This is a short version of my journal. The full version will be published on my blog page just-created.com and in a Complete Creative Journal after the course. It was fun making it. I hope you will enjoy reading it.
Why asymmetrical? 1-st, asymmetry is more pleasant for the viewer than symmetry. 2-d, all the study seems to be chaotic here, and 3-d, I like asymmetry and its balance of space and objects arrangements. Logical Asymmetrical compositions. It has no rules and no frames.
Let ed…’s get s
tart -
We ers Stu ek 1 cre work d Ba ent arc ate, B and aga ck hite ritis to s fee in! a n l sle c i d c cture h hoo ally ngs epy o r a nte are l l r y .D o y v n mp ing d e r e e w e r e w ! ork sign od th o I rea in L I am helm s. er is? lit The to m ondo back - s is jus And n s’ tep t in n ow ect fist P alm y stu ! Bac o r e d n a r Ca is lau rojago ost 2 dy lik k tr eam ch! T e reta nc 0y e com he h ue. S ! o U eve und ker fl ed! AL ears e s fan s re at. itin n mo seem t a s g th re like tic. al an s Lon an exa W 2 b n o It is d eek ver don U Wes edr rdin Lec 2. t s i n n i t ia c oom ary alw y. I tory tures h h a ous onve flat to s ys w ave of A . His t u red e. B rsion re i rch Bri tudy anted s i inte inc tectish the wit brick eautif r r hs e hou ul des way spa stin edib d a o s l ign Wh tial d g but y y ws. W h win se e ou abo at is i sign? can hat e l a dy? ls ut? t all w Fee Go ish fo e ahe r, ling ad!
AM S R A
tore
INSPIRA TIO
Almost fell in love Week3 with the easy chair The key designed by the event of the Spanish designer week! Visit to James Hayon. I got absolutely Aram store. It was great! Aram charmed with the store is an adven- idea of an egg takture! New names, en as a core concept. Ro chair feanew designs, new ideas, new inspira- tures two different tions... Why I never textures: one for the seat shell and one just sketched the for the cushions, furniture? That’s which support the amazing! Need contrasted expresto get back to sketching on a sion of the hard shell and the warm daily basis. and soft interior. It led me into a long investigation of all egg shaped
ON
De s chairs ig n de-
De
signed in this century. The egg itself, the Drop chair, the Swan - such beautiful designs by Arne Jacobsen. This conceptual approach gave me the inspiration for the Caretaker space later. sig
ne
NITURE Easy Ch air FUR rs’
EG
G D
ARAM Store
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P
KAHN LOUIS Exhibition Design Museum
Week 4 Feeling of stillness and confusion. Why so much time doing nothing? Watching... We have a project we need to start the work! We haven’t even measured the place! Waiting for Janey to show the right way of measuring. I wander what it is like. New way of using measuring tape? Ok let’s relax and start watching! Exhibitions : Kahn, Malevich, Turner... Brilliant! Kahn’s ideas of a connection between interior spaces and city districts are amazing. So simple! So true! That was so clever to compare the Plan of a City with the Plan of a House. It is so obvious and hidden from the viewer at the same time. Another thing that struck me was the importance of light in a space. “ The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building” Kahn.
He developed a sophisticated choreography of natural light to illustrate and dramatise these concerns: an interior, he insisted, only becomes an architectural space through the diffusion and reflection of sunlight. That’s quite interesting to investigate and apply.
Malevich. I never liked him and his Black square until this exhibition. Tate Modern. Bright colours of An Englishman in Moscow and the logic of geometric objects impressed me. Me and my girls started sketching. The youngest made the most beautiful ones too beautiful not to share.
E L A M
V E
H C I
C A R E T A K E R
Week 5 After being explained what type of measurement is better to use I was really puzzled. I knew about running dimensions before but never used them. I suppose it can easy the way of surveying but how to use it when it comes to AutoCad drawings? Started pencil plans. I thought I would never do them in pencil again. England is old-fashioned, so the design teaching. It is a nonsense that we can feel the space better with a ruler. Totally disagree! Only AutoCAD gives you the feeling of every millimeter!
Flat
CARATAKER FLAT Analysis of my work on this project gives me the feeling that it is far from to be completed. The concept contrast I chose meant to be highlighted by the use of different textures based on the egg concept: the contrasted expression of the hard shell and the warm and soft interior, but it was not obvious to the tutors. Rough old open brick walls were considered as old-fashioned. OMG No ideas… Bridge! How genius! I love the idea of a bridge joining two different spaces together. Two absolutely different types of
visiting professors living in the opposite bedrooms decorated in classical style for an old professor and in a very contemporary laconic way for the young one. This is not contrast? The crit made me feel horrible. How many grammar mistakes have I made? Me? A teacher of English Of Moscow State University? What’s the point of these degrees then? May be the new audience or the feeling of being judged by British designers gave me this shake in my knees. Still have no Idea. Thank you Misa for the notes. I remembered only this thrilling… Silly.
BRID
DGE
Evaluating this project I admit that I learned that I should “ Be Bolder� as. Deleteing the walls and building the atononimus structure in the middle of this old conversion space. Many of students did that.Well done girls! I like your works and ideas!
I consider my work as uncomplete and in progress. Have to get back to it later.
Bangueting House
M SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM
U
All these museums have absolutely different spirit, design and the story behind. Modern contemporary thinking of Sir John Soane, his sketches and his creativity amazed me.
Greenwich S E U M S One of the greatest moments of my study that I will cherish forever was the Museum day and a trip to Greenwich. George Inn is a treasure! Fantastic excursions and
Stairs impressed me the most in all these places and influenced my choice for Caretaker Flat stair design.
unforgettable memories. Due to my photo hunt I always got lost and found and had to run after the group and not easy to chase George.
Christmas Tree
My idea was to make a transparent cone with cut out Double tree name and snowflakes in the shape of AutoCAD top view tree. Light was supposed to be projected inside of the tree with the use of lit baubles. The projection of the name and the snowflakes on the ceiling would make an amazing Christmas feeling.
Week 8 No time for analyzing and reflection for the first project. Christmas tree for a Double Tree Hotel. New frontiers. I have never thought to design a Christmas Tree. Why not? My cone shape tree was found not easy to make and Juan’s with the light projection from the star base as well. Nevertneless, the idea of Omar with boxes seemed real but boring for me. Anyway, we had to make it. Group work. Who thinks it has a potential is misled and mistaken. I gathered all the info into a file and organized the process of making. I took the pictures of the tree. And they were just waiting for me to bring the pictures instead of making a presentation and description. Guys, I have 2 kids and a husband I don’t want to adopt more. I see no point of coming to the presentation. I just don’t like this tree!!!! Sorry!
New project is launched. Hotel Room. Sounds interesting. If only I could concentrate on this project. My dog died. 15-years of loyalty and love are gone. My first baby.. Why now? What
a nasty Christmas present I have got. With heart 3 times bigger in size that couldn’t cope anymore he left us forever. Started writing a new book “A dog with a big heart” to get away from
these sorrow emotions. A story of a real heart-breaker and unbelievable understanding we had. How irrelevant all these projects and Double tree Christmas tree drinking seem. Everything is just a
dust! Crits? Submissions on time? Rush and hustle seems ridiculous. Where are you going to be tomorrow? Fog, sleep, unconscious living. UAL is a big anthill!
Creative curiosity
Need to learn their creative
Flying Christmas Tree! Anastasia’s design! Recycled Christmas tree made out of old newspapers or magazines designed by Vasilisa the elder daughter.What a great idea! Darlings, this is the place for people like you. New thinking, absolutely free and crazy ideas. It gives me a hope after being really confused at the ST Martins open day for Fine ART. “If you have creative curiosity, this place is for you, if not…” big smile from the dean. Forget about UAL and St Martins? Just one question: where my artistic daughter can get the drawing skills then? Go back and study in Russia? I am completely lost.
curiosity thinking.
British system of education develops creativity no one denies. There is no such a subject as DT in Russia. Spiral metal candle holder – was invented by Vasilisa and done all by herself using all those cutting machines. Chapeau!!!
RUSSIAN C o n s t r u c t i v i s m
CHERNIKOV
was the mos t valuable. Aft and er looked t I hrough then my com glued positions ph together oto a raphy I g gf e o w t t s h h e a Week10 pes clue. Yo t o u r c L o e p s y Thank y the sitzky bo ou, C o h k e r a n nd ikov’s Janey. then Ch o e b r je n ik c ts. It wa ov Your adv books o s ice ju p s e t n a e n d a to get in li e a new re to object fo n a li t y rm myself a to me. L nd some tim e ines, e understa shapes, and then nd con‌. struction what I re s. ally like Started ske tching som ething in const ructivist manner
H O T E L Describing and evaluating my Hotel room project I have to admit that it was a break-through for me. Starting from the absolute confusion and suffering from a creative block I have finally devised the strategies to a creative process work with a space and interior. Combining and arranging 3d objects, placing them inside the model and exploring the softness of natural light coming through the round window were the steps to make before I have come up with the idea of a multifunctional unit in a hotel room space. This Multifunctional Unit is anazing! It may perform several func-
tions. It can be used as a wardrobe to store clothes, as a little kitchen including a refrigerator and a kitchen work surface. There is a folding element that provides a ‘desk-top’ or additional working area. .......................................................... It was rewarding to discover that I could create a piece of furniture by myself. It is still in the process of material specification, however, it made me think about another multifunctional object in the room – the bed (I couldn’t make a simple bed after that). The walls are to be functionally decorated by the asymmetrically arranged objects that would be used to meet the client needs.
R O O M UNIT
M u l t i f u n c t i o n a l
A multifunctional structure consists of a central cuboid shape fixed on a square cube base. Flat transparent discs attached either side act as wheels to allow movement of this furniture element within the space.
LOFT SPACE FOR MADONNA
The choice I have made wasn’t a random guess. Being a person who isn’t that interested in celebrities and their lives I have quite a vague idea of who is in “the ray of light” at the moment. I knew Madonna since my university years and still can sing La isla bonita at the party. She has always been amazing. The success she made, the men she won and left, passionate love for her kids all of that makes everyone notice her power and influence on the rest of the world. I like her as a strong woman with endless imagination and thrilling performances. So, I decided to investigate her likes and dislikes, interior preferences and actual spaces she lives in now. That was quite fun to find out some of her mar-
riages that I missed:) and the thing that she likes classical furniture and a bathtub with lion paws feet terrified me first. I couldn’t imagine how such an extrordinary woman would get inspiration in such a boring space. Having researched deeper I have come to understand her preferences. She was immensely influenced by David Collins She mentions “his infectious appreciation for the subtle beauty of every gradation of blue” that she bagan to love(ABCDS). I was right. Madonna is open to experiments, listens to designer’s opinion and updates her style preferences. Therefore, the loft space is right for her.
Journal 20/01 Week 16
That’s an amazing experience to watch and compare tutorials. I got into the wrong group in the morning and was sitting for an hour with Janey. She didn’t say a word I was in the wrong group. So, I was like an alien in New York. I enjoyed being in a motherhood atmosphere with all the consequent encouragements and apraisals for girls. I even grabbed a few interesting words and ideas like “false perspective” and suddenly after the next students list check I discovered I had to leave. I entered the room for Josef’s tutorial. .....Well, the very straightforward, dynamic and masculine way of teachig got into the air. “This is boring! Nobody is doing that anymore...” He was instructing. And girls got upset I saw it. Nobody wants to face the truth but it is actually a favour to know where to head to and what direction to follow. What a fight for
and against curvy lines! It seems that no one can convince Josef that curvy lines can exist in today’s design. It was quite brave to say that Zaha Hadid was a quirky old dinosaur! Need to keep notes of his quotes... “Zaha Hadid is a quirky old dinosaur! She s got a puppet making design for her...” “...the curve thing is kicked off”. “...parametrics can be done as an obsessive stuff”. “We have a long history of rectalinea sort of shapes”. “I’m the best designer”. “Zara is a conservative now. Just her brand... She has no social concerns...” “It is a capitalist world with the money agenda...” “You can do high value design...” Josef Huber. Tutorial. 20.01.2015
LIGHT INTERVENTION When it comes to create a new interior it should be beared in mind that interiors have a great impact on humanity. It is much more powerful than dealing just with inert architectural shells. In this project I tried to address psychological issues of the interior design and study the influence of light on a human being within a space. The idea for this loft space was to create the inspirational atmosphere for the singer as well as to make a comfortable space for rest, relaxation and everyday life joy. In order to achieve this I started to experiment with different sources of light and the colour schemes. When I came across with the photo from Madonna’s concert in Baku, where she was standing under the rays of light coming
from a gigantic lamp-projector, and having in mind her bedroom, designed by David Collins, with the change of light colour and interior transformation due to it, I realized that it could work for my client. Light intervention giving dramatic changes in the atmosphere and consequent interior transformation.
SAD
My concept is Light Intervention shown through the use of interaction of light and shadow within a big scale loft space as well as through the dramatic change of lightning colour spectrum that transforms the atmosphore and mood of the space.
ORDINARY
It is assumed that Light Intervention makes a great impact on people’s lives giving them needed emotional boost and inspiration.
HAPPY
The BOOK Getting ready for a book... All projects are not completed. Indesign is at the basic level. So, where do we go? I can’t find all my things after I moved to a new place. First things first. Madonna’s flat.
Endless love to my daughters is killing me. I wish I were three not just one person. How and when am I going to finish my celebrity space and start making a book if I am taking care of a sick little Anastasia with high temperature rises on one hand and artist porfolio for Vasilisa on the other. And me? Poor me;( Anyway, I am lucky, I don’t get detentions if I don’t meet the submission deadlines and she does. So I am making her Artist porfolio instead of my book. Oh God, she is too talented and has so much stuff to put. Photoshop, Photoshop, Photoshop... Only now I noticed how many
things we have done together. She had an idea for a costume for Purim school party in Israel and we designed it! I sewed it. And here she is. Stunning beauty. It gave me the idea for my cushions line and tablecloth. We wrote a book about her teddy bear and she illustrated it and made an Indesign version. And her paintings.... Ok. At least I am a good mother if not a good student. It is only 12:00p.m.! Come on let’s sketch the ideas you ve been keeping in your head all day. It’s now or never... Hold on Josef! Bad time management? Easy to say...
Portfolio book finish? Ask! There is a funny Russian anecdote about 2 Russians speaking horrible English and finally bragging about their education: -How many watches? - Not much. -MGIMO finish? -Ask! That’s true with me now. I have already spent so much time on it. Everyone asks : Have you finished? No, no, no! I still have to put some more text and figure out the elevation for Madonna’s apartment. Don’t ask me! Give me a breake!
STORY Journal pages Cake sale. Of course, how could I forget. 3 days left to the book submission. So much to be done! Well, promise is a promise. Apple pie looks and smells wonderful. Back to the book…..
It’s 4 a.m. My work is completed. It has been 3 long days and nights. I will give the book to the printers tomorrow and the deadline is met. Why did it take me so long? I wander if I could say I don’t exist to my family and get deeper into the book. No, I would do the same. Cake sale for school, sketching with kids, making my daughters artist porfolio - yes. I love it. I really enjoyed making my portfolio. It is looking cool now! I’m a real designer! The British designer!
Refrences 1.Russian Constructivism & Yakov Chernikov. Catherine Cooke. Architectural design. 2. Lessitzky. Design. 3. Sir John Soane’s Museum. A short Guide. P 8 4. An Englishman in Moscow https://tfeanda.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/malevich/ 5. Kahn http://www.pedagogie.ac-nantes.fr/79335900/0/fiche___pagelibre/&RH=1243870094171 6. Madonna image. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon. com/images/I/71o1fh8AAHL._SL1064_.jpg&imgrefurl 7. Aram store furniture. http://www.aram.co.uk/store