‘Intriguing Collaboration’: HSE Student Works Displayed at Yandex Museum
Last year, HSE University and the team at Yandex Museum launched their first joint competition, ‘New Life of Familiar Things,’ involving students from various fields at the HSE Art and Design School. The winners' works are now displayed at the Yandex Museum. The HSE News Service interviewed the winners about their innovative design and implementation.
The competition ‘New Life of Familiar Things’ focused on rethinking the purpose of various objects around us: furniture, dishes, clothing, technology, jewellery, and more. Participants were challenged to critically examine everyday objects and their potential through the lens of modernity. They were asked to consider what new functions familiar things might acquire, how to improve the surrounding space and objects, and whether these items could communicate with people and each other.
Maxim Tatartsev, second-year master's student of the ‘Product and Industrial Design’ track at the HSE Art and Design School
About the competition
— I found the collaboration between the HSE Art and Design School and the Yandex Museum to be quite intriguing. Such a creative tandem creates all the necessary conditions for the successful realisation of high-quality projects. I wanted to try my hand at it.
After receiving the competition entries, the jury evaluated and shortlisted participants. Winners and runners-up in each category were announced at the awards ceremony, after which the stage of creating first samples began. These can now be seen at the Yandex Museum exhibition.
I was, of course, thrilled about the victory. For every designer, it is important that their products are produced. But even more valuable is knowing that the creation will be used by hundreds of people. This is truly inspiring.
About his project
— I proposed a concept for a desk lamp where a glass bottle could take on a second life, serving not only as a diffuser and support for the lamp but also as an interior focal point. When purchasing the lamp, buyers can choose a bottle of the desired shape, size, and colour. Thanks to the dynamic lighting feature, users can adjust the light’s intensity to suit their current needs. Developing the visual and technical aspects of this concept took about two months.
Currently, I am a freelance designer for several large Russian brands, and our products will be showcased at important exhibitions nationwide. In the future, I plan to continue developing my expertise in industrial design.
Anastasia Kogteva, second-year master's student of the ‘Product and Industrial Design’ track at the HSE Art and Design School
About the competition
— The competition was one of the credited projects in the first module. There were several categories with different concepts, providing a wide range of ideas for the project throughout the module. However, it was not completely free rein; I was limited by the brand’s specifications, budget, deadlines, and user needs—in a word, everything a designer needs to consider.
During the module, I studied the design process step by step while working on the project: user research, brand study, CJM creation, design, and CMF. Throughout this time, I was guided by a curator. At the end of the module, the art director of the Yandex Museum came to review our projects—where I received direct feedback from him. After the review, I took all comments into account and was able to significantly improve my project.
About her project
— My project was an incense holder called ‘I’m a Duck.’ This refers to the ‘Rubber Duck’ method, well-known in the IT field: finding answers to difficult questions by mentally discussing them with a rubber toy. The holder not only helps solve problems but also creates a comfortable working atmosphere. The most challenging part of the competition, in my opinion, was the first stage—finding the concept and ‘the right idea.’
It was hard to win; many interesting ideas and well-executed projects were proposed. I was thrilled to take third place, as it was one of my first projects in object design. For me, it is a sign that I am on the right track.
Vladislav Khegai, graduate of the master's programme of the ‘Product and Industrial Design’ track at the HSE Art and Design School
About the competition
— I learned about this competition from a curator who informed me on the collaboration between the Yandex Museum and HSE University. I was confident I could win, so I submitted many projects across almost all categories.
About his project
— I presented a complete vision for filling the Yandex Museum and decided to think in terms of a collection, not just individual items—a showcase with products. The basis for the collection was the concept of the Yandex Museum as a space directly related to ‘Y’ (the Yandex logo), the digital world, IT, and a technological museum.
Address: Yandex Museum at Paveletskaya metro station
82 Sadovnicheskaia Ulitsa, Building 2, Moscow, Aurora Business Park
Exhibition open: July 3–September 30, 2024
Admission is free
See also:
HSE Art and Design School’s End-of-Year Exhibition Takes Place at Winzavod and MMOMA
In mid-July 2024, the HSE Art and Design School celebrated the results of the 2023/24 academic year at two venues in Moscow. The exhibition entitled ‘Collection: The Order of Things’ opened at HSE ART GALLERY at Winzavod and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA) on Gogolevsky Boulevard. Over 150 artists whose projects were selected through an internal competition participated in this year's event.
‘New Life of Familiar Things’: Exhibition of Student Projects at Yandex Museum
On July 3, 2024, the Yandex Museum on Paveletskaya in collaboration with the HSE Art and Design School opened an exhibition showcasing familiar objects that have been given new forms, functions, and meanings. The exhibition features the projects of finalists from a competition organised by the HSE Art and Design School and the Yandex Museum. Visitors can explore works created by young designers and talented students of the HSE Art and Design School, who have reimagined familiar objects in the context ofmodern life.
'Potsherds and Spindles. Joy and Burden': New Exhibition at HSE ART GALLERY
A series of paired solo exhibitions has been launched at the HSE ART GALLERY on Pionerskaya: projects by teachers and students of the HSE Art and Design School are now exhibited at one venue. The first project in this series is by Vladislav Efimov, a teacher, and Alexandra Zamuruyeva, a student of the ‘Design and Contemporary Art’ programme.
Season Eight of HSE CREATIVE OPEN Competition Begins
HSE CREATIVE OPEN international online competition of the HSE Art and Design School opens the summer season featuring new categories: ‘Visual Research,’ ‘Game Design,’ ‘Motion Design,’ ‘Poster,’ and ‘Digital Product.’
‘Everything Evermore All at Once’: New Exhibition at HSE ART GALLERY
HSE ART GALLERY, which was established in 2018, has launched a new exhibition area. The first project in the new space opened on May 28, 2024. The exhibition represents works by more than 50 HSE Art and Design School students and graduates in Contemporary Art, Fashion, and Subject Design.
HSE ART GALLERY 2.0: Relaunch and New Space at the Winzavod
HSE ART GALLERY, which was established in 2018, is launching a new exhibition area. This second gallery will be in Winzavod, one of the largest private centres for contemporary art in Russia. The art space on Paveletskaya will become a place for implementing commercial projects and housing exhibitions by HSE Art and Design students and graduates.
HSE University and Pobeda Airlines Launch Joint Competition
HSE Art and Design School, in collaboration with the Pobeda Airlines, has announced the start of a competition to create a new uniform design for flight attendants and representatives of the airline. Young professional designers, as well as students over 18 years old studying at Russian universities in full-time and part-time programmes in the field of ‘Design and Fashion,’ will have the opportunity to showcase their talent.
Stella Art Foundation Exhibition Featuring Works of HSE Art and Design School Teachers to Last until May 26
The Stella Art Foundation has launched the exhibition 'About All the Things That Live There’ by Curator of the Master’s track ‘Video Art’ at HSE Art and Design School Alexandra Mitlyanskaya, Coordinator of the ‘Photography’ track at HSE Art and Design School Evgenia Solomatina, as well as artist Nina Kotel. The project is curated by Alexey Korsi.
Exhibition by HSE Art and Design School Students Now Open at Fabrika Centre
The Fabrika Centre for Creative Industries is hosting a graduation exhibition by bachelor’s students of Contemporary Art at the HSE Art and Design School. In the exhibition titled ‘Freedom of Absurdity’, the early-career artists present their interpretations of melancholy. The exhibition is open to visitors until April 21, 2024, and admission is free of charge.
‘The Form of a Building Plays a Supportive Role; the Main Thing is Its Content’
Environmental design shapes the reality around us. It is the appearance of spaces, buildings, and objects that surround us. What is happening in this field today? What awaits us in the future? And how do we prepare for it? The HSE News Service discussed these and many other topics with Boris Bernaskoni, Head of Environmental Design Studies at the HSE Art and Design School.