Design Travel: Where Designers Go for Inspiration?

Where do designers seek inspiration and ideas for new projects? Of course, in travels. And we must note that rare designer trusts their trip to a tour operator. Usually, he plans his journey himself. That is why his itinerary includes not popular tourist destinations but annual exhibitions, antique shops, and flea markets. Often, there are also places that are not so easy to get into: for example, workshops of Western designers and factories of well-known manufacturers.

Seeing the world through an artist's eyes today is not so difficult: many professionals — for example, Nadezhda Zотовa, Anna Muravina, and design critic Olga Kossyrevа — organize design tours. What they are and whether you need them — in our article.

Nadezhda Zотовa: "Travel is not only a source of inspiration but also an opportunity to see the culture of different countries..."

Nadezhda Zотовa, designer. Founder of Enjoy Home studio. Creates residential and public interiors around the world and organizes design tours as part of her studio

Designer Nadezhda Zотовa has been organizing regular design journeys to European countries, Asia, as well as the Near and Far East for several years now. Groups have already been to Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Japan, and just recently, in September, they were in Istanbul. The schedule of trips is planned for several months ahead — the next tour will take place in Morocco.

How many people are in the group? 10,rarely more than How long does the trip last? Average 3–4 days,sometimes up to 7–10How much does it cost?from 1950 euros, that's how much the next tour in Morocco costs5 questions with Nadezhda ZотовaWhat is included in the cost?

The program includes accommodation, guide services, visits to showrooms, sometimes entrance tickets to exhibitions. Additional costs include airfares, transfers from/to the airport, meals and dinners. Of course, you can take a tour without accommodation and choose your place independently if it's more convenient. In that case, the price will be lower.

Who do you take with you?

Designers and decorators come with us for inspiration and answers to practical questions — for example, how to buy antiques, where to find vintage and flea markets. But I'm always happy to see those who decorate their homes on their own and simply are interested in design.

What are the advantages of these trips?

The group is accompanied by art historians and design specialists. These are not standard tourist programs but exciting routes through vintage shops, galleries, and workshops, offering the opportunity to peek behind the scenes at designers with world-famous names, visit furniture factories, and find unique items for your interiors.

This is not a standard tourist program but exciting routes through vintage shops where you can find unique items for your interiors. Antiquarian shop in Florence, ItalyFlea market Saint-Ouen in the suburbs of ParisAnother antique store — in the city of Ill-sur-l'Aisne, Provence, FranceAgain Saint-Ouen, FranceVintage gallery in Nice, French RivieraThis is an antique store in Tokyo, JapanAre there funny incidents?

Yes, and often. Most of them are related to someone wanting to bring something back from the trip. Although we always organize delivery, including bulky items, furniture, and accessories, there are still those who need to bring it "here and now" and then suffer with boxes and overweight in airports.

How to travel with you?

There is an online registration form on our website or you can call the manager directly.

Olga Kossyrevа: "Design travel gives immersion into an environment where good design is everywhere..."

Olga Kossyrevа, design critic

Historian of design, design critic, organizer and head of "Olga Kossyrevа's Design Lectory"

Olga Kossyrevа has been organizing trips for 6 years now. Every October, groups travel to the Netherlands for a week of design, with a stop in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, visiting the interior biennale in Belgium, stopping along the way in Antwerp. And every February, they go to Stockholm to visit a week of design and a furniture and lighting exhibition.

In the future, trips to Copenhagen and Russia are planned. "It's not about design, of course, but about the culture of living, good old interiors, interesting architecture, history of furniture, and in general, the origins, roots, and inspiration," — Olga explains.

How many people in the group?From 8 to 168 is very intimate and heartfelt, while 16 is interesting in terms of communication and meeting new peopleHow long does the trip last? from 4 to 7 days,depends on the destinationHow much does it cost?from 800 eurosto 1400 euros5 questions with Olga KossyrevаWhat is included in the cost? The price depends on duration, country, and accommodation conditions (single or double room). The cost always includes accommodation (usually a 4-star hotel) and my services for organization and supervision. Additional costs include flights, visas, transport, and meals, as well as museum and exhibition tickets.
Who do you take with you?

Typically, designers of interiors and decorators come with me, who definitely need it. Sometimes architects, product designers, furniture assemblers, and people working in the design industry from the supplier side also come. Sometimes someone comes for company with a husband/wife — everyone always remains enchanted. For all of them, it's an extraordinary discovery of new worlds. Without exaggeration.

Why is this interesting?

Design travel gives immersion into a different context — an environment where good design is everywhere, where it's everyday life, not oases in the desert. And discovering something new: people, factories, trends, sources of inspiration. All this is done with the support of an expert.

I know many world-renowned designers, so our trips are full of interesting meetings and conversations, often unexpected.

Olga with the group at the home of Lex Pot in RotterdamIn the studio of Kiki van Eyk and Joost van Bleisveld in EindhovenAt a meeting with Dirk Vinants, a Belgian designer and owner of the Extremis brandAt the home of the design house of famous Vincent van Dijzen in AntwerpTell us about your most vivid impressions?

When you end up at an event (collection presentation, closed performance) where there are few people and the presentation or installation is strong. For example, in February 2017 in Stockholm, there were several such events: the Portuguese De La Espada organized a play with famous Portuguese actors and their furniture in the house where the former ABBA manager once lived, while the Japanese Ariake exhibited her furniture in a historic apartment that was under renovation and the address was nowhere publicly posted.

In Eindhoven, every autumn I take everyone to the market where they get the freshest herring — a true delicacy, no black caviar needed. Whoever eats it once on the street will never eat those salted canned goods again — I don't eat them either, waiting for October once more.

How to participate?

Send a request directly or fill out the form on the Design Lectory website.

Anna Muravina: "Our task is to teach people to see, not just look..."

Anna Muravina, designer

Decorator and designer, member of the Association of Interior Designers and Decorators (ADDI), author of the book "Recipes for a Happy Interior"

Designer Anna Muravina organizes design tours together with a decorator, art historian, and tutor from the British School of Design, Olga Rozet. The first trip took place in 2017, but they have already been to France (Provence), Great Britain, and Italy (Sicily).

The next trip is planned to be quite unusual, as it might seem to a layman — in Uzbekistan. "Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, and, of course, the Savitsky Museum in Navoi. We're planning from October 24 to 31 — so that we can also prolong the summer," — Anna says.

How many people in the group? 10–12no more thanHow long does the trip last? 7–10 daysdepends on the destination How much does it cost?$1780for example, that's how much the next tour in Uzbekistan costs5 questions with Anna MuravinaWhat is included in the cost? Accommodation in a hotel with breakfast, auto transport throughout the route according to the program, guide services, entrance tickets to display sites and museums according to the program, internal air and rail tickets.

However, airfare from Moscow to the destination is paid separately. You can choose single occupancy, which increases the price.

For us, beautiful hotels and restaurants are just as important as beautiful places. For example, in the city of Khiva, Uzbekistan, the group plans to stay at a hotel with such a facade. It occupies the building of a former school for clergy — a historical architectural monument. The rooms are former cells of students.

This is what the room looks like in the Porta Di Castro hotel in Palermo, where the group stayed during the previous tour

Another view of the room in the same hotel

This is one of the rooms in the Charming Hotel Castello San Marco in Taormina as part of the same "Italian holidays"

Again, a hotel room in Taormina

Who do you take with you?

Everyone who is interested in art, architecture, and design. It doesn't matter whether professionally or as a hobby. The organizers' task is to teach people to see, not just look. And experience doesn't matter either. Both beginning designers and experienced pros will find inspiration in design tours.

What are the advantages of your trips?

There is an expression: "You never return from a trip the same person." And it's true. After returning, there's a desire for creativity and new achievements.

How to organize such a tour? Is a license or contract needed?

Professional experience in interior decoration and teaching plus support from an experienced travel agency. Of course, the agency must have a license and experience in operation.

How to participate?

Write to Anna or Olga via email/social media/phone about your desire to join.

How to know if it's worth traveling?

You should come here if you like to stick to a plan while traveling, listen carefully to your guide, don't fall behind the group, and want to learn something new. And of course, you want to improve your design literacy, meet professionals, hear new names, and perhaps bring back a unique item for your own interior.

Design tours are not for you if you're used to traveling alone or in a pair with a familiar partner, want to build your own schedule independently and not depend on any itineraries.

And, of course, you must have a valid passport and preferably open visas. The Schengen visa is definitely useful.

Photo: Instagram of Nadezhda Zотовa and Enjoy Home Studio, personal archive of Olga Kossyrevа and Anna Muravina.