I am a graphic and type designer currently living in Moscow and I work as an Art Director, CBI Consult (Creative Brand Identity).

When I was 6 years old, my father showed me how to make beautiful and complex patterns by drafting them using a compass – I was immediately hooked and since then I have been totally adsorbed with art and design.

When at college I undertook classes in Visual Communication and Type & Typography. I like type because text is everywhere. Letters are not just faceted diamonds. I feel that I am able to take a letter and make it shine. As a form they have great graphic capacities!

Although today’s digital equipment can make things richer and faster, because of the increasing technological advances, I believe that the traditional approaches towards art and craft are more genuine and cleaner. By these methods designs are generated more from the heart than out of the mind. In my own work I rely more on art to create my work and technology only helps improve the overall picture.

Although I previously enjoyed both painting and sculpture I now find it difficult to find time for these wonderful pastimes.

I take my inspiration from the world around me. It is very important for visual artists to look around themselves to appreciate and discover new and different things about their surroundings. This is an exceedingly interesting exercise for both the mind and eyes.

I love movies and although I have a huge list of favourite artists, I particularly like the work of the Russian film director, Andrew Tarskovsky and the Canadian film director, Guy Maddin. You only have to watch any of their movies to understand why they are so brilliant and inspiring.

Factors that have a positive affect on my work include time and the warm sun and factors that adversely affect my work are the impatience of people and closed minds.

Before I start to work, I fill my teapot with water and brew my favourite Japanese green tea “Gyokuro”, which is known as ‘a Genius Tea’ in Japan. This tea helps to stimulate me into producing brilliant ideas. All my ideas come from that matter they call grey. Oh well, and the teapot, off course.

Sometimes I may start with a pencil sketch, other times using photographs, and then it is just down to hard work. I am not too bothered with the end use of the design or its commercial use. It is much more important as to whether the project is dull or interesting to me. While working on a current project I am usually thinking ahead about the next one.

I believe that type is set to have great future and its evolution will be very interesting to monitor even for those not directly involved with Design. My advice to all future designers would be to absorb the entire world – take it all in!

my portfolio

behance—Settka

my blog:

settka

my website:

Sveta Sebyakina