| THE AWARD |
| CATEGORIES |
| REGISTRATION |
| SUBMIT YOUR WORK |
| ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS |
| TERMS & CONDITIONS |
| PUBLICATIONS |
| DATES & FEES |
| METHODOLOGY |
| CONTACT |
| WINNERS |
| PRESS ROOM |
| GET INVOLVED |
| DESIGN PRIZE |
| DESIGN STORE |
| THE AWARD | JURY | CATEGORIES | REGISTRATION | PRESS | WINNERS | PUBLICATIONS | ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS |
Interview with Yana Okoliyska |
Home > Designer Interviews > Yana Okoliyska |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Yana Okoliyska (YO) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Yana Okoliyska 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?
YO: I have been drawing and creating since I remember. Career in design and advertising was a natural evolution of my urge to explore the impact of visual communication.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
YO: SQUARED is an independent creative studio focused on art direction and content creation for advertising. We work for brands and agencies providing them with outstanding design solutions from initial concept to final delivery. From concept, through creation and production we create visual experiences that surpass expectations. But above all... we aim to make a difference.
FS: What is "design" for you?
YO: Design is a way to recreate emotion, trigger a reaction, infuse a state of mind.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
YO: I find craft very immersive. Craft work in all its possible shapes.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
YO: One of the things I enjoy the most is interweaving seemingly opposite materials, styles and techniques to create a unique piece with its own storytelling.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
YO: When I feel the boost of inspiration and adrenaline that encompasses each new task and exploring the possible ways of creative direction and all the possibilities ahead.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
YO: My process is very meticulous and I take care of all the little details, while keeping on focus those aspects of the design that would best convey the message and feeling needed.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
YO: When I design there is a very wide array of emotions I feel: from childish curiosity, to deep enthusiasm, pure joy, relentlessness and urge to make a change for good. But above all, empathy is what is most important and relevant when designing.
FS: What makes a design successful?
YO: A design is successful when it is relevant and true to the brand or client. There is no exact recipe - it might be spicy, sour or sweet, it doesn’t matter. The most important is to be authentic to the brand.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
YO: Besides of overall aesthetics and consistency, I consider relevance.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
YO: I believe all of us have the obligation to do our best for our society and environment regardless our profession.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
YO: The “design field” is evolving with a fast pace. We are witnessing new ways of communication every day. And while designs are becoming more technological, complex and alternative I believe the core is the same - creativity.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
YO: I believe all those who are working in the creative industry are insatiable in terms of inspiration, relentlessly curious and open to new ways of storytelling.
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?
YO: The three major pillars of our studio are concept, creativity and craftsmanship. Those are the three ingredients needed for a stellar design experience.
FS: How do you work with companies?
YO: I work for individuals, brands and agencies depending on the project. It all starts with a good brief.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
YO: I follow a very meticulous process and love to share every single step with my clients. Every brief is thoroughly explored on its own merits, challenges and opportunities. I look for a powerful concept to develop a unique and memorable design solution. And then try to go beyond, take the challenge further both in terms of technique and concept, to deliver a high-impact visual communication and find the right narrative to tell the story in the most compelling way.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
YO: A never ending curiosity and will to improve.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
YO: I can get use of loads of things, especially with craft projects. But I always end up using software, which in my case is Adobe Creative Cloud.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
YO: I am trying to achieve an adequate balance between working, worrying and enjoying my family and life.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
YO: It depends on the complexity of the design and the communication tasks.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
YO: I have worked for a large list of local and international brands, among which Audi, Coca-Cola, Henkel, Mattel, Procter & Gamble, Unilever.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
YO: It depends on the task. I love the possibility to maintain an independent spirit while enjoying the scale of working within a larger network of carefully handpicked collaborators based on their outstanding executions.
FS: How can people contact you?
YO: People are welcome to contact me via phone, mail or linkedin.
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.
Press Members: Register and login to request a custom interview with Yana Okoliyska.
| SOCIAL |
| + Add to Likes / Favorites | Send to My Email | Comment | Testimonials |
