February Digest: What Will Stay in Designers' Memory This Month

Despite the fact that February is the shortest month of the year, it was definitely not boring for designers. The designers Alena Yudina, Daria Vasilkova and Sergei Khrabrovsky shared their impressions of the month with us.

Alena Yudina — designer. Graduate of the Royal College of Art in London.

February's impression:

The Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, which took place in Stockholm from February 4th to 9th. I was there for the first time: the exhibition itself is much smaller than Maison & Objet in Paris, but every booth is a masterpiece. I didn't expect to see so much color, and the office furniture displays were a topic for a separate article. I definitely want to return there every February and share the new trends on Instagram.

Designer of the Month:

Luke Nicetto, a Venetian — my discovery of February. For the company Moooi, Luke designed a carpet collection Reflections, inspired by the moment when sunlight hits glass and reflects in the canals of Venice.

For the iconic design store Svenkst Tenn, he brought to life a terrazzo pattern created by Joseph Frank in late 2022, transforming it into unique Murano glass lamps. Luke’s grandfather was a glassblower on the island of Burano, so it's no surprise that he created such stunning results.

Book of the Month:

"Personal Boundaries. How to Set and Maintain Them" by Jennifer Brand-Miller and Victoria Lambert. This book should definitely be on every modern person’s shelf.

With the development of social networks and messaging apps, boundaries in communication with colleagues and friends are becoming blurred. There are more sources of stress, and as we know, nerve cells don’t regenerate. You should definitely read this book: I'm sure you'll recognize yourself in many of the situations described.

Thing of the Month:

Kartell battery lamp — stylish and wireless, exactly like those on the tables in a restaurant by Lake Garda where I was in summer. The color was chosen quickly: it shouldn't be there to make the lamp universal and suitable for any interior.

Museum of the Month:

Melnikov House Museum. It’s now much easier to visit than before. Now once every two weeks you can buy a ticket on the museum’s website. One group of five people per day. I recommend setting an alarm clock: tickets for visits from March 1st to March 30th will go on sale on March 1st.

Why visit? Because this house is unique and there’s no second like it. You’ll learn how they saved money during construction, why the house has such windows, and where heating systems were hidden — all of this you can find out on a guided tour.

February article on our website:

Naturally, about the Swedish apartment! Look at what color!

Daria Vasilkova — designer. Founder of the Art Group studio.

Design of the Month:

Unique handwoven ethnic carpets with Eastern motifs. One such is the Du Long et Du Lé carpets from Belgium, which are breathtakingly beautiful.

Book of the Month:

"Flow. The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. A book that will interest and be useful to everyone, especially those in creative professions.

Travel of the Month:

Cortina dʼAmpezzo — mountains, skiing, and the largest concentration of great restaurants. Beautiful. Crowded. Extraordinary taste experiences in addition to the mountains.

February Exhibition:

I managed to attend the "Eastern Calendar" exhibition at the Museum of the East in Moscow. The exhibition featured 16 works: ten from the private Yangxi Gallery in Taipei, owned by John Liu and his wife Irene Lin. The remaining six were provided by the National Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan. These are very close to my heart in terms of Eastern motifs.

February article on our website:

10 creations by Soviet designers everyone should know — a must-read!

Avant-garde service by Malevich

Sergei Khrabrovsky — designer. Founder of the Khrabrovsky Interior Design & Decoration bureau.

Design of the Month:

The 1928 Rene Prou chairs inspired me to learn more about the designer’s work and even use them in a new project.

Book of the Month:

Not quite a book, but more like an album describing the works of German artist John Frenz, a graduate of the Dutch Academy of Fine Arts. Everyone feels art differently. I was able to connect with his works through the lens of my own perception.

Drawn by blood. Drawn by blood. Bullet. Darkness.

Exhibition of the Month:

I would highlight the opening of the contemporary art and collectible design gallery "Tirage 1/1" in Moscow. If you're looking for inspiration, this is the place to go. Rooms design works are charming. A very atmospheric space for those sensitive to subtle nuances.

Impression of the Month:

The movie "Green Book" — a comedic biographical drama by Peter Farrelly. Watch it, you won’t regret it.

February article on our website:

Guide to Antwerp — it’s interesting to learn about new cities and places.

Antwerp Station