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Interview with Mood Works - Karina Snuszka & Dorota Kuc |
Home > Designer Interviews > Mood Works - Karina Snuszka & Dorota Kuc |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Mood Works - Karina Snuszka & Dorota Kuc (MWKSDK) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Mood Works - Karina Snuszka & Dorota Kuc 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?
MWKSDK: Our studio is based on the experience of our two leading architects: myself and Dorota Kuć. We are both certified architects and graduates of Poznań University of Technology. Furthermore we were scholars of Politecnico di Milano and Universita di Perugia and gained our professional experience in companies in Europe and United States. We were born to be interior designers.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MWKSDK: Mood Works is Poland's leading interior design practice. We are known for servicing the most demanding clients, who look for top tailored interior design service. We are involved in top residential projects, but at the same time do a lot of fashion dedicated projects. More recently we are dynamically expanding into business spaces like offices.
FS: What is "design" for you?
MWKSDK: For us the design is a manifestation of one's character and lifestyle. The design is good when compliant with investor's or owner's specifics.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MWKSDK: We love fashion therefore we like working on fashion related projects. We designed flagship stores of majority of Poland's leading fashion designers.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MWKSDK: Our favourite designs are those that involve original art. We always tend to incorporate artworks into the canvas of the design. According to us art always upgrades the quality of the space.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MWKSDK: We started with private apartments.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MWKSDK: We like to work with natural materials: wood, stone, metals. We use a lot of brass. Selection of lights is also extremely important to us.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
MWKSDK: The beginning of the design process is always the most challenging and creative time, altough you have to stay alert all the time until the projects reaches its finish. Only then you can be sure that the outcome is exactly the same as designed.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MWKSDK: Floor and walls coverings, material and ligthing selection - we spend a lot of time on moodboards to find a perfect one.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MWKSDK: Joy and excitement. We just love to design!
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MWKSDK: We are very happy and proud, of course.
FS: What makes a design successful?
MWKSDK: Being consequent and sticking to the agreed vision.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MWKSDK: The layout of the space and the allocation of function is equally important as styling: colours and materials.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MWKSDK: From our point of view it is important to deliver design, which is timeless and as such may last longer. It is also important to be compliant with historical aspects of the building or space.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MWKSDK: It is getting very multisciplinary. It also should reflect the evolution of lifestyle of the end-user.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MWKSDK: As interior designer we don't necessarily exhibit our own works. We are rather involved in organising exhibitions of other people's work.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MWKSDK: We travel a lot. Observing the world, the diversity of cultures, beliefs, the people is always very inspiring.
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?
MWKSDK: Our design motto is: "The art of interior design". It is a good representation of our idea of the designer's work. We always strive for perfection and tend to go extra mile to find perfect solution for our client and for our design.
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?
MWKSDK: We live in Warsaw, Poland's capital city although we came there from various places. We are cosmopolitan as far as the design is concerned and patriotic as far as the art is concerned. We always promote artworks of Polish contemporary artists. We enjoy living in the centre of Europe and being able to mingle both western and eastern european themes.
FS: How do you work with companies?
MWKSDK: It is always a complex process which requires a lot of discussions to fully understand the formal requirements, but also company's culture and values.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MWKSDK: The best case is to identify the designer, who shares company's values. It also helps when all stakeholders are initially involved in the process of defining the design objectives. Everyone should have an opportunity to express its requirements and needs.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MWKSDK: We always start we the client, who is in the very centre of the design process. Initially we talk a lot about the lifestyle, functions, layout and about the general impression the interior should make. Then we start working on moodboards and materials selection. After the general assumptions are agreed we get to the drawing and rendering phase.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MWKSDK: We are art and objects collectors. Our favourite items are artworks, mainly polish contemporary art, but also ceramics and fancy designer lighting.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
MWKSDK: We are very busy. Our working hours are: 11-19. Up to 3 o'clock p.m we usually meet with the existing or new clients to discuss the design or current works; later in the afternoon and up to evening we work on project management; we sit with our team and go through the drawings and renderings.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MWKSDK: Be bold. Stay true to yourself and be ready to defend your vision. Only then you will succeed. And work hard of course. Hard work pays.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MWKSDK: We love our job so we don't focus on negatives. The positives are obvious. You can realise your visions and see them come to life. Each new client is a new story. There is always something going on. We are never boried!
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MWKSDK: Colours, fine, natural materials and original art are our winning combo.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
MWKSDK: Listening to the clients and providing them with a unique design developed especially for them.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MWKSDK: Obviously we use the spectre of the software like AutoCAD, 3ds Max, V-ray, etc. Our main source of inspiration are journeys, industry trade fairs like Maison&Objet or Salone del Mobile, art exhibitions.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MWKSDK: We are very organised. We split each day into tasks. We are also supported by team of coworkers, who are allocated to different projects to make our life easier.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MWKSDK: In our case the design process may last from several months to over a year, when the design is very complex or refers to a historical facility.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MWKSDK: We are frequently asked about design inspirations and how we came up with a given solution.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
MWKSDK: Large private residence "In The Trees" located in Poland's most prestigious residental area of Konstancin-Jeziorna, which was recently featured in Braun Publishing "Posh & Proud" globally distributed album presenting most stunning interior designs worldwide.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
MWKSDK: We work for high-profile businessmen, fashion designers, international companies like large law firms or mass-media companies, but also for building developers.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MWKSDK: We like to work in a historical space, where there is a need to restore historical aspects of the space like ceiling trims, original windows, doors, floors...
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MWKSDK: We are ready to expand our business internationally and become a global interior designer company.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MWKSDK: We work in a team of two leading architects. We are supported by team of 4 architects and designers and additional administrative staff.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MWKSDK: We are working on several spectacular office interiors for Warsaw's headquarters of renowned international companies. Once finished they will be fantastic!
FS: How can people contact you?
MWKSDK: We can be accessed via our website: www.moodworks.pl; e-mail and phone presented on the website.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
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