15 of the world's richest people in the fashion industry - from designers to brand owners

Who is a designer?

A designer is a person who develops a beautiful and functional shell using his imagination and creativity. Every designer should be able to draw; skills in working with software and devices are important: graphics tablets, 3D Studio MAX, Adobe InDesign and others.

The stages of work of all designers are similar, because initially they get acquainted with the general idea of ​​the project, listen to the wishes of the customer or make their own suggestions. After this, they begin to carry out the assigned tasks: they draw sketches, perform 3D modeling necessary for visualization, and are responsible for preparing layouts, designing and prototyping. Often industrial, landscape, interior and other types of designers carry out design supervision aimed at monitoring the correct implementation of the project.

What does an interior designer do?

“Put a sofa here and hang a shelf here.” This is how the work of a designer is imagined by people who think that they themselves will figure out how to decorate a house. But in reality, everything is much deeper and more complex.

The designer not only makes things beautiful. It saves the client money and creates a functional space where it is convenient to live.

The designer helps you find “yours.” Some people, in principle, do not know which side to take on the arrangement. Others seem to like the Scandinavian style, but only because on social media everyone in their home has a white wall and a chair on legs. The designer communicates a lot with the client, shows different interiors and finds out his real tastes.

The designer gives the opportunity to solve all problems before the project is implemented. With the help of visualizations and renderings, the specialist shows how a specific solution will look in the customer’s space. All changes are made at the project stage, and not when everything is ready, as is often the case. If you involve a designer at the beginning of work, a situation will not arise in the house when a floor lamp is needed where there is no outlet.

The designer allows you not to waste extra time and money. He knows reliable contractors and takes advantage of discounts. And besides, he understands the adequate ratio of price and quality. With a professional designer, a client who does not understand materials will not be sold ordinary tiles at the price of Italian marble.

Many people think that a designer is just a person with good taste. And there is nothing to learn here: given or not given. But actually it is not. Observation, the ability to properly zone space and understand decoration can be trained. And quite quickly. In the “Profession of Interior Designer” course at Skillbox, in a year you will be able to delve into all the intricacies of home improvement and begin to create your own projects in special software.

Hmm, what kind of course is that?

Features of the profession

Designers are creators, creative people who know how to create projects that can “blow up” the market. Conventionally, all types of design can be divided into industries, let’s consider them:

• human image, including the development of clothing, shoes, accessories and other things that decorate the image;
• informational, which allows you to structure data and present it in a readable form;
• printing, which involves the development of design layouts for banners, POS materials and other printed products;
• graphic, necessary for preparing identity, fonts, advertising, books, etc.;
• sound, aimed at creating sound and noise effects for films, games, cartoons, commercials and other media products;
• architectural, thanks to which magnificent buildings are erected;
• landscape, aimed at improving private, commercial and municipal areas.

There are more than 20 types of design, each of which has individual specifics and requires a certain level of knowledge. For example, industrial designers develop concepts that are implemented in the creation of household appliances, industrial plants, vehicles, equipment and tools. To conduct activities in the field of industrial design, a higher education is required. But designers working in the field of image can graduate from courses or college to create comfortable shoes, jewelry and other products for a stylish look.

A separate group should include designers who develop external images of websites, games, interfaces, mobile applications, and graphics. Today, a new generation of designers is being raised, whose activities are closely intertwined with innovation. For example, there are already techno-stylists and wearable energy designers designing clothing and products that have gadgets or energy-generating capabilities built into them. A bioprinting designer creates models that will eventually be used for 3D printing of organs and tissues (3D bioprinting).

Artistic forging blacksmiths transform metal into a real work of art, florists create magnificent bouquets, decorators decorate halls for celebrations and other types of events. Each profession has a certain charm, allows you to unleash your creative potential and achieve career heights.

Francois-Henri Pinault – $35.1 billion

Photo: WireImage

Salma Hayek's husband is the founder and owner of Kering, which includes such famous fashion houses as Gucci and Alexander McQueen (the favorite brand of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge).

Pinault is the richest man in France after Bernard Arnault. The businessman and collector owns many auction houses, publications and wineries. According to Bloomberg, since the beginning of 2020, Francois's fortune has increased by more than $9 billion.

Pros and cons of the profession

pros

1. The profession leaves wide scope for creativity.
2. Talented designers can work for large companies, create their own agencies and register trademarks.
3. Affordable training, because a profession can be obtained in educational institutions of different levels.
4. Opportunity to take on part-time work while studying.
5. A designer can work officially or interact with private clients.
6. Modern technologies allow you to create design projects remotely.
7. Professional designers receive a stable high income.
8. The profession is relevant and in demand, new design directions appear every year.
9. Ability to independently plan working hours and make changes to the project.

Minuses

1. A designer must have a good understanding of the specifics of his activity; he must constantly develop and be in trend.
2. High competition in the labor market.
3. This area is characterized by professional burnout associated with creative crises.
4. The vision of the designer and the customer may differ, which entails conflicts and stressful situations.
5. Designers who have not gained popularity do not receive very high fees.

Take courses

The main database and a huge amount of useful information can be obtained for free on the Internet. But mastering a new business is difficult without a clear plan. University programs cannot keep up with the rapid development of the design industry, and it is better to obtain the most relevant knowledge through online education.

You can start with free webinars or intensive courses that will introduce you to the world of design. But short-term courses are not suitable for fundamental mastery of the profession.

When choosing an educational program, it is worth assessing the content of the courses, the duration of training, and finding out whether a diploma or certificate is issued upon completion. It’s a big plus if there is a practical part. Your own design project, developed during your studies, can become the first in your portfolio - and the employer evaluates the designer based on it.

GeekBrains Design Education Programs:

1. Faculty of Design with guaranteed employment. Here you will master a profession from scratch in 14 months, complete a diploma project and receive a standard certificate stating that you have completed professional training.
2. Profession "Web designer". An extensive online course with the opportunity to complete an online internship at Mail.ru Group. In 8 months you will be able to create 5 projects for your portfolio and receive a certificate upon completion of training.
3. Profession: Graphic designer. This is an online course that will tell you everything about the industry. As with all GeekBrains careers, the emphasis is on the practical aspect of learning: the course includes live webinars, self-study assignments reviewed by a teacher, and projects to reinforce your knowledge.
4. Interface designer (UI/UX). In this online course, interface design skills are practiced using real-life problems from large companies. It lasts 8 months, upon completion you receive a certificate and several projects in your portfolio.
5. Game designer. This course is for those who want to enter the gaming industry and start making money in it. The training consists of immersion, specialization and internship - it includes the development of a real game that will be appreciated by market experts and investors.

We also recommend that you read articles and free webinars about design.

Important personal qualities

Every designer must be able to draw, have a well-developed artistic taste and aesthetic literacy. Often designers defend their ideas and do not want to make changes to the sketches, thereby alienating customers. Therefore, stress resistance, non-conflict and the ability to give in in situations where it is necessary come to the fore. Their character should be dominated by creativity, spatial and logical thinking, curiosity, organizational skills and communication skills.

Wertheimer brothers – $16.6 billion

Alain and Gerard are co-owners of the French fashion house Chanel, which they inherited from their grandfather Pierre, who founded the brand with Coco Chanel in 1913.

Photo: Instagram chanelofficial

Businessmen conduct business very quietly and do not drag the blanket over themselves, noting that the brand is not their achievement, but the result of the talent and work of Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld. And now Virginie Viard.

Designer training

Designers are trained in design and graphics schools, various centers, as well as in universities and colleges. In universities, the most popular direction is “Design” (code: 54.03.01) with profiles:

• "Graphic design",
• "Industrial Design",
• "Costume Design"
• "Communication Design"
• "Game Design and Virtual Reality"
• "Environmental Design" and others.

Upon admission to this area, applicants take the Unified State Exam in the Russian language, as well as in literature, history, society or mathematics (the list depends on the profile and requirements of the university). In most cases, you have to pass a creative test, which allows you to determine the level of artistic skills of the applicant.

After completing grades 9 and 11, you can go to college to get an education in the specialty “Design” (by industry) (code: 54.02.01) . Graphic designers, costume designers, environmental designers, interior designers and other specialists are being trained. Upon admission, you must successfully pass a creative test, drawing, for example, a still life in pencil.

Universities

Moscow Humanitarian University, Moscow State University

Graphic Design (Faculty of Advertising, Journalism and Design)

National Research University "MPEI"

Design (Humanitarian and Applied Institute of the National Research University "MPEI")

Institute of Business and Design

Graphic Design (Faculty of Design and Fashion)

Orenburg State University

Design (Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering)

Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin

Design (Ural Humanitarian Institute, UrFU)

Where to get a designer profession

It wouldn't hurt to graduate from art school, but if you didn't do it in a timely manner, it's okay. It will provide significant advantages only before admission, where drawing and composition are usually included as an exam. However, many universities are moving away from this - it is necessary to clarify the list of entrance tests in advance. To obtain a professional education, it is better to choose a reputable university that provides training in specific areas.

Where to study to become a designer according to ratings:

1. St. Petersburg State University.
2. Moscow State University named after Lomonosov.
3. St. Petersburg Institute of Design and Arts.
4. Moscow University of Design and Business.
5. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

The rating should not be taken as the ultimate truth, since much depends on the specialization. It is better to study interior design at a university with an architectural direction, web interfaces - with an emphasis on IT, clothing - with an emphasis on creative and artistic specialties.

At the same time, the authority of domestic universities does not determine future success, which cannot be said about foreign educational institutions. Fashion designers trained in France and Italy, or industrial design specialists trained in Germany, have significant employment advantages.

Place of work

Designers, depending on their training profile, can work in any company:

• modeling agencies;
• textile companies;
• IT agencies;
• printing houses;
• publishing houses;
• advertising agencies;
• event agencies;
• design organizations and many others.

Some designers open their own companies and also create brands and trademarks. They often interact with private clients, working on projects with different specifics. A young designer should take care to create a good portfolio that will determine his future career.

Rolf Jensen

Rolf Jensen is a freelance designer originally from Norway. Currently lives and works in Lower Manhattan. Rolf conducts his activities on behalf of a personal LLC, and collaborates with the largest brands and agencies in the United States. He has developed projects for Google, Microsoft, WatsonDG, Basic and other global companies.

During his career, Rolf Jensen has worked as a designer, photographer, creative and art director, and partner for major projects. The designer has published a large number of magazine publications and interviews. His works have won nominations for such awards as Awwwards Site of the day, The Webby Awards, The FWA Award, and Hive Awards.

The author has created several projects for computer and mobile games. A great example of Rolf's skill in graphic design and animation is the creation of navigation and characters for the Disney game Big Hero 6.

Rolf Jensen Rolf Jensen

The designer has also developed many design projects for mobile applications, such as Frontier, Fair and others.

Rolf Jensen

• 
  Rolf Jensen

• 
  Rolf Jensen

Websites designed by Rolf Jensen impress with their cutting-edge style. Excellent examples of this are the Diva and Enso projects.

Rolf Jensen Rolf Jensen

06.

Jason Little

Wage

A designer can claim a fairly high salary and fees paid by private clients. However, the salary will depend on his professional skills, as well as on:

• level of education,
• training profile,
• availability of completed projects,
• portfolio composition,
• foreign language level,
• availability of recommendations from customers.

Also, fees can be indirectly influenced by the region of work and the activity of the specialist. The highest salary is guaranteed to designers who have chosen IT technologies, industry and architecture.

Approximate cost of design services

There is no single list of prices for designer work. All calculations are purely individual. As a rule, the cost of a full-fledged project depends on the area of ​​the room. If the area of ​​the room is small, then it is more difficult to work with it. And the cost per square meter will accordingly be higher.

Moscow bureaus estimate services at an average of 2-3 thousand rubles per square meter of premises. If we talk about private designers, the cost of their services is cheaper, about 30%, than in a bureau, but the number of projects that they can conduct simultaneously may be limited.

If a full-fledged design project is too expensive for you, you can order the services of a specialist who will make a preliminary design project or planning solution. This way you can make the most of the space in your apartment. On average, a planning solution costs 500-700 rubles per square meter.

When calculating the budget for your renovation, it is worth allocating 5-7% percent to the designer’s work.

Illustrations and tips provided by interior designer Maria Borovskaya.

Design career

The demand for the designer profession was, is and will always be at its best. Its relevance and popularity are also increasing every day.

If a designer constantly improves himself, masters new techniques, attends various trainings and seminars, and gains experience and knowledge, then he is guaranteed a brilliant career.

Also, a specialist’s career growth depends on how branded the products of the company where he works are. After all, if it is recognizable and has a good reputation, then it is much easier for a designer to gain popularity and high income. And soon the opportunity may arise to start working for yourself.

Places of work

There is no shortage of designer vacancies in modern times. They are invited to work:

• light industry enterprises;
• fashion houses;
• salons or studios;
• design studios;
• sewing production;
• experimental workshops.

Talented designers can eventually open their own design studio.

Landscape designer

A landscape and territory designer is engaged in the design and improvement of various areas, taking into account their characteristics. It not only brings the customer’s wishes to life, but also brings harmony and beauty to the world, and has a positive effect on the general infrastructure of the world around us. A landscape designer combines an architect, gardener, artist, builder, design engineer and, of course, a sensitive esthete. The general responsibilities of a landscape designer, unlike designers of other directions, do not change, but practically such a person, unlike his colleagues in multiple design workshops, must have deeper knowledge in sciences such as biology, botany, history and philosophy (to maintain a certain stylistic line).

As you can see, there are many design trends today, and a creative person will definitely find something to their liking in this profession!

What is a designer's job description?

Once it has been established in general terms what the design field is, it is necessary to dwell on the documents that accompany any employee in his working life. A designer's job description is a specific document that has a standard established form and assigns to each person the functionality assigned to him. The general provisions for any document of this kind will be the points listed in the section below, but their content will vary depending on the specialty.

Office design project

The design and design of modern offices depends on the company’s field of activity.
The logic of building an office space is reflected in the office planning idea. What is the number of workplaces in Open Space, offices, meeting rooms and convenient communications between departments of the company, these and other issues are reflected and thought through at the stage of office planning. When designing offices, the division into Front Office and Back Office ; this makes it possible to intelligently separate the flow of visitors and working staff in the office space.

Convenience and comfort of the representative area and well-thought-out functionality of workplaces are very important.

The specialists of the Design-Moscow studio are happy to create for you an interior design project for your office space.

Entrance group RBC Press Center

The first impression of the office begins with the entrance and reception area of ​​the office.

Office Press center RBC

completed in 2020

Office layout

Office design begins with a planning solution, arrangement of workplaces and communications of the departmental structure.

Carrying out various layout options at the preliminary design stage, we look at which option will best suit the customer’s wishes.

Office planning solution

Options for planning solutions can be quite non-standard and original, and this will add value to both the office premises and the image of the company

Office interior design

Creating an office space design requires taking into account many details. The office should give a clear idea of ​​the company, be welcoming and comply with the Brand Book and corporate identity.

Real estate company office

completed in 2012

Office reception

The visitor's first impression of the company is formed from the first seconds when the visitor enters the company's office and sees the reception and the entrance and representative group of the Front Office.

The representative group of the office includes both the reception and meeting rooms.

Negotiation room. Office. Meeting room.

Office interior design project

It is designed on the basis of the Technical Specifications and must correspond to the image of the company and convey its characteristic features - style, attitude towards tradition, innovation, consistency, professionalism, dynamism. On the other hand, the interior of an office as a workplace should help create a business environment that provides comfortable conditions for the professional activities of all employees of the company. We will help you create a balance between aesthetics and functionality, based on the office space conditions and customer requirements.

Design project for the office of the Miele Representative Office in Moscow

completed in 2009

Miele office

When designing the office of the Miele , the task was set to zoning the space into Front Office and Back Office. Premises with accessibility for visitors: a reception, 3 meeting rooms and an exhibition display were located in the representative part of the Front office and were decorated in corporate colors and with special attention to visitors and business partners. From the representative part of the office, you can go through the door for employees to the Beck office, where the offices of employees and management are located. There are two independent entrances to the internal office, and for the convenience of employees there is a kitchen with a seating area, meeting rooms, a printer room and a server room, as well as a locker room and a rest and waiting room for drivers. The company's office is designed as an Open Space with transparent partitions.

“Domus Finance” office project

Completed in 2020

“Domus Finance” office layout

Representative part of the Domus Finance

with reception and meeting rooms. The reception desk is facing the entrance and faces directional movement, emphasized by the floor covering and slats on the ceiling.

Turnkey office design project

The successful interior of a new office allows the business owner to convincingly demonstrate the success of his business.

Office project for an IT company

The office of the computer company “Marcus Aurelius” shows how the styles of distant eras can be combined in the interior. According to the customer’s wishes, the office had to combine history and modernity. Modern technologies have replaced us, but we use the heritage of previous eras and generations. The combination of ultra-modern and high-speed movement of life rests on the stability and philosophy of historical heritage, including Antiquity, with beautiful art glorifying man and philosophy creating the basis for moving forward.

The office of the computer company “Marcus Aurelius” was completed in 2015

Pixel curtains with perforations, transformer furniture, mirrors with screens, projection systems and other modern technological inventions are present in this office, and at the same time the reception is made with elements of Antiquity and Hellenism. Modernity and Classics, rooted in historical eras, were collected and combined into an office design project.

To complete a successful project, you need a competent combination of clear technological processes and convenience for employees and managers; a well-thought-out logic for constructing an office space is very important.

Office interior design order

Office design project includes:

• Office space layout
• Communication between departments (logistics space)
• Arrangement of furniture for staff and management
• Design of meeting rooms
• Reception planning and design

Design project for a real estate company office

Advantages and disadvantages of the profession

The characteristics of the profession indicate the following advantages:

• the opportunity for creative self-expression;
• improving artistic skills;
• demand for the profession;
• high earnings;
• the opportunity to work freelance;
• variety of creative orders;
• constant growth of knowledge and learning by doing.

The disadvantages of specialization are:

• high competition in the design field;
• the difficulty of fulfilling some customer orders and making step-by-step adjustments;
• periods of heavy loads may be interspersed with temporary downtime due to the search for clients and projects;
• the need, in addition to creative work, to also perform routine work to order.

General characteristics of the profession

Who is a designer? A designer is a person with artistic abilities, which he realizes through the creation of beautiful creations.

At the moment there are quite a lot of directions in design.

• Apartment designers work to plan apartment buildings. Interior designers come up with an exclusive image inside the apartment itself.
• A clothing designer creates sketches and collections of clothing. Incredible masterpieces and new trends are created and dictated by these specialists. It is to them that we should be grateful for new clothing models.
• Designers have become quite popular in advertising, because each type of product requires a special approach.
• One of the most popular areas in design is a graphic designer. This is a creative and interesting profession. Computer innovations helped her move to a new level, and the talents of specialist designers and their creativity became the basis for the development of websites, layouts, printed materials, packaging, and other materials in various areas of life.
• The volume of cottage construction is increasing, and, accordingly, the projects of landscape designers are increasing. These specialists are becoming in demand.
• The youngest, but quite rapidly developing branch of design is web design. The number of Internet users is growing rapidly, and their desire to have their own websites and advertise products is also increasing, and this leads to a huge demand for specialists in this field. At the moment, the work of web designers is the most highly paid.

The word design is translated from English as design. It is design that has become the basis for absolutely every branch of design.

The needs of society determine the tasks of designers, and not at all the impulse of creative people. Bringing other people's ideas to life can be very difficult. Therefore, designers need to be patient, friendly and inspired.

When hiring designers, the main criterion is the portfolio. Interviews may even take place in silence. High-quality and creative samples of work are the best indicators.

The ideal way to declare yourself as a worthy designer is to participate in various exhibitions and competitions. This way you can significantly increase your earnings.

Professional skills and abilities

A fashion designer must have the following skills:

• ability to draw by hand and in graphic editors;
• know the basics of design;
• master the technology of tailoring;
• be an experienced PC user;
• have good command of office equipment.

Very important skills for any designer will be: prompt and effective solution of assigned tasks, diligence, responsibility and communication skills.

Personal qualities of a designer

These specialists must have the following qualities:

• observation;
• creative thinking;
• developed imagination;
• communication skills;
• mobility;
• patience;
• ability to work in a team;
• sense of tact.

A good designer must be able to concentrate on two sides of an object: the outside and the inside: details, essence and functionality.

What types of designers are there?

Thus, professionals in a certain field can be engaged in the creation of jewelry, men's, women's or children's clothing, shoes, and hats. If all of the above provisions are in one way or another connected with wardrobe items, this does not mean at all that this is the end of the usefulness of designers for the modern world. Not at all! They also develop landscapes (landscape designer), the interior of an apartment or house (interior designer), and many of them are actively involved in the world of computer technology (3D design). In this article we will look at some of these areas, based on their uniqueness, relevance and prospects.

Office interior design project

Main characteristics of an office design project

1. Business specifics. This factor determines the design of the office and the design of the workspace, open workspaces in a modern Open Space or a classic office divided into offices
2. Dividing the space into a representative part and internal processes. Creation of Front Office and Back Office ; Identification of space zoning features. Percentage of administrative, visitor and work areas. Some organizations cannot do without a representative area of ​​the Front Office with a comfortable and beautiful reception area and meeting rooms. For example, designing a bank office involves creating a respectable entrance group and a representative waiting area that creates a business atmosphere and a feeling of reliability and compliance with modern design trends and design technologies.
3. The interior of the office and the company's work is located outside the visitor area. The back office includes the manager's workplace, meeting rooms, employees' and administrative staff's workplaces.
4. The manager's office corresponds to the level of the company, convenient, cozy, comfortable offices that allow you to get tired less and work more productively.

Office style

Executive offices are designed in a more pronounced style and correspond to the status and level of the manager.

Executive office in Art Nouveau style

completed in 2003

• Communication between departments is necessary so that the office design also ensures ease of communication with staff.

• It is optimal if the office premises are located in a business center, where all the necessary conditions are provided. If the premises were not originally intended for an office, then it requires redevelopment of the original area and the implementation of a competent project for office tasks.
• The personnel area should be convenient for all employees, for their interaction during the work process. For example, sound-absorbing furniture and materials are selected for Open Space offices.
• Lighting is one of the most important factors in an office interior. Thoughtful office lighting ensures comfort and efficiency at work.
• Office design begins with a planning solution, arrangement of workplaces and communications of the departmental structure.
• To start work, we need a Technical Specification from you. You can send it to us by email or call us by phone and our competent consultants will ask you questions and help you draw up technical specifications, etc.