Majestic spans and windows reminding New York lofts, Soviet furniture and auction halls. The building of the Ukrainian Stock Exchange has small offices: from lawyers and travel agencies to private detectives. It is here, on the fourth floor, where the office of the Kyiv based design studio Razom is located.

Razom's portfolio includes identity and design for Takava Café, Progress English language school, Smartass sports club and The new local city map; posters for the KYIVNESS market, design drafts for the Marchi brand, the website of the Kharkiv School of Architecture and numerous product design projects.

I walk up the wide stairs, passing information boards and stained glass windows. Greeted by Anna Kuts and Sevilya Nariman-qizi, the founders of the studio, I'm in a space that is, no doubt, unconventional. The Soviet atmosphere and architecture organically exist in the room with a bunch of models of projects, books and found objects.

You have a very cool office. How did you find this place?

Anna: Just accidentally found an ad: there were no repairs, a huge crack in the ceiling, worn parquet and an old window. Landlords didn't even want to hand over the premises to anyone because it was unusable.

Sevilya: We restored the parquet, painted the walls, replaced the window. And everything fell into place.

What is the most inviting in the stock exchange building?

A: It's like a time machine. You come to work, greeted by a friendly granny-concierge, and get a good wishes for the day. It would be cool to restore the building, while keeping the Soviet vibe.

S: What I like most is the front door with wide stairs, columns and marble, high ceilings and lighting in the afternoon: here it is always golden. You can often see similar light in Italy and Spain. It happens in Kyiv in a short period of time and you want to catch it.

You've created Razom Studio three years ago. Tell us about the history?

A: We met in Kharkiv. At that time, there was a peak of the Behance design platform and the city hosted event to present the stars of Behance. It's like a small medal that confirm that you've become popular and have cool projects. There were chosen five professionals from different areas: Sevilya and I were among them. That's how we met.

S: Then I started to work for the Big Drop, New York company, which works on outsourcing. I came and met Anya there again. We became friends and realized that we have a common worldview. While working for the Big Drop, an idea that seemed completely unattainable appeared: to create our own studio. One day we resigned, settled in an apartment and started doing Razom projects.

A: At first we worked in my apartment in Podil, and probably the only place we went out was for coffee. In a bathrobe or pajamas. It was a ritual during which the main thing was not to meet anyone. But, of course, we met everyone who could. Then we urgently felt the need in the office: first we rented a place in the office of the architect Emil Dervish, on Lypynskogo street, then moved to Vozdvyzhenka, but it wasn't our spirit. And then we found what looked for. Here, on Rylsky lane.

What do you appreciate in design?

A: I like that there are no restrictions and you can operate in design in various fields. Be adaptive. Every time we learn how many interesting businesses and startups exist in Ukraine. How many ideas people have. You're constantly surrounded by a flow of information from different areas. If to compare it with another profession, I can say that we're actors who are constantly reincarnated in different roles.

To get used to the role, it's important for the actor to explore the character and his universe. How do you study the world?

S: You need to read more. I really like the words and how they work in design. In general, I prefer to read rather than look at pictures.

A: I am inspired by the basics: music, movies. And travel. During travels we're not only going to museums, but looking around: to find out what products are in the supermarkets, what services are available.

Razom studio specializes in product design. What makes good packaging?

S: The most important thing is convenience. The packaging should be such simple that the person understands how to open it and how to use it. When we were studying at the university, we glued scans of completely different designs. One of the first difficult tasks was to collect a shrimp from paper, which did not stick together at all. In packaging design, all tasks are reduced to one: first function, then aesthetics. If there is aesthetics and no function, the package has failed.

A: It is a process of continuous improvement. You draw a structure, but it doesn't work. Something does not fasten, falls out. It's also important to adhere to ergonomics in production. Sometimes, you come up with a solution, and the client says "it's unprofitable for us to print such packaging: we need something else."

Package design projects, Razom studio

What is your desired product to pack?

S: First aid kit. Such a super aesthetic suitcase, with everything you need: a small first aid kit and minimal tools. Everything in a common style, very simple and very functional.

I realized that I hadn't seen a first aid kit with a cool design.

Yes, usually everyone has a plastic box with plasters, drugs, tools. Or a red standard first aid kit. Would be great to collect all this and structure it aesthetically.

A: I would like to develop a product for daily use. A product that will stand on supermarket shelves. Something big mass production, useful for people.

How about color in design?

A: There are colors that you perceive more in objects, and there are colors that you like in clothes. You can't say you like mint everywhere. In graphic design I prefer black and white, in clothes - ochre, pastel shades. It's great when clients bring an item or color that is not related to the product. Such clients feel something on the level of intuition. For example, Sepia tea. The founders brought a selection of Japanese colors and said 'This is us. This palette shows who we are'.

S: My favorite color combination is partly cloudy.

How would you describe it?

S: I imagine something bright, azure, and next to it something very cloudy. That is, one bright accent surrounded by clouds.

Please, share your music finds.

S: There is one character, his name is HOLICK. Not a lot is known about him, besides he's from London, recording podcasts and hosting parties. He has easy tunes and light music in podcasts. I often listen to it while going to work or at the office.

A: I would mention CHICK COREA. And RICK JAMES is great for summer evening.

Photo: Akim Karpach

Words: Helena Eigenmann