What is the measure of a designer’s popularity? For me the answer to this question is very simple. Real popularity is when several of your friends buy the same object without agreeing beforehand. They buy his object. A few years ago this situation occurred with the “lacy” lamps of Tord Bontier (three of my friends have already got these lamps, the fourth one is broiling with envy). And that is what happened with Vadim Kibardin’s GREENBOY breloques. When both of our stylists got them out of their bags at the same time, I understood that it is time to buy one too. I met Vadim during the I Saloni Worlwide in 2006 (the Russian version of the annual Milan salon) and jumped at him with questions:

What was your first designed object? When I was seven years old I really wanted to minimize everything to particulate size. Then I made a mini torch-light… out of a lipstick case, an incandescent light-bulb and watch batteries (the turn about its axis connected the contacts and turned the mechanism on or off).

Where are the KIBARDINDESIGN items manufactured? In the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Belgium, Japan and, of course, Russia.

How much time passes from the first drawing to production start-up? In Europe the minimum is two years. In Russia it is sometimes possible to reduce it to one year.

Is it possible for a designer to succeed without leaving Russia? It is very difficult. I recommend participating in all the international contests. That is an opportunity to open maybe not a door but a hatch to the vast world of design.

Are you more of a designer, a manager, a PR expert, a photographer, or something else? I’m like Shiva. Everything that is somewhat connected to design I do myself: the projects, the wrapping, the photo images and the promotional strategy. And I really like doing all of it. I don’t like routine, accounting, legal processes but I gave to attend to them as well.

What was your smallest earned income? It is equal to zero. It was chargeless project for friends. Sometimes it is useful to refuse material rewards in exchange for experience and possibilities.

And what about your largest one? My largest earned income is still ahead. Frankly, I don’t want to talk about money. Let’s talk about designers then.

Who are your favorites? Naoto Fukasawa is my favorite among maestros and the Latin Americans - among the youngsters. There are so little Russian designers it is hard to talk about favorites.

Do you use your items in life? All the items are certainly tested in the aggressive household environment. I drop, throw, drown, burn, gnaw, sharpen them, sit on them myself and make others sit on them… This is the only way to understand what is in need of improvement and is there any point in improving at all. Good design is all about… Honesty. It’s all about having a fancy solution for vital problems and inducing positive emotions.

What’s your favorite material? Everything is good when suitable. For example, plastic chairs are suitable only for outdoors and no PR can make me think otherwise and put them in my dining room. Imagine spending winter evenings by the fireplace, sipping cognac… seated on a plastic chair. No way.

What is your crowning achievement? The mass-production of my items.

What will be your New Year’s wish?A solo exhibition in Japan, I’m sure it will come true.

Polina Chesova
ELLE Décor magazine, December-January 2006-2007