Tell us about yourself.

My name is Dmitry, I’m 20, currently based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. I’ve been working as a freelance graphic designer since 2019. I started trying myself in design when I was 12 years old - tried to figure out Photoshop, made simple graphics for social media. For now I specialize in visual identity and logo. I also create posters, covers, and other print designs.

Which design topics are you most passionate about?

I love building design systems based on stylish typography. I think that it plays a vital role in design communication: proper typography can convey ideas and values to people. I’m always passionate about finding a balance between a beautiful picture and functionality in design. Moreover, I love creating posters when I feel inspired. Thanks to them I convey my inner state and feelings.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like going in for sports: I go to the gym regularly and play basketball sometimes. Also, I like taking inspiring pictures in my environment. I use a regular phone camera for it. I find a certain aesthetic in this.

Share a project / exhibition / creative person / anything that you found recently and sparked your imagination

I get a lot of inspiration from Joe Diver’s works. His typographic style with strict layouts really resonates with me. I like his approach to work, how he works with conveying meanings through design.

What’s the hardest thing about being a designer?

The hardest thing about being a designer is constantly being filled with energy and inspiration. It’s quite difficult to maintain work-life balance in the creative industry, especially in early stages of your career development. I find it quite difficult to devote a lot of time to work when I still need to study, go to the gym, rest and so on.

What’s the best thing about being a designer?

I think that it’s receiving pleasant feedback from your clients and subscribers. It’s so cool to see comments or messages from clients saying that they approved your work. It boosts your mood for the rest of the day and motivates you to work harder and create special designs. Also feeling inspired is one of the best feelings a person can experience. When you are on a wave, full of strength and energy to create something wonderful, it’s an amazing feeling!

Who would you love to collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with Nicole Belskaya on creating some posters or clothing design. She is a very creative person with her own style and vision. I like her works, how she combines illustrations and typography creating visual identities for brands.

Describe your dream project.  

Creating a visual identity for a conceptual brand from New York. I love this city and would be happy to see my design there. I would like to finish this project successfully and take a trip to NY to see the design in person. For example, it can be a home furniture brand, or a small grocery shop. It’s also important that the client has a sense of style and developed aesthetic intelligence. With such a client it is easy to build proper communication and understand each other.

What do you do when you feel stuck and uninspired?

When I feel inspiration-less I give myself a little rest — reading a book, watching a movie, going for a walk and taking pictures. It’s important not to think that you need to recover. You need to be in the moment enjoying the process.

Moreover, I recover through conversations with my loved ones. Even without asking them for support, their words give me strength and inspiration, I feel warm and recharged.

Recommend a book / movie / TV series / podcast / playlist to our readers

My personal book recommendation is ‘Blackberry wine’ by Joanne Harris. At one time, this book helped me to take my mind off work worries and get back on track. I read it instead of watching Instagram Reels or Youtube — I feel that book gives you energy and doesn’t take it away like social media.

Thank you Dmitry!