fantasies in practice. Closing your eyes, you mentally walk through that house, new interior which you have to develop, mentally arrange furniture in it, paint the walls, turn on the light. you with eyes closed you sit down on the sofa, look around the room, move the decor again and again, move the furniture. Then, feeling that you like being in this imaginary space, you open your eyes and begin to transfer it to paper. First, sketching with a pencil on a sheet, then drawing a drawing on a computer, and so on until that wonderful moment when, going into finished house with a photographer, you remember that first walk along it in your imagination. The feeling is indescribable!

Most of all in my work I love and appreciate the creative and constructive components. The result is a figment of the imagination that you can touch with your hands. You see how you change the world around you, making it better. The joy of the creator is what makes me crazy about my work.

On Difficulties and Difficult Clients:

The difficulties that an interior designer faces in the course of his work are of a different nature. Sometimes this is a professional challenge, and it is pleasant to solve such problems, others have nothing to do with the qualifications of a specialist, therefore they cannot be a “test” for professional suitability. Therefore, it remains only to reconcile with them, not to allow them to master oneself and to treat them calmly, as if they were inevitable, but surmountable.

I was faced with the need to design large spaces: we had a project for a sports complex with a total area of about 3,000 sq.m. We faced questions that required difficult technical solutions, had to work in concert with a mass of related specialists: from design engineers to electrical network designers.

It's like a big orchestra in which everyone plays according to their own notes, and you are the conductor, whose task is to harmonize the parts of each instrument and make them sound together as part of the performance of a common work. This is a serious professional challenge, and overcoming it leaves a feeling of deep satisfaction.

Another example is the work with the interiors of "resale" buildings in old buildings. Project documentation, according to which the previous repair was carried out, can never be found in such houses, and it is impossible to predict what surprises the opening of floors and walls is preparing, and wooden floors together with other nodes impose a lot of restrictions on possible design solutions. This is also an interesting puzzle for a professional.

Significant interference in work can be unknowingly created by the customers themselves. It happens that the customer has an established idea of the “correct” work order, and we are required to work on the project exactly following these stamps. Or, having plunged into the fascinating process of interior design, customers sometimes show such a lively participation that you already start to get lost, which of us is a designer and which is a homeowner. A natural question arises: why was it necessary to turn to a specialist?

The diktat of the customer, which goes beyond the scope of a competent statement of the terms of reference, is no longer a challenge, but an obstacle in the work, which moves the result away from the ideal. Completing such a project, you sadly realize that it is no longer yours, it is someone else’s, and you would never have done such a thing, so you just want to say to the customer: “Just please don’t tell anyone who developed this design.”

I believe that the basis of such actions of people is, first of all, the lack of confidence in right choice designer and in themselves, because being a customer is also a kind of skill, and it is acquired with experience. I have always said, and I will not tire of repeating: be attentive to the choice of a designer, allow yourself any doubts, any suspicions at this stage, but, having chosen a candidate, trust him.

S. Jobs spoke very colorfully on this subject:

It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people to tell us what to do.

During our work, we have seen different people, and just as teachers remember all their students all their lives, we also remember all our clients. Many of them are worth telling a whole story about them separately. Having already accumulated a fairly voluminous "statistical material", wittingly or unwittingly, we begin to "classify" customers. Certain “types” are born, and certain statistical patterns appear.

A lot can be said about the customer at the first meeting: how and what wishes he expresses, how he draws up the terms of reference.

We even have a list of "stop words", having heard which from the customer before signing the contract, we refrain from implementing the project. It is clear that the reliability of the conclusions based on this technique, from the category folk signs, but you need to understand: interior design is a serious process that takes place in close cooperation between the customer and the contractor. If there is no mutual understanding between them, then it would be better to abandon the project while still “on the shore”, because a lot of work, time, even nerves are at stake. So you have to resort to all sorts of "superstitions".

About the realities of Russian apartments:

It is believed that beautiful housing is a rarity for Russia, but no one says what we are comparing with. The word "rarity" implies the presence of some reference sample for comparison. I can't talk about how beautiful the average interiors of Europe, America, Africa, Asia are. I only know that there you can find samples of both high style and absolute bad taste. I also do not know what should be the proportion of professional designer interiors in Russia in order to transfer them from the category of "rarity" to the category of "norm".

At the same time, we, as specialists in the field of creating comfortable and stylish spaces, of course, would like to see more of them. Looking at photos of interiors not on specialized architectural portals, but, say, on sites for the sale and rental of real estate, you see a clear picture of the conditions in which the vast majority of owners of apartments and houses really live. One can talk for a long time about the reasons for this, looking for them in the Soviet neglect of aesthetics for the sake of mass character or the Soviet wholesale shortage, in poverty in the early 90s or the sudden and dashing enrichment of some segments of the population that followed it, the loss of qualified personnel, or much more. But the fact remains: the interiors of the vast majority of apartments on these sites require the intervention of professionals.

On the one hand, we cannot but like this picture, as it clearly indicates that the potential market for interior design services is very large. On the other hand, such an abundance of absolutely terrible interiors also affects the general perception of style as such by people. The stylistic preferences of those who are used to living in such apartments and among such apartments can be quite difficult to correct.

I always have a very simple attitude when I see an apartment in a terrible state. To an inexperienced eye, the object may seem completely hopeless, but the eye of a specialist sees differently. For me real problem are defects load-bearing structures, but crumbling tiles or darkened ceilings - it doesn’t matter; if only the scale of the tasks set corresponded to the budget allocated for repairs.

On people's reactions to my work:

Objects, people and expectations are very different, so the reaction is different. I came across customers who wanted me to do exactly what they had drawn in their head in advance. As a result, such clients are satisfied with their work, not design. They do not even notice the work of a specialist: no one will feel grateful to a shovel for helping to dig a hole. Therefore, such customers are left with the conviction that all the best in the resulting interior is the implementation of their ideas, and the shortcomings are attributed to the designer's mistakes.

Those who invited me to come up with and design an interior for them the way they love it, are very satisfied and grateful, it happens that they even give gifts. Such joy of customers charges for a long time!

Imagine that you have entered the university that you dreamed of entering. With great difficulty, they unlearned it, passing the most difficult exams and a sieve of screenings every semester. You wrote a dissertation on a very interesting and, as you think, very relevant topic, and now the defense has passed. You are sitting in the audience, in front of you is a commission, the chairman of the commission calls your last name and says: “Excellent! I would like to commend this student. What would you feel? These are exactly our emotions when our customer (read - the chairman of the commission) is satisfied with our work.

The sincere joy of customers is exactly what we strive for in our work, worrying about each project and treating them like our own offspring. When we do not order a service for architectural supervision, and we complete our work by handing over the project to the hands construction team, we often see later how it is distorted in the process of repairing or completing the premises with furniture. At such moments, I feel about the same as mothers who sent their children to a bad school and watch what their child turns into there.

Are we doing a good deed? I'm sure it is! If I had doubted it even for a second, I would have thrown it all away a long time ago. I try not to get too close to the clients, because it seems to me that it hurts the result, but with some of them communication continues after the work is completed.

What an interior designer should be able to do:

There is an erroneous opinion that the interior designer should only be well versed in modern fashion trends be able to combine colors and textures, draw beautiful pictures. But this modest list is clearly not enough. It should be accompanied by deep knowledge in the field of the procedure for the production of reconstruction, building codes and technologies, ergonomic standards and requirements for project documentation.

But all of the above can be attributed to the mandatory "technical" component, but there is another, no less significant. The designer must understand the stylistic preferences of the customer and offer the interior that he will like. It is difficult for any person to combine their wishes together: a look at the interior of the “dream house” is a disparate image hovering in the clouds of fantasy. And it is far from a fact that all of them will “make friends”, enclosed in the framework of one room, and here the skill of the interior designer comes to the fore.

We always ask customers to show us examples of those interiors that they consider beautiful / stylish / cozy, and we do this not in order to simply copy solutions from these pictures, no. Considering a selection of references, we strive to understand what attracts our customer, in which particular interior it will be good for him, in order to offer something that suits him.

Well, after the “creative” part is approved, we are left with purely technical work: to reflect this idea in the drawings and plans of project documentation, which in itself is painstaking work that requires appropriate knowledge and skills.

Just as it is impossible to determine what is more important in tea - water or brewing - so in design skill it is impossible to separate the creative and technical components. Only together they give a result for which a specialist is appreciated by customers.

On the most hopeless order I've worked with:

A recent object pops up in memory: a tiny two-roomed flat in the house of an old building with an area of almost 40 sq.m, from which it was necessary to make a "three-ruble note" with all the amenities, while at the same time within a very tight budget.

The customer himself in the review described the state of the apartment before the renovation as follows: “A microscopic two-room apartment, which had a “zest” in the form of a balcony glazed on both sides with a heating battery, and besides this dignity, it has a five-meter kitchen, “like in Khrushchev”, a combined bathroom (smaller, than in Khrushchev), the absence of an entrance hall, and a “bonus” - a ceiling beam across the room, a completely inhumane section of 30x50cm. (...) this dwelling, with its original layout and size, in principle, does not imply the presence of the benefits of civilization, such as Dishwasher, a washing machine and a toilet bowl not pressed against a hot heated towel rail by a tiny sink. It is hardly possible to describe this apartment better!

And this is how he outlined the requirements set for us: “Maximum use of space and hidden cavities, built-in storage systems, modern engineering systems, competent lighting, ensure zoning, floor soundproofing and thermal insulation” winter garden", plan a dressing room, bookcases and cabinets for dishes, place the dishwasher and washing machine”, and the kitchen had to accommodate all the necessary appliances and utensils, and also play the role of a dining room. Well, what's it like?

The best thing about this project was that the clients were wonderful, sincere people who openly spoke about their wishes and about all the existing restrictions. In the work on the interior of this apartment, a lot of what I talked about earlier merged together.

Customers have prepared a complete selection of their favorite interiors. In many ways, these pictures argued among themselves, but, nevertheless, gave us a fairly voluminous idea of \u200b\u200b"what is good" for them.

They trusted us. In one of the rooms, they initially wanted to see murals on the walls on the theme of Balinese landscapes, which did not fit in with the general style of the entire apartment. And they did not resist when these landscapes did not find any reflection in my proposals.

The management of the entire project, from planning to completion, was entrusted to the designer, which is the surest guarantee of the best result.

My greatest achievement in working on this object, I see a competent planning solution, which was subsequently agreed upon in the proper manner. It was it that made it possible to fit all the wishes of customers into such a small box of 40 sq.m., where a comfortable kitchen-dining room, a fully functional bathroom, and even a dressing room found their place. Well, the best result of the work is the delight of the customer. Yes, this apartment is not a masterpiece in the sense that it is customary to give interiors, there are no expensive furniture or fabulous designer accessories. But the planning solution developed for this apartment, taking into account such requirements, is no longer even a trick, it is closer to magic. Therefore, I will be proud of such an “unbearable” project for a very long time, which we managed to implement in the best possible way.