Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Occupation: Interior and furniture designer.
Instagram: @studio_shoo
Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia.
Studio location: Yerevan, Armenia.
Describe what you make: I specialize in public interior design projects, mostly in the HoReCa sector. I’ve also launched a new sector for our bureau: furniture design. I always design furniture, lighting, and art installations for my projects, and each has its own distinct features.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: I believe there are new perceptions and experiences that guests get when they enter a space designed by my team. I constantly consider how a person should feel about engaging with each of the bureau’s projects—how design can influence emotions and behavior.
Describe the problem your work solves: Functionality and convenience—an intuitively obvious place for a person. Innovation—In each project, I aim to develop new solutions and approaches. This can occur in the design of new furniture pieces as well as in the adjustment of existing object functionality. For example, at hotels, we challenge the belief that reception is a counter, a barrier between the guest and the receptionist. We eliminate barriers by allowing guests to check in at the bar or communal table.
Accessibility—My goal is to meet the needs of persons with disabilities by developing more accessible and inclusive features and spaces. Resource efficiency—Sustainable design aims to preserve resources while reducing their impact on the environment. Supporting companies and local artisans—I enjoy working with emerging entrepreneurs and designing spaces that voice their personal narratives. Social interactions—One of the coolest approaches in public space design is to set up a community table where random individuals may meet and get to know each other. Consider play areas. I developed a ping pong table for our Ibis Budget hotel in Tbilisi, which serves as a unifying fun feature in the design.
Describe the project you are working on now: A lifestyle hotel for a well-known brand. I’m really enjoying working on it. Studying its standards, functional zones, and the overall tone that has to be transmitted through the interior. This is a hotel for the modern urban tourist, with innovative technology and luxury design-driven common areas. I’m also working on a light furniture concept that incorporates artificial intelligence. I can’t go into depth just now, but I’m particularly interested in working with AI and integrating it into my projects.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Launching our small décor shop project in downtown Yerevan today. This is my first experience working on interior design for a retail store. This typology also appeals to me, and in this project, I worked extensively on shelf ergonomics, lighting, and materials—everything that should help to properly present the products to the customer.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: First and foremost, I can’t see myself without vintage! The studio features vintage chairs, dishes, and lighting. I cherish vintage objects with a long heritage and exquisite craftsmanship. Second, our library of materials! To correctly build a material board, designers must be able to touch and pick appropriate tiles, fabric, and paint samples. Finally, coloured pencils and markers must be nearby. I can’t imagine my job without sketching. And of course, architectural books and coffee!
What you do when you’re not working: I love going for walks with my dog and sipping espresso in a park. Also, riding my bike and admiring architecture brings me daily delight. I always have a tiny red notepad with me, and I like to quickly draw a fascinating form that I observe—and once again, I can’t stop relating to work!
Sources of creative envy: Frankly speaking, there’s no specific name that comes to mind. Rather, it’s the people around me. Architecture and art in general. I’m also really influenced by the construction process. I frequently notice amazing textures and patterns on incomplete walls, makeshift furniture that builders put together, amusing ventilation pipes, or coloured corrugated pipes for electrical wiring. By the way, from the latter, I designed an appealing blue chandelier for our Abu Gosh café.
The distraction you want to eliminate: When I sit down to brainstorm a new project, I switch off my phone. It’s critical for me not to be influenced by anything. I wish to eliminate distractions such as text messages and phone calls.
Concrete or marble? Neither. I will leave these materials for architecture.
High-rise or townhouse? In terms of scale, the townhouse is far closer to me.
Remember or forget? Remember.
Aliens or ghosts? I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to live on a different planet.
Dark or light? Light. I like to see how light can modify space, how it creates stunning architectural shadows.
