*   Anatoly Vyalikh
*   Graphic design / Illustration / Motion design / Photography / Animation
*   «I started creating art when i was one year old, i think, and my parents gave me a pencil. May be it was earlier, i do not really remember that far into my childhood. And talking about the first serious piece of art i created .. i was 16 years old if i remember right and i decided to put out some of my drawings to the information desk in school, near the principal’s office. I was surprised to find out that people where reacting positively to this action and every break many students and even some teachers where gathering near the desk to see them.  Some time later, school newspaper arranged an interview with me and offered me a chance to have a personal exhibition.  It’s ironic, that after this majority of young girls from junior grades where literally chasing me to get a drawing for them.»
*   «Everything in this life has a great influence on me, especially the nature. I think this is what creates character of my works.  They are the tool I use to express my inner world, show everyone how I personally see it. I love it when design is minimalistic, restrained and simple. I reckon, objective of any design is not in decorating but in fulfilling the task that is given. I believe this is why i admire works of such designers as Otl Aicher, Joseph Muller-Brockmann и Dieter Rams. By the way,  Dietes Rams has a very accurate saying about design : *   «Good design is as little design as possible».
*    «When i was in 6th grade, i called police and told them that there was a bomb laid in my school. I was cought after some time. After a week or so, for just after the call i went to Moscow.  I was not punished but now i know how does the trial look from inside.»
*   «I love to cuddle in rug, drink tasty freshly brewed tea, look at warm candle light and listen to blizzard howling outside the window or rain drops hitting the windowsill. When one day I will have my own house I want it to have immense windows, I want it to become part of the nature that will be surrounding it, so that I could be sitting there inside, cuddly and comfortable, watching everything outside my windows and diving into thoughts. Or be working at another project.»
*   «If it was not for design i would be collecting flowers and herbs. I would examine their healing properties and brew them into teas and infusions. I would probably open my own cafe where everyone could come, and in silent and warm atmosphere read a book and enjoy freshly baked buns, tasty sweets and a tea of herbs i’ve collected. But any ways I would never let anyone else make up the design of jars and interior. It makes me a man who can not let design out of one’s life i suppose.»
*   «Usually the idea of the work comes and gets formed in short term.   I am not really good at long term idea generating, though i can be stretching the process for weeks or months if needed.»
*   «When I have to create something for someone they usually have their own requirements. I sometimes get confused when their wished do not get along with my ideas.»
*   «One time I was a learner of Lebedev A.  There was a time when I was a great fan of his studio’s works. Now this admiration abated but i keep on looking through the site od Lebedev’s studio and Lebedev’s personal blog. I like most of the things he writes, but i consider him to be a great organizer first and only than a designer.»
*   «I do not only work in area of graphic design. In future, i wish to be doing design-projects connected with motion-design and environment design. For example design and concept of a single street.  I am a person who is interested in immense amount of things and i wish to try everything. Not so long ago i wished to be an architect, so who knows, may be in few years i will be changing the field of my activities to something absolutely different.»
*   «My favorite type – Helvetica. Everyone I am studying with are even joking about it and when hearing someone say «Helvetica» they turn smiling to my side.  Recently I have fallen for type called DIN 1415, created in the beginning of 20th century in Germany, as a unified type for road and rail way sings. This type is a foundation of every single «road» types created ever after. I like it’s legibility and simplicity of forms.»
*   «Most of genius people I would want to work with are already dead. For example Otl Aicher, whom i spoke about earlier. His design is brief and functional. I think, if I would ever get a chance to work with Otl Aicher, I would definitely learn a lot from him. As to the modern designers  -  I like Pentagram studio.»
*   «At the moment I am working with wonderful art director of a Russian business magazine «Trade secret» («Секрет Фирмы») Ilya Aleynikov. I love the rhythm i have to follow when working with him and the tasks which are being set. I marvel how this person is able of creating a whole magazine and at the same time participates in other projects. Working with him brings a lot of knowledge and experience that i could not get when working with someone else. I did not have a chance to work with any Latvian artist yet, and I hope that with time, I will overtake arrears. »
*   «I chose Moscow as a city to live and study because it is a capital of country where i was born. Moscow always was something sublime and unusual for me. When i was a little kid I was overwhelmed my its magnitude and power. I guess this is what played a crucial role in deciding where will i study. I was also attracted by the fact that I will be studying in British high school and getting British education while living in Moscow. Now, having grown I started to see the aspects of Russia and Moscow which you see only when facing common life.  The dirt is everywhere boorishness and unkindness of people here. Disorder in everything starting with shop signs and ending with public transport. I love this country. But what these people are turning it into, sometimes makes me think if there is any point in loving Russia and if this country even has any future.»
*   Anatoly has also gone to some extraordinary places. For example he went to North Korea. It was a documentary film about Kim Chen Ire and political situation in province Kanvondo. No, actually. Whole thing is just a rumor. ;>
*   «I like the idea of designing travel ads. for countries.  I get attracted by the idea of compressing the image of the country or city into a logo and brandbook. Creating design and unique image.»
*   We asked him if he has a dream-project. «There are many. One of them is to design a general image for Daugavpils city. So that it could finally have a fine logo, sings, booklets and so on.»
You can find him at:
anatolyvyalikh.com / behance / livejournal

SEE THE REST OF THE PICTURES ;>