Egor Sokolov Interview

Egor Sokolov

On choosing the York MDes program

I chose the York MDes program because I wanted to further develop my own skills and ultimately, carve a path for what I could contribute to the design field. In a direct sense, faculty here have helped shape my interest in both areas, and indirectly, my interests have been advanced by the discussions that grow from critiques with both faculty and my classmates. These discussions have introduced me to a lot of methods that I was not aware of before entering grad school. They have also helped me to bridge the gap between method and theory. I’ve been able to identify my skills and question my assumptions in order to develop as a designer and hopefully as a future instructor myself.

On his background

After I completed my Bachelor of Graphic Design I completed a certificate in printmaking and I worked both as a freelance and in-house designer. But teaching was something I had a passion for and wanted to do at the university level, so I decided it was time to stop working and apply to grad school.

My interest in a future teaching career was one of the main deciding factors why I chose to attend York. I know a number of alumni who graduated from the program and they explained that on top of funding, York offers teaching assistantships.

That was a huge draw. And so far, teaching has turned out to be everything I thought it was going to be. It’s like what Angela Norwood said: It’s using a different part of your brain because it’s no longer about you doing the design work but rather it’s about creating a situation or environment where others can pursue a goal. I am providing knowledge and guidance, and hopefully helping foster instincts in others to pursue how they see design and how they can work through it.

On thesis work

I’m looking at systems in general, and specifically, the ability to systematize one’s studio practice through the ideas put forward by Karl Gerstner in his book, Designing Programmes. I’ve built from the work that I usually do. I had never before considered how variables and conditions can shape work within my own practice, but now I’m seeing that there are a lot of things that I can do based on the conditions that I can provide myself before actually making. Gerstner sought to take external subjective factors out of the equation. He defined a design programme as a rule or system defined by the designer that could help shape the decision-making process for a particular solution.

Work from Egor's thesis explorations.

Gerstner stressed incremental, iterative changes as one approached a solution. These incremental changes allowed the designer to perceive the benefits of slight variations. He called it “creeping up on a task.”

I think it has made a big difference within my own practice because previously I would approach certain things in a more chaotic manner. As I started looking at information, I started finding program-based ways of working and it started to fill a gap I was missing in my own practice. I started to understand not only how I can produce something original, but how I can also intentionally introduce controlled variables into my design process.

On what’s next

I’d like to teach. I’ve have applied to a few schools. I’d still like to work freelance and be involved with what happens in the field but I want to continue teaching and pursue that full or part time.

On financial support

The funding and fellowships here are significant, especially when compared to a lot of other schools. York’s funding was one of the main factors in my decision. I didn’t even second guess my choice coming here. Once I saw the funding and the possibility of teaching assistantships, I knew this was the right choice. I could safely take the risk of not working for two years to be able to focus on my research and thesis.